Apr 20, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
LIVE STREAMING EVENT 1 maggio: http://live.dev.focolare.org/uww2013/
Video of May 1st meeting at Loppiano
The explicit motto “Let’s Bridge” of the Genfest in Budapest last September, was chosen by the Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement as the title for the United World Week 2013. The main event will be the 01st May with 4 major gathering locations: Jerusalem, a symbol of peace; Loppiano, which had always been linked with the Youth for a United World’s history; Mumbai, on the route to interfaith dialogue; Budapest, the capital that hosted 12,000 youth for the Genfest. During the 01stMay event, there will be live link-ups among these 4 cities to render visible this worldwide network that is already in place.
To be bridges then, to build bridges of brotherhood on the United World Project (UWP) guideline, which was launched precisely at the Genfest. In these months, many youth have undertaken this journey in various parts of the world, recognising the “brotherhood afoot” in their own lives and around them, increasing activities and initiatives to raise public awareness in their own countries, contributing as active citizens to bring about a culture of peace and dialogue that welcomes diversity and multiculturality. Such as in Chicago, where the Youth for a United World together with the Mosque Cares association met at the Ephraim Bahar cultural centre to prepare 150 meals, “survival kits” and a selection of men/women clothes to distribute to the homeless in the neighbourhood. Or as in Montevideo, where a Youth for a United World delegation from Uruguay together with some professionals involved in the field of education, were received by María Paz Echeverriarza, responsible for the area of Education at the UNESCO Representation for the governments of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It was an occasion to present the UWP and to share about the network that has emerged around the Nueva Vida social project, which has seen the successful onset of small businesses, despite the context of marginalisation. And also the “Goodwill Week” in Serbia: in an alternative cultural centre, the youth held forums on social initiatives, film projections, initiatives to help people in difficulties, which also included a blood drive, besides the collection of provisions.
The United World Week will be an occasion to take stock of the situations, and many activities will simultaneously take place during those days in various parts of the world. In the Holy Land, 120 youth from various countries will meet together from the 24th April to the 02nd May. There’s a intense programme planned that includes a “Forum on universal brotherhood” at the University of Bethlehem with Muslim and Christian speakers, a meeting with the mayor Vera Baboun, an interfaith evening, a desert outing, workshops in singing, music, dance, and percussion with the Gen Rosso and the Gen Verde who will be present for the occasion. These workshops will showcase together in a concert planned for the 29th April in Haifa. The 01st May event will end with a flashmob at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem where Jews, Christians, and Muslims will meet up.
However, the project will continue, and the subsequent phases will take place in Africa, and precisely at Nairobi, where the Sharing with Africa site will kick-off with the “Inculturation School” on the value of the person in African tradition.
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More information:
Be the Bridge website
May 11, 2012 | Non categorizzato
The 15th edition of World Unity Week (WUW) entitled “We are ready to bridge” started on the 1st of May, at Loppiano, with a worldwide linkup. In brief, the web has been invaded with photos, videos, notices, proposals and messages to be lived during the days of WUW. This manifestation has been carried out every year from 1996 onwards, and it always leaves its mark on the lives of many youths, involved in actions of fraternity and influencing of public opinion. This mark is made not only at the level of community but most of all on a personal level. The echoes reverberated from Syria to Kenya, from Mexico to Singapore, from Argentina to Italy, from the citadel of Loppiano to Budapest, the city of bridges.
This WUW is a fundamental stage for the Genfest that will take place at Budapest from the 31st August to 2nd September 2012, with the title “Let’s Bridge”. The central moment of the WUW was on the first day with a worldwide direct transmission on its official site and also through the contents gradually transmitted on twitter, facebook, youtube, and blog. Every day, thousands of Youths for a United World (GMU) posted on the net proposals that range from ecology to spirituality. The year of the genfest will end with the 16th WUW on 1st May 2013.
Let us now go on a worldwide tour to get to know the creative answers of many youths, from different cultures, who adhered to the invitation to participate in this manifestation.
These are some flash news:
PANAMA- On 29th April, there were 500 youths in the community of Pacora for the opening of the WUW. There were meditations from Chiara Lubich, Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Gandhi. They also presented the life of Chiara “Luce” Badano. Mons. Yovko Pishtiyski (the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Panama) celebrated the Holy Mass.
BRAZIL- the GMU (Youths for a United World) of Manaus prepared a vegetable soup to take it in the early hours of the morning, to the poor in the centre of the city. Thus they spoke with many of them and shared their difficulties.
CONGO- at Kinshasa, the GMU visited a centre for disabled, and carried out a day’s programme entitled “Build bridges of fraternity.”
HOLY LAND AND ITALY- the GMU of the Holy Land and Italy committed themselves to the project-“Ways of Peace”. A group of youths from the Holy Land who were visiting the Marche and Emilia Romagna regions took part in building bridges between different religions and cultures.
ITALY-At Torino a volleyball tourney was held at night entitled “Enjoy the fluo” Volleyball. It had a particular character: the games were played illuminated only by lamps that rendered fluorescent the t-shirts, field lines, ball and net that had been treated with special varnish. 7 teams were enrolled, with around 90 participants, apart from all those who just came to watch or give support.
Sant’Anastasia (NA) – Together with the association “Lucincitta”, the GMU organised an event called “Something Bright” a musical that relates the life of Chiara “Luce” Badano. 500 persons participated at this evening event that was supported by the local council.
Poggio Mirteto (RI) – Together with the “Bloccoverde Greenaction”, the GMU took forward various interesting initiatives to improve and protect the public green spaces.
SWITZERLAND- at Montet the 3rd edition of “Journee Uni” was held, at which 120 youths from French speaking Switzerland took part. The workshops touched upon themes like the Christian answer to sorrow; the meaning of life; social awareness and how to help a friend in difficulty.
From this WUW, that revealed initiatives that existed already and gave rise to new ones, the project emerged that seeks to “count” the actions for fraternity that are held in the world. It has been called “United World project”. “We wish to create a permanent observatory that measures at 360 degrees the development of fraternity practices,” says Letizia, who forms part of the team that is organising the Genfest. The appointment that the “Youths for a United World” had at the United Nations in New York, on 30th April, has encouraged us to go forward in order that this project is recognised as fundamental in bringing peace and development of peoples.
Links:
1) http://www.loppiano.it/default.asp?s=2&o=343&c=0
2) http://www.genfest.org/
3) https://twitter.com/genfest_it
4) https://www.facebook.com/genfest.it
5) http://www.youtube.com/genfest2012
6) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/
7) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/semana-mundo-unido-panama.html
8) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/settimana-mondo-unito-ways-of-peace.html
9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btj28QqfR4A&feature=plcp
10) https://www.facebook.com/events/229922083782415/
11) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/poggio-mirteto-bloccoverde-greenaction.html
12) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292443110844466.73272.100002363386774&type=1
13) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/congo-smu-2012.html
Apr 29, 2010 | Non categorizzato
Esztergom, a city on the border between Hungary and the Slovak Republic. It was in this city that took place the official opening of the 2010 United World Week with a live Internet connection that linked up youth from all over the World. From this city it was broadcasted the peace and brotherhood message that will be leading the week. The conclusion will be the 9th of May with an on line live connection from Mumbay, India.
Just by scrolling the United World Week blog you can see the capillarity and the internationality of this event: Haiti, Santiago de Chile, Los Angeles, Londrina, Paraná in Brazil, Man and Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Buenos Aires, Asunción, Lisbn, Bruxelles and many Italian cities.
Back to Hungary. Why Esztergom? The Youth for a United World from Hungary and the Slovak Republic chose a common aim: to build bridges of brotherhood between their countries. They said : ”In the last decades, both our peoples -where minorities live- have faced challenges and difficulties do to coexistence. This circumstances have generated prejudices which are difficult to overcome. Togethere, we want to face the reality and take the needed steps to place ourselves in each others shoes”.
A bridge, a symbol: During the years many have been the approaching initiatives. For example in 2001 it was reconstructed and inaugurated a long time closed-down bridge between Esztergom (Hungary) and Sturovo (Slovack Republic). In 2006, the two Bishop Conferences met for a Reconciliation event between the two countries in the Basil of Esztergom and every year they renew the gesture. In 2005, during Run4unity (a world relay race for Peace) hundreds of Hungarian and Slovak youngsters crossed running that same bridge as a sign of brotherhood.
A tree, another symbol: A tree will be planted together with the Civil authorities of Esztergom and Sturovo -the two protagonist cities of the opening day of the United World Week- as a sign of growing brotherhood between the two nations.
The daily challenge: Many are the youngsters who daily commit to this challenge of brotherhood. Listen to their experiences live on the Internet: http://live.dev.focolare.org
“The Esztergom – Štúrovo bridge and a view of Slovakia (c) 2008 Martin Q – Used with permission – flickr.com/martinq”
Apr 20, 2010 | Non categorizzato
All over the planet, from 1-9 May, the ‘United World Week’ takes off at the same time. This is an initiative that has been promoted by Youth for a United World (the wide-reaching youth section of the Focolare Movement) since 1996 to influence public opinion.
It is made up of many different types of events including cultural evenings, celebrations, sports competitions; meetings on subjects that interest young people, from disarmament to immigration. Above all solidarity projects in run-down neighbourhoods. With just one aim: to spread the values of fraternity, peace, and unity amongst peoples. And to show that universal fraternity is possible. ‘United World: let’s face the challenge’ is the slogan for this year’s events.
In a presentation of these events in an American magazine called ‘Living City’ we read: ‘The activities organised by the Youth for a United World throughout the world are like a mosaic of fraternal love, where they try to put into practice the true meaning of the word “love” and with the word “fraternal” they transmit a sense of equality and fraternity.’
Chiara Lubich said to the young people: ‘Your main aim is to apply the Gospel to earthly realities to make it come alive.’ The young people welcomed her words with great enthusiasm. This message is common to many of the great religions and other spiritual leaders. Mahatma Gandhi used to say: ‘You and I are one. I cannot harm you without harming myself.’ In the Suras of the Koran we read: ‘Give your relation what he is due, and do the same with the poor person and the traveller.’ It is the application of the Golden Rule, which is present in all the great religions, which says: ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Lk 6:31).
There are many websites giving information in different languages on the different events:
http://settimanamondounito2010.blogspot.com/p/gmu-nel-mondo.html or simply:
www.mondounito.net.
The young people like to use a name for their events that Chiara Lubich suggested: Fragments of Fraternity. Fragments because it may simply be an activity involving a home for old people, a nursery or a school. Fraternity because they are projects which have an aim: to promote in the world we live in and with all the means suggested by love a culture of communion, interdependence and love amongst different peoples, races and cultures.
