22 Nov 2017 | Non categorizzato
“What will my future be as a young person in my land?” This cry of Nasreen, a young Palestinian, penetrates the hearts of the other young people who listen in deep silence wanting to put balsam on her wounds, still open after years of war and social instability. Emina was seven years old when war broke out in Sarajevo. Her life changed in an instant, but her desire to mature and counter react has been stronger. And Albert from Spain: “My life changed ever since I had an experience of living in a refugee camp in Jordan. I’m no longer the same.” They are young people who are determined to revive the challenges of building the social fabric of peace starting from their own lives. 
Thirty-two participants took part in the “Host Spot” project, held from 28 October to 2 November 2017 in Alexandria, Egypt. It was promoted by several NGOs and Associations, including New Humanity, “Non dalla guerra”, Caritas in Jordan, Igino Giordani Foundation (Spain), B-Net, Jesuit Culture Center (Alexandria), Ireland Focolare Trust, VACA (Palestine) and Starkmacher (Germany). Starting off from their experience of meeting at a refugee camp in Jordan in August 2016, the young people pursued their initiative by holding two follow-up events in Germany, where they dealt with some of communication techniques, and as a final stage they met in Egypt. Young people from Hungary, Bosnia, Palestine, Egypt, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Jordan spent ten days together in the accomplishment of this innovative project, promoted by the European Community, in order to create connections and to build bridges between youth associations which which have as their aim the quest for peace. Through workshops, in-depth sessions on issues in the Middle East, dialogue between cultures and the importance of the media in communicating migration problems, in a world where one in two refugees is a child, the protagonists of this edition of Host Spot have embarked on a steadfast mission to spread a culture of peace, first and foremost through a training course on current affairs and information seminars on the systems which regulate the media. It was an experience which has allowed the youth protagonists to draw conclusions regarding the activities already undertaken and to plan together how to pursue this valuable collaboration between associations by developing projects and putting new synergies in place.
21 Nov 2017 | Non categorizzato
The news that was announced on June 13th by Pope Francis, who wished there to be an international day dedicated to the poor, appeared totally in line with his pontificate that is so attentive to the needs of the vulnerable and discarded by society. The response from associations, movements and institutions, as well single individuals and groups, was surprising. The Focolare Movement in Italy embraced the invitation to “create moments of encounter and friendship, solidarity and concrete help,” to love “not only with words, but with deeds.” “Although we can learn from the poor,” say Rosalba Poli and Andrea Goller who are responsible for the Focolare in Italy, “nonetheless those who have more are called to give.” Not alms, not symbolic gesture to put ones conscience at peace; the invitation is to step out of our comfort zone and our certainties,” as the Pope says, “to go out to meet the thousands of faces of poverty.” In Italy also the phenomenon is a cause of concern. According to a recent government report, nearly 5 million people are living in “absolute poverty.” Eight million and a half suffer “relative poverty.” It is a poverty of a thousand faces: marginalization, unemployment, violence, lack of aid. And mostly isolation, because being poor first of all means being excluded. “The Day of the Poor takes us back to a primary aspect of the Focolare’s spirituality, the communion of goods,” Poli and Goller explain. “It’s a practice that has led to many social projects over the years, inspired by the desire to imitate the custom in the early Christian communities where no one was needy among them. Some of our projects include Arcobaleno Association, which has been active in Milan for more than 30 years; the La Pira Center for you foreigners in Florence; the Sempre Persona Project that helps prisoners to become reinserted into society and offers assistance to their families. Then, the Apriamoci Project from the Trentino More cultural association, such as Facciamo Casa Insieme. Others distribute food, like the l’Associazione Solidarietà in Reggio Emilia, B&F in Ascoli, Associazione Città Fraterna and Comitato Umanità Nuova in Genoa. RomAmor is involved in helping the homeless around the Ostiense Train Stations, whereas other projects welcome refugees in Lampedusa and Ventimiglia. In Pomigliano d’Arco, the Legami di Solidarietà work in an area that is strongly marked by unemployment where mutuality and sharing has made a comeback. Following the earthquake in central Italy, several Solidarity Buying Groups were instituted by the RImPRESA Project to provide on site support for local economic activities that had been damaged in the earthquake. Alongside the consolidated projects, other projects have begun in the north and south of the country, often networking with institutions or associations that work in the social field. The intent is to become stable supporters of those living in poverty. From Milan to Sicily, from Messina to Udine, there are food banks, listening centres, soup kitchens, recycling projects. There is also a home for separated parents, at the city gate of Cagliari. Meanwhile, just a few days from its activation, the App Fag-8 project already has thousands of subscriptions. It’s a technological evolution of the custom of putting ones possessions in common, material things and also talents, ideas. By downloading the app it is possible for someone to share (also in someone else’s account), a material object, a project or one’s own time. It is a tool connected to total local a national networks, that allows one to find out in a short time whether what I’m looking for is available, or if I can answer someone else’s need.
20 Nov 2017 | Focolare Worldwide
Patrizia Mazzola
y background was in the Scouts, so I couldn’t believe that I could take part in this new experience. The invitation was extended to many other students at my school, and finally, together with my sisters, we made up our minds to attend, even though I remember that at the last minute I was tempted to stay back as I had to undertake an exam. The others encouraged me to go and so we left Palermo on a number of buses. With me I took my inseparable guitar, songbooks and tape-recorder, which at that time was rather cumbersome. During the trip, I was favourably impressed by some of the girls, the Gen, who were already living the spirituality of unity. I was struck by their attitude, the attention they were giving to everyone, the climate of harmony and serenity that they created among us, despite our exuberance, the moments of reflection that followed when we listened to the songs of Gen Rosso and Gen Verde, which I learnt to play straightaway with great enthusiasm 
It was March 1st, 1975. The Sports Palace in Rome which had gathered 20,000 young people from five continents, made a powerful impact on me. I immediately experienced the power of the Gospel when it is lived. For example, it was the first time that I found myself sharing deeply with someone who was sitting next to me, thus having the experience of living as brothers and sisters. My dream, to see a world of peace, a united world, came true, right there. I was amazed and awestruck by the personal testimonies so much so that I almost had to pinch myself to believe that all this was happening. I listened attentively as they shared their stories from the stage: the two young people from South Africa where apartheid had not yet been defeated, the group from Belfast where there was conflict due to religious and political division. They were tangible signs that, if we really commit ourselves, we can achieve peace there where we live.
The next day, we all gathered at the Vatican, in St Peter’s Basilica, where Chiara Lubich presented us to the Holy Father. During the offertory, twelve young people, representing us, walked up with Chiara on the altar. I remember there was an endless applause. Consequently, during the Angelus (midday prayer) in St Peter’s Square, the Pope greeted us with words encouraging us to go on: “This morning, around the altar, we had twenty thousand faithful, the young Gen – New Generation – who came from all over the world. The beauty of it was something moving. We thank God and take courage. A new world is born: the Christian world of faith and charity.”
It was truly the beginning of a new world. For me it marked the beginning of a new life.
Patrizia Mazzola
![Rights of the Child World Day]()
18 Nov 2017 | Non categorizzato
On 20 November 1959 the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and approved in 1989, the International Convention on the rights of infants and adolescents. Based on the harmonization of different cultural and juridical experiences, the Convention enunciated for the first time, and in a coherent way, the fundamental rights to be recognized and guaranteed for all the children of the world. The document stated the four key issues: the lack of denunciation, greater interest, life and survival and development, and lastly, listening in all the decision-making processes. The Convention also provides for a control mechanism on the work of the States that have to present a periodic report on its implementation in their territories. According to UNICEF, every year millions of children continue to be victims of violence, abuse, abandonment, exploitation, wars and discrimination. A lot has been done, but still more must be done to achieve a concrete application of these principles.
18 Nov 2017 | Non categorizzato
There is a pram beside the supermarket cashier, and a newborn inside it. In the crowd, nobody heeds the others. All are taken up in waiting for their turn, making sure nobody skips the line and be able to come first and finish quickly. But before the child, many stop to smile, and say some kind words. Children have the exceptional power to break down the aloofness of our society and create a simple link with their presence. Children belong to their parents and their family, but at the same time to all of us. They are, so to say a “common asset.” In a certain way this is true for children in general, that is, for every child, as what the prophet announced regarding one child: “A child is born for us, we have been given a son” (Is 9,5). Children are gifts which we all receive. What do they give us? The answer is – the future? Obviously, if there were no children humanity would have no future. But our answer has a deeper sense. Instinctively we experience the child as a promise, like the dawn of that better future we all are hoping for. We do not only ask a child: What will your future be? But also: What future will you bring us? In fact, what will the future be, and what will happen or not happen depends on those who are children today. The future is already here, in the babies who are born. (pp 39-40) Becoming a human person means becoming a child. Since Adam and Eve there has been no exception to this. The journey that leads to adulthood traverses childhood. And this is precisely the path of God: the Son of God who became man, by becoming a child. We belong to him if we accept his friends, the children, and if we welcome him like children. Only those who become children will enter into the Kingdom. Become simple and pure, sharing sufferings and joys. Allow ourselves to be receivers of a gift and return the gesture. The child: virtue that saves us from resignation and calculations, and from egoism and senselessness. The child asks us to let him live, to have his own vital space. The Child in the manger is he who is inviting us to become men like him and receive a divine life from him. (p. 34) Klaus Hemmerle, from “Dio si è fatto bambino” (“God made himself man”) – Ed. Città Nuova Rome 1994.
