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LoppianoLab 2016: Embracing the cry of the least

LoppianoLab 2016: Embracing the cry of the least

Oct 6, 2016 | Non categorizzato

29418288973_c48e8c63ca_zThe title of this year’s edition of LoppianoLab was a challenge that was launched by the thousands of people, both in person and via live-screening, who took part in the event. While there is an Italy where the so-called absolute poor have increased by 130% in seven years, where every day its southern shores become a bridge to the hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing poverty and wars – at the same time there is the desire to be involved: volunteers, associations, young people who want to experience what it’s like to work according to new business models that are able to meet the daily emergency. Involvement is the spirit behind those that brought their experiences and projects to LoppianoLab 2016, from  the fields of economy, politics, welfare, immigration, communication, technology and instruction.  29417421254_790b3fde4a_zThe project, which was promoted by Lionello Bonfanti Business Park, the  Città Nuova Editorial Group, Sophia University Institute and the town of Loppiano, was begun in 2010 to be a national laboratory that would set in motion “those qualities that have made the Italians great, creativity and industriousness, welcome and solidarity, art and culture,” as Focolare president Maria Voce said in her greeting. Experts from the world of culture, politics and economy presented during the programme together with many other voices from civil society that presented projects from hundreds of associations, individuals and communities that form a close-knit network of people who are eager to translate ideas, projects and lifestyle into praxis. Three days, three focus groups to take on the challenges to peace: the challenge of techno-scientific innovation, development, and poverty. Two important anniversaries were also celebrated at LoppianoLab: the 25th anniversary of the Economy of Communion Project (EoC) and the 60th anniversary of  the Focolare’s Città Nuova. Thirty multi-ethnic workshops, three via direct-streaming, along with workshops for children and teenagers: “Loppiano Kids and “Time to Give” with a series of meetings focused on topics related to poverty, solidarity and ecology; and “Loppiano Young” with performances and artistic exhibitions assisted by the international Gen Verde Band. 30061539755_311f8c2ac8_zFocolare co-president Jesús Morán offered some remarks at the end of the firest day. He spoke about  three challenges that the world faces today: globalization, post-globalization, post-humanism. Also the humanitarian challenge of the sub-human, a challenge that calls for a “culture of resurrection,” in order to totally assume the suffering of the person that suffers. According to Jesús Morán, the question we should ask is how much space should be given in our own lives to the least, the “abandoned ones” of today Finally, during “The Wealth of the Invisible Poverty forum,” a proposal was launched to create an observatory on poverty that would create an information system to monitor the effects of the EoC around the world and study the results and methodologies of specific significant cases. See also: Città Nuova online Loppiano Economy of Communion

Gen Verde: Creating Our Future, Together

Gen Verde: Creating Our Future, Together

Oct 14, 2016 | Non categorizzato

Gen Verde_LoppianoLab-01LoppianoLab 2016 opened its doors again this year with the theme: the poverty of riches and the wealth of poverty. Persons, institutions, ideas and experiences all played an active part in building a future based on a culture of unity across all fields. Mileni, Gen Verde’s guitarist, described LoppianoLab 2016 as “unique since during it we launched ‘Young people in action’: performing arts workshops dedicated especially to young people looking for a way to build a better future.” So 160 young people mostly from Italy but also including a group of 50 from all over the world took part in this enriching experience of intercultural exchange. Mutual listening and trust reigned in an atmosphere free from prejudice. Mileni explains – “The young people told us that they learned to recognize the needs of those around them and not just their own.” They said: “We can choose: either to ignore those who have difficulties or to help them.” They discovered the miracle of ‘being together’ and the richness that comes from sharing in the small things of everyday life. When asked, “Did you learn anything new here?”, they replied: “we understood the value of solidarity, and helping one another.  We learned to value team work.  We learned the importance of a having a sense of responsibility and the part each can play in the life of a group.  We learned that on our own we can achieve small things but together we can do something great.” They also spoke about the important experience of working with others from a different culture: “we learned to go beyond barriers which could have been there because we speak different languages or come from different places.  Instead we found a way of communicating which was very deep and sincere.  Together we were able to go beyond moments when we experienced discouragement or failure and discover the joy of singing, dancing or creating music together.” When asked, what will you take from this to your everyday life?  The young people replied: “To listen to others.  To trust them.  Not to stop at my own limits.”  And: “We have learned to trust in ourselves more and that people are not always what they seem – first impressions can be wrong!  In the very positive atmosphere we experienced here, we learned to eliminate prejudice and get along happily with others.” The event concluded with a bang in an exciting final performance at the Loppiano Auditorium packed with 900 people. They listened intensely and in the end everyone was on their feet as great joy filled the air. Those in the audience said: “I loved the concert – it felt like something really new, modern and extremely relevant in that it touched on issues all of us face.”  And, “It was so beautiful, I experienced the strength that comes from diversity.  At the end of the concert I would have wanted to say so much, but in the end I remained in silence.  In silence to meditate on the values you transmitted to us.” Video