Young people today face many challenges: globalisation, social justice, the meeting/clash between different cultures and ethnic groups. These problems are often concentrated in the cities which house 60% of the world’s population. How can they be transformed into ‘learning centres of harmonious living’?

In response to these challenges a new project has been set up: ‘Glocalcity – local youth organisations in a global exchange’. An initiative that is coordinated by  “New Humanity”, Ngo of the Focolare Movement and which was conceived a year ago at an international congress for young people which was held in Castelgandolfo, and which involves ten associations in different countries: Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Rumania, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The next and final stage will be in Brazil. From 14 July to 2 August, about 50 young people from the above mentioned countries will meet for three weeks in San Paolo and Recife, where there are two Focolare towns – Mariapolis Ginetta and Mariapolis Santa Maria respectively.

This will be a chance to consolidate local voluntary initiatives that have already got off to a good start. It will also be a chance to get to know the Brazilian cultural and social situation and to develop that quality of dialogue that is capable of creating a culture of unity.

We received a letter from a young Italian girl who spent some time in the Mariapolis Santa Maria, near Recife, where there has been a social project called Santa Terezinha going on for a number of years, in a place once known as the ‘Island of Hell’: ‘I find myself faced by 20 small frightened faces, 2-3 years old, as I introduce myself in faltering Portuguese. I’m a stranger to them – big and tall! I start to sing with the young teacher, an ex-pupil of the centre, and the atmosphere changes. We begin to draw, to help with the tasks … and whoever thought I would be able to dance? But I find myself dancing! I put my whole heart into it and they begin to smile. The smiles of children who feel loved maybe, accepted, the centre of attention of someone else … Children who don’t yet have that vacant look in their eyes like the adults, but are the same children who carry the terrible signs on their bodies of life outside the social centre …’.

And its right there in Recife that the conclusion of the project will be held from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August, with the possibility for all the young people to immerse themselves in Brazilian culture. There will be a final concluding event to raise the awareness of local and international bodies by means of the proposals of the young people themselves, future active citizens very much present in our society today.