Algeria, Muslim and Christian young people together
A testimony given at the 2013 Gen Congress.
For a long time we thought that it wouldn’t be possible to have any relationship with Christian young people in such a deep way. But the things that come from God can’t lack harmony.
We are Muslims, by culture and by conviction. We come from a country, Algeria, where nearly everyone is Muslim, where contacts with other religions are extremely rare or, more usually, completely inexistent.
Certainly, introducing into our lives a Movement rooted in Christianity is a real challenge. In first place, this is because our cultures are so different – with differences encouraged by political ideas and by history, which are made more intense by many social and cultural obstacles.
How can we take up this kind of commitment without damaging our religious faith? What is this idea for which we are so ready to sacrifice so much? These are not easy questions.
Our experience has been rich and ground-breaking. Cautiously we started along a path that, bit by bit, fascinated us, and we found we were able to overcome every discord.
Over the years we’ve been surprised by how our acceptance of one another has become spontaneous and natural, and we’ve realized that our understanding of our own religion has been growing. In fact, sharing the same principles has infinitely increased for us the human dimension of things.
We are committed by acts far more than by words, and we constantly go beyond the limitations of an environment that still needs a huge amount of love and greater openness. But every difficulty gives us another reason to carry on.
Nowadays, we meet in various towns in Algeria. They are sometime hundreds of kilometres apart. The relationship among us, Muslims and Christians, is enriched by what each one of us experiences, and this is helped by the Gen throughout the world.
We think that humanity’s greatest mission is to work for us all to live together, despite different religious convictions and cultures, so that love may triumph over every contrast.
“Today too, Jesus is born in this square in the periphery of Santiago. Every year we celebrate Christmas with our friends who live on the street or maybe those who have no one to celebrate with. It is beautiful to see young people, adults and children who share together and who sit at the same table without looking at differences. This time there were many migrants, especially those who came from Perù in search of work, and with many children, but their situation was not too good. Others came from the regions of Chile that were struck by the earthquake of 2010 and who are still waiting for a home. Some have just begun this “journey” in the streets and are discouraged: for example, Nelson left home 3 months ago, his wife doesn’t want to have anything to do with him because he is a drunkard; at table we talk, and he shared that he was very sad and missed his family. Loreto invites him to believe once more and to have faith, it’s Christmas! And she offers him help.
The next day Nelson goes to the “Early Times Cottage” [an apartment where some of the gen boys and youth of the Focolare Movement live together to make an experience in the light of the Gospel, following the example of Chiara Lubich and the first focolarinas, ndr]. There he is able to take a bath, shave, and he receives a pair of pants and a nice shirt as a gift from one of the youth, and then, with one of us, he goes to the house of his wife. The joy of his daughter upon seeing her father is uncontainable. We explain the situation to his wife, who, after some time, agrees to start again and they remain together the whole afternoon. In the evening we accompany Nelson to the “Hogar de Cristo” (The Home of Christ). There the rules are precise: “Zero” alcohol, and he agrees to this. Now we must work as a team, we have to help one another, but Baby Jesus brought us this gift and many others, which push us to be the arms of His Love so that he may arrive everywhere. There is no doubt that a united world is possible, all it takes is for us to do everything we can to discover together what to do to realize it”.
My name is Num. I was born in 
I had more time to meditate, beginning very early in the morning, at 4:30. Immediately after meditating, I would leave the monastery with other monks to go begging in search of food. I discovered that people trust monks and have a great deal of respect for them. I understood how important this trust is and that we monks should be faithful to the teachings of the Buddha in order to keep the trust people have. I have learnt so much from the teachings of Buddhism, especially from the older monks. And also while I was in the monastery, I felt that the other Gen were united with me.
What does it mean to be a Buddhist Gen? We have a lot of things in common with Christians, such as, for example, trying to be committed and good, and also in our choice to treat others well. I can live as a Gen anywhere I am, in each moment and, above all, by loving everyone I meet, helping to build family-style relationships with everyone. We Buddhist Gen try to live the Ideal of unity every day, loving and building unity wherever we are. We organize many things for the good of society together with the Christian Gen, for instance, fundraising for the victims of natural disasters. Now we are working to help people affected by the Typhoon in the Philippines. Let’s go ahead together!
Bangui, 23 December, 2013 «We know that many are attentively following the development of the dramatic situation that has hit the Republic of Central Africa. In the last few days there were still clashes in some areas of Bangui, the capital. It is a predictable situation, seeing that the disarmament was not an easy task and zones of influence, or we could say zones of occupation continue to exist, on the side of the “Anti-Balaka’ fighters who are battling against the ‘Seleka’. But it is also true that the city centre and the main roads of the capital are guarded by the French troops, and this has allowed for a small revival of the activities and circulation of the people. The most dramatic aspect touches the population who find themselves directly involved in these clashes. From December 5, date of the frst attack of the ‘Anti-Balaka’, there has been a real exodus of the population towards the zones that are considered safer: Catholic and Protestant Churches, Catholic seminaries, Mosques for the Muslims, zones and camps around the city, the departure area of the airport (that is protected by the French troops). 
Those massacred in this period has gone beyond 1000 dead. The religious aspect, Christians against Muslims and vice-versa, has been instrumentalized for economic and political ends, but in fact a very serious problem persists regarding the conscience of the faithful. How can you speak of forgiveness when you have seen your loved one massacred? A cycle of revenge has been set in motion that goes beyond the simple alliances. And now it is the time, not only of uncertainty but also of hunger. The populace in fact, have finished their meager supplies; the commercial activity has started again but sporadically and there is the risk to one’s life when you move around to try and find some supplies; prices are sky-high. Distribution of supplies are being done by PAM and by other NGOs, but they cannot meet the enormous needs; so much so that there are threats, robberies and aggresion during the distribution. 
In Bangui there is a small but lively community of the Focolare: youth, families, teens… Many of them are protected up to now in the place where they have found refuge; some have gone home during the day but return to the refugee centre during the night. In the meantime, they are working to help in the various neighborhoods and in the refugee camps, and to welcome people into their homes, those who live in more peaceful neighborhoods. A family of the community, made up of five members, has now been extended to more than thirty… Eliane and Max, went into action in their neighborhood, involving around sixty people: they help the elderly and the sick who have remained isolated or in dangerous zones, to assist them in reaching the refugee centres. After having distributed all that the community was able to put together, gathering whatavere they had, they made a survey of the most urgent cases: around 500 persons who were handicapped, the elderly and the sick, pregnant mothers or with small children; they then went to the various aid agencies to ask for help. Other members of the Focolare are working in the refugee camps, assisting the peopl in various ways, but above all striving to share hope with their small comforting gestures. The numerous difficulties, makes us more aware of having received a ‘gift’: the charism of unity that was given to Chiara Lubich during times that were similar to ours now, the Second World War. We feel that this is our strength. From this troubled point in our planet, we count on your prayers and we send you our reciprocal greetings that Baby Jesus may bring the miracle of peace to the Republic of Central Africa».
