Messico: il copresidente Faletti per la prima volta nel Paese
“Sole nascente”, scuola di speranza
Bogotà: “Social Unidad” Centre
“We’re closer to Heaven here!” exclaims eight year-old L.M. who lives in La Merced (Bogotà) and regularly visits Focolare-run “Social Unidad” Centre. Her family came to the humble neighborhood in the mountains south of the capital to escape the violence. Their situation was the same as many others who can be seen in this place, where they find a group of solid people who have welcomed in these families in search of a secure future. 
In the beginning the situation was quite desperate. To stay alive working meant digging into the hard earth of that region in order to make cement blocks. It is a tiring process, demanding physical strength and strong lungs that can support the gas pouring from the enormous ovens. It also means forgetting one’s dreams, because this work takes up every minute of one’s time. Even children of five years have to put aside their toys or invent new ones as they share in the work of making cement blocks. And it is normal to see them with their faces blackened by smoke, but happy to be helping their parents. Thirty years ago, inspired by Chiara Lubich’s invitation to “give our lives for our own people”, thirty members of the Focolare Movement, together with Fr Luis Dies and a group of pioneers got involved. The local inhabitants were very indifferent at first, due to previous negative experiences. “But how could we not open our doors,” asks P.T., “to people who had come only to help us?” The shared in our pain of finding ourselves so needy; they also shared moments of relaxation with us; they never judged us; they really loved us and, right from the start, they were engaged in improving the quality of our life. They brought a doctor, a dentist. . . they made us feel that we were people who are loved by a Father who is Love!” 
Today there is a social centre. In the midst of many difficulties this community is working to become a model of coexistence in which the practice of human and Christian values is the basis of each day’s work. At present, “Centro Unidad” offers scholarship aid to thirty-five children and teenagers, between the ages of six and seventeen. They are assisted by local youths and by others who work in the centre in cooperation with the social projects they are involved in. There is an instructional programme for twenty-four mothers who care for pregnant women and children between the ages of newborn and five years-old. There is a library service, cooking classes, health assistance with a medical doctor and dentist and computer training. . . One original idea was the “boutique” that offers home furnishings, home utensils, school materials, and whatever else is useful. There are also dance, theatre, and art workshops. The Centre is supported by the New Families’ “Distance Support” project, which benefits seventy-eight children and teenagers from the local families. This is one beautiful story, one which is still being written amid sorrows and joys. The doors of the Centre are always open for anyone in need, and also for those who wish to give. It is a small slice of humanity, which is committed and struggling to belong to a more just society, inspired by Gospel values.
L’incontro con la Morenita
Slovenia: A society that says ‘yes’ to the family
‘We want to share with you our joy at how the recent referendum turned out,’ write Anča and Vine Povirk from Domzale in Slovenia, members of the Focolare’s New Families Movement. ‘It was the result of a great deal of cooperation between various civil and religious movements, and numerous families, all united in a peaceful battle in favour of the family.’ The vast majority of the media and of influential politicians were in favour of the new law that sought, among other things, greater liberalization for same sex couples – for example, with regard to third-party adoptions, by allowing a same sex couple to adopt the biological child of one of the partners, as well as a whole raft of measures regarding unmarried couples. The ‘yes’ campaign had huge financial resources (more than 2 million euros), while the ‘no’ campaign was entirely self-supporting. It was in no sense an equal battle. The initiative, promoted at first only by Catholics, soon drew in other Christians, members of other religions and many who, without professing any specific faith, uphold human values. Together they managed to collect the 40,000 signatures necessary to call for a referendum. It was held on 25 March with a turnout of 30% and, contrary to expectations, the ‘no’ vote was 55%. ‘For two and a half years we worked beyond our capabilities and our strength to defend basic family values,’ Marjana and Pavel from Ljubljana – Delegates of the New Humanity Movement in Slovenia – tell us. ‘We spoke in Parliament, held public events before the vote, organized a Family Day, collected signatures… we wrote to MPs, to the Constitutional Court, speaking many, many times on discussion programmes on television, national and local radio… and in this way we built up numerous friendships with the members of other ecclesial movements, with important people in the sphere of civil life and politicians of various parties… Now, however, we are beginning the most important phase: working to give our contribution to a new law for family life framed around the values we strongly believe to be basic to society and which have their roots in the Gospel.’ A comment put out by Mgr Anton Stres, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ljubljana and president of the Slovenian Episcopal Conference, thanked ‘all those who were committed to achieve this aim and to make the electorate aware of the irreplaceable role of the family in our life.’ Nonetheless, the comment continues, ‘with the outcome of the referendum, family values are not assured; indeed, it is necessary to live them every day in our relationships with one another.’
Lebanon: Moving Toward the Genfest – Let’s Bridge!
“Hi to all! We want to let you know how special this year is for the young people of our country. We are sharing wonderful moments in preparation for our long-awaited Genfest. Last September we agreed to set our sights on a unity that would gradually envelope all of us, our friends and also our great Focolare family. And we see it happening. 
To raise funds for the journey – which is very costly – and also to have opportunities to spend some time living together and starting already to build some “local bridges” (in accordance with the title of this year’s Genfest), we’ve come up with a schedule of many activities, some of which have already taken place and others that are still being prepared. “Unight”: An evening with a hundred youths at a pub in Beirut, including a presentation on the Genfest event. “Unight Your Talents Show”: A talent show with songs, dances, musical numbers, theatre, storytelling and creative performances. There were 550 of us on March 3, 2012 for a two hour show in a large hall at the university. Fundraising: We began a taxi service for accompanying people to the airport and other places. We also began a babysitting service. We set up a refreshment stand at the Mariapolis Centre. We make and sell jewelry and special occasion cards. These are not only opportunities to raise funds for the trip to Budapest, but also occasions to know one another better and to “build bridges.” “Unite in Depth“: March 23-March 25. Three days of preparing for the Genfest through deepening and strengthening our faith. Eighty young people have already signed up, including 20 from Syria.» We have encountered many difficulties along the way: The young people from Lebanon are in suspense becuase the airline from whom they purchased tickets for their flights to Budapest has gone out of business. Together with them we continue to believe that with the help of everyone and with the help of God, a way will be found to overcome even this obstacle.