Focolare Movement

First World Peace Conference For Young People

May 24, 2016

Five hundred Christian and Muslim young people from 43 countries link up for a global dialogue on the topic of peace. The event will be repeated 4 times a year and be presented at the World Peace Forum on May 24, 2016 in Luxembourg.

Five hundred young people from around the world will meet online for a World Peace Conference For Young People The idea emerged from the synergy between Living Peace and its peace education projects for children, adolescents and young adults in 113 countries and Peace Pals International, an expression of the World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS), which is associated with the United Nations (UN). The project is supported by Fuji Declaration from Japan and several international organizations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omANVR3qIDI Inspired by the Fuji Declaration, 14 Christian and Muslim speakers from 14 countries took turns online last April 30th to make known their views in favour of peace, which they backed up with concrete experiences of acceptance and reconcilliation that give credibility to their claim that world peace is  possible. Edward’s presentation about his exprience of the earthquake was particularly significant. He is a member of the Focolare from the Philippines and was linked from Ecuador where he had had been in direct contact with earthquake victims. Sherook from Syria also offered her testimony about what she was living through in her country. After telling about the situation in Syria, which is still very fragile and dangerous, she was unable to hold back her tears, which produced an enormous impression and feeling of empthy in everyone. Her tears also triggered very touching words and offers of support from two Muslim young people who were online: Omar from Egypt and Abir from Morocco. The conference was an opportunity to present United World Project and its SignUpForPeace inititiative. Jules Lamore, coordinator of Peace Pals International and member on the committee that organizes the events for World Peace Day in the United Nations, telephoned from New York to congratulate us for the online conference. Two young people were awarded scholarships at Miami University of Luxembourg. The General Coordinator of Living Peace, Carlos Palma, was invited to present the conference at the Seat of the European Parliament in Luxembourg during the World Peace Forum on May 24-25, 2016. In 2015 the Luxembourg Peace Prize had been awarded to New Humanity, an NGO of the Focolare Movement. The World Youth Conference of Young People plans on holding four Conferences a years. The next event is planned for June 25, 2016 with young people from movements and organizations that are engaged in peace work. The third edition of the Conference will be held in Florianopolis, Brazil, at the Peace Forum For Young People (September 22-25) during which Peace Pals will present a gift to the city, a peace obelisk. The fourth Conference, on prospects and commitments for the coming year, is scheduled for December 2016.  

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

Living the Gospel: from seed to fruit

Living the Gospel: from seed to fruit

The Word of God is like a seed which bears fruit when received with an open heart and perseverance and when with it, we manage to overcome difficulties. Jesus invites us not only to listen to it and understand it, but above all to live it concretely every day. By living His Word, we allow Christ to transform the way we think and act, making our lives and the lives of others, fruitful.

Gen Movement: 60 years of life

Gen Movement: 60 years of life

“Young people of the world, unite”: this is the invitation that Chiara Lubich extended to the younger generations 60 years ago, so that each one could answer God’s call to live for unity in a practical way

What’s UP? Let’s get started!

What’s UP? Let’s get started!

Welcome to What’s UP?, a new format offered by the Focolare Movement that brings us closer together and makes us feel more and more like a family.