Focolare Movement

Hungary, a “dice” for future citizens

Oct 27, 2014

The “love dice” installed in a park of Jánoshalma was a cheerful symbol of an educational proposal to build social bonds based on peace and respect

20141027-02Jánoshalma is a town of about 10,000 inhabitants in southern Hungary, where about 3% of the population belong to the Rom ethnic group and social integration is a burning issue. It was the last town that conferred honorary citizenship to Chiara Lubich while she was still alive, in February 2008. Within this context, last 7 October the Dice of Peace installation was inaugurated in Chiara’s birthplace, Trent. The Dice was installed in the park in the centre of the city facing the Town Hall, almost like a symbol of the city’s aspiration, close to the playgrounds created some years earlier with the contribution of the local Focolari community together with the Municipality, upon the request of some children who had told the Mayor that they did not have a nice playground. The proposal, launched by the Focolari Movement, was accepted by the Municipality. The building of the Dice, the sides of which are 120 cm high, with the load-bearing framework the height of a person, in a diagonal position, was the fruit of the generosity of many: the company that did most of the works, for example, offered to do it for free…. 20141027-01The originality of this huge dice is that it can be “cast,” exactly the way small dice are cast: it can be turned in various directions and inspire people to live up to the phrase which pops up… The inauguration was attended by 150 people, among which were various elementary and high school students and even toddlers frequenting the kindergartens. The representatives of the Catholic School, who for many years have used the dice in their classes, had proposed it to the entire town. There were also the gen4, children living the Focolari spirituality, who narrated to the crowd some of their experiences on how they try to love everyone. The next day, some children on their way to school, changed their itinerary in order to pass by the dice and give it a “turn.” For those who want to practice a bit of the Hungarian language, these are the first six phrases of the dice: megbocsátok a másiknak – forgive the others meghallgatom a másikat – listen to others mindenkit szeretek – I love everybody elsőként szeretek – I am the first to love szeretem a mellettem lévőt – we love one another szeretem a másikat – I love the others

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