{"id":290694,"date":"2003-10-19T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2003-10-19T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/every-obstacle-a-springboard\/"},"modified":"2024-05-13T20:36:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T18:36:30","slug":"every-obstacle-a-springboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.focolare.org\/en\/every-obstacle-a-springboard\/","title":{"rendered":"Every obstacle a springboard"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cMy dear young people, never let difficulties stop you. They exist and they will always exist. Instead, turn every obstacle into a springboard<\/strong> for an ever greater, ever deeper, ever truer love!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This was the core of Chiara Lubich\u2019s message, launched during a telephone link-up with thousands of young people in 105 cities all over the world, gathered on Sunday, October 12 for the conclusion of the World Unity Week (WUW).<\/p>\n

Chiara\u2019s message was followed by experiences of life – lived in conditions of war, discrimination, poverty and injustice – shared by young people from Jerusalem, New York, Ivory Coast, Cebu, Uganda, Central Africa Republic, Recife (Brazil), and so on. These experiences helped the youth, especially the European youth, to overcome the crushing sense of helplessness they often feel in the face of the world\u2019s evils. They were brought to see that love is the strongest force there is, and that, united together, young people can lift up the world. Youth from Burundi, presently living in a refugee camp in Tanzania, also shared their experiences. For the first time Medan, Indonesia – where 50 Christian, Buddhist and Muslim youth bound by one ideal of a united world were also gathered \u2013 also took part in the conference call.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you continue with renewed energy to bring God\u2019s love to the world (…) then you will be truly free of yourselves! Then, yes, you will go against the current; actually you will create an entirely new current on our planet \u2013 the current of love, of fire…\u201d<\/strong> <\/em> This was Chiara\u2019s challenge to the youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is WUW all about:<\/strong> It is an opportunity for the youth, national and international organizations, and public and private institutions to appreciate the different existing initiatives aimed at promoting unity in all levels of society. During the week of October 5-12, in cities and towns, a series of activities were held \u2013 solidarity projects, concerts, sports events, prayer vigils, and open forums \u2013 all of which had as their principal theme \u201chow brotherhood can be a way to build a united world\u201d. Many interviews were broadcast on radio and published in newspapers at local and national levels to spread the message of the WUW.<\/p>\n

Initiatives worldwide<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rosario (Argentina)<\/strong> \u2013 the municipality declared the WUW to be an event of public interest and advertised it on the city\u2019s bus and rail tickets, even several months after it was held.<\/p>\n

\"\"San Paulo (Brazil)<\/strong> \u2013 70,000 daily planners were distributed that offered a \u201cpeace-building\u201d motto to put into practice during each day of the WUW. The response from numerous students, teachers and authorities of public and private institutions was beyond all expectations.<\/p>\n

New Caledonia – countless youth activities were held which joined together all ethnic groups, usually in conflict with one another.<\/p>\n

Kampala (Uganda)<\/strong> – the young people visited the city orphanage where children sick with AIDS are housed. They also worked to gather clothes and other needed items for the people of Gulu (northern Uganda) which is in grave need due to guerrilla warfare occurring there.<\/p>\n

Sicily (Italy)<\/strong> \u2013 the calendar of activities was packed. The Italian daily \u201cAvvenire\u201d published the following press release: \u201c\u2019In the name of brotherhood\u2019 \u2013 this is the title of the initiative undertaken by The Youth for a United World <\/em>\u2013 a youth sector of the Focolare Movement which is dedicated to carrying out activities aimed at world peace and brotherhood. Since yesterday hundreds of Youth for a United World <\/em>in Sicily launced 16 initiatives in different cities and provinces \u2013 Palermo, Caltanisetta, Messina, Catania, Syracuse and Ragusa.<\/p>\n

The funds will help finance scholarships for youth from the Middle East, Argentina and the Congo, and to support Project Africa<\/em> which Chiara Lubich initiated in 2000 and which, this year, plans to sponsor activities aimed at providing work and training for the 60,000 people in the refugee camps of the Great Lakes and Tanzania.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

New hope is born<\/strong><\/p>\n

The outcome of the World Unity Week was well-expressed by one of the participants from Uganda: \u201cSometimes, just when love, brotherhood, and even God seem so distant, signs like this appear and give you the push you need to continue pursuing your goals.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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