News from Pax Christi USA - ACT: Support the PC Ayiti Youth Program

Reflecting on Paul Farmer's article, the community of Pax Christi USA has a unique opportunity in Pax Christi Ayiti. We can get constructively involved in the processes that are helping to build a better future for Haiti and yet largely keep from becoming, as an NGO, a hallmark of some of the structural problems that have become symptomatic of NGOs there. This is done in four main ways:

1. PCUSA and PC Ayiti are sister organizations with strong historical ties.

2. Pax Christi Ayiti has asked us to be involved in some very specific ways.

3. Pax Christi Ayiti is the instigator and leader of their own projects.

4. Our joint efforts and resources are aimed at creating the conditions for which communities in Haiti can nurture a culture of the Peace of Christ and use resources toward that end.

We invite you to become involved with this unique relationship. If you would like to learn more about the Pax Christi Ayiti SAKALA Youth Program or if you would like to contribute to it in some way, please feel free to contact me at:

Manuel@paxchristiusa.org

Also, look for more information on the Pax Christi Ayiti Program on our website in the near future. We would love to hear from you and have you help us strengthen our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Haiti through your support.

Communiqué de presse 30 décembre 2010, Centre Jeunes Kamenge

Et nous voici à la fin de cette année, une année vécue au nom de la paix au Burundi, dans les Quartiers Nord et cela parmi les jeunes et les adultes à travers un projet soutenu par beaucoup de gens ; le Centre Jeunes Kamenge.

Et nous terminons avec un événement populaire ; deux courses à vélo, l’une pour les filles avec 35 inscrites et l’autre pour les garçons avec 167 personnes sur la liste. Cette course avait un parcours de 13 kilomètres de route goudronnée en passant dans les Quartiers de Kamenge, Kinama, Cibitoke, Ngagara. Entre deux ailes d'une foule joyeuse, les partisans de l'une ou l’autre participant. Le départ au a été effectué au Marché de Kamenge tandis que l’arrivée avait comme lieu le Centre Jeunes Kamenge, avec beaucoup de simplicité pour le dépouillement, la remise des prix, le chronométrage ainsi que tous les aspects techniques. Pour le groupe des filles les gagnantes pour la première et la deuxième place étaient Mpawenimana Francine et Butoyi Josélyne, toutes les deux de la Commune Kinama. Pour les garçons, les deux gagnants étaient Niyomana Jean et Manirakiza Bonaventure en provenance respective de Buterere et Kinama.

Ces derniers jours, de nombreux autres activités et événements ont eu lieu ; des spectacles, le boum sèche, le concert de fin d’année auquel ont pris part tous les artistes du Centre, trois orchestres, deux groupes de théâtre, le groupe d'acrobates et les 3 groupes de rap, parmi les dix existants. Nous avons terminé le tournoi de football des écoles primaires dont les trois premières équipes étaient de la Commune Kinama, et maintenant nous sommes en train de terminer les préparatifs afin de commencer les tournois de football et de basket-ball filles qui verront 36 écoles participantes pour le premier et 19 pour le second. Ces effectifs étant fixés sur un total de 51 écoles secondaires qui collaborent avec le Centre Jeunes Kamenge.

Sur le plan du futur et plus précisément au début du second trimestre de l’année scolaire, il y aura aussi le début de la distribution des paquets scolaires et le paiement des frais pour les bénéficiaires du programme AGSP financé par l’AED, une organisation américaine. Avec le soutien de la FAO, nous continuons aussi la distribution des semences de riz, des légumes et de papayers pour les Associations pratiquant l’agriculture. Il y a néanmoins d’autres aspects qui ne marchent pas trop: par exemple le départ de la Communauté des Sœurs qui était déjà réduite à trois personnes seulement, la maladie de Dona (la responsable du projet des Associations), le manque chronique des fonds pour couvrir les temps morts des nos différents projets avec les bailleurs internationaux, la rupture des machines et des structures entraînée par leur âge ou des coupures répétitives d’électricité.

Mais quand même nous sommes à la fin de l’année. Nous voudrions exprimer notre gratitude à tous ceux qui nous ont aidés. Misereor, Développement et Paix, Manos Unidas, la Fondation Vismara, la Caritas Italienne, la Conférence Episcopale Italienne, l’AED, Ifa-Zivik, la Coopération Française, l’Ambassade d’Allemagne, la Coopération Suisse, les 4 groupes italiennes et suisses qui nous suivent de près, Parma et Piacenza pour les Jeunes Kamenge Centre, Tessin pour le Burundi et Chei de Meanarul et beaucoup d'autres amis qui s’autofinancent pour nous aider à poursuivre notre travail. A tous un grand merci, et on vous tend encore la main. Aidez-nous encore. Que l’an 2011 soit pour tous une année de paix et d'espoir.

Centre Jeunes Kamenge

Bujumbura, Burundi, 30/12/2010

Claudette Werleigh, Envoy of Peace

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for – the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11)

Pax Christi International is exceedingly grateful to Claudette Werleigh for her generous service to our movement as Secretary General. Claudette’s deep faith in the possibility of a peaceful world; her support for member organizations around the world, her sensitive approach to complex political situations and her commitment to nurturing the spirituality and theology of peace have blessed our movement and given Pax Christi an important legacy. Her conviction that peace is rooted in social justice has strengthened our efforts on behalf of human dignity.

We are very pleased that Claudette has agreed to serve as Pax Christi International Peace Envoy, bringing her ample diplomatic skills and experience to our common work for peace and reconciliation.

Pax Christi has been enriched in these years by Claudette’s spirit and many gifts. We wish her Godspeed in the next steps on her journey.

Mons. Kevin Dowling and Marie Dennis, Pax Christi International co-Presidents

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“La Foi est l’assurance des choses espérées – la conviction des choses non-vues.” (Hébreux 11)

Pax Christi International est extrêmement reconnaissante à Claudette Werleigh pour son service généreux au sein du mouvement comme Secrétaire Générale. La foi profonde de Claudette en un monde de Paix, son soutien aux organisations membres du monde entier, son approche sensible de la complexité des situations politiques et son engagement à sustenter la spiritualité et la théologie de la Paix ont béni notre mouvement et laissé à Pax Christi un héritage conséquent. Sa conviction est que la Paix enracinée dans la justice sociale a renforcé nos efforts pour la dignité humaine.

Nous sommes heureux que Claudette ai accepté de servir comme ambassadrice de Paix pour Pax Christi International, et ai ainsi mis son expérience et ses multiples talents de diplomate au service de notre travail pour la Paix et la réconciliation.

Pax Christi ressort, après ces années, enrichi de l’esprit et de l’habileté de Claudette. Nous lui souhaitons une bonne continuation entre les mains de Dieu pour les années à venir.

Monseigneur Kevin Dowling et Marie Dennis, co-présidents de Pax Christi International

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“La Fe es como aferrarse a lo que se espera, es la certeza de cosas que no se pueden ver.” (Hebreos 11)

Pax Christi International está extremadamente agradecido con Claudette Werleigh por su inmenso y generoso servicio a nuestro movimiento, como Secretaria General. La profunda fe de Claudette en la posibilidad de un mundo en paz, su apoyo a organizaciones miembro alrededor del mundo, su enfoque sensible a las situaciones políticas complejas y su compromiso por promover una espiritualidad y una teología de paz ha bendecido nuestro movimiento y ha dejado a Pax Christi un importante legado. Su convicción de que la paz radica en la justicia social ha fortalecido nuestros esfuerzos por la dignidad humana.

Nosotros/as estamos muy complacidos de que Claudette haya aceptado servir a Pax Christi como su Enviada de Paz, brindando sus habilidades en el campo de la diplomacia y su experiencia a nuestro trabajo común por la paz y la reconciliación.

Pax Christi se ha enriquecido estos tres años con el espíritu y muchos dones de Claudette. Le deseamos la mejor de las suertes en los próximos pasos de su caminar.

Mons. Kevin Dowling y Marie Dennis, Pax Christi International co-Presidentes

Pax Christi's Contribution to European Youth Forum's Latest Edition of "Development Needs Youth"

Open publication - Free publishing - More development

Link to PCI Youth's Year End Newsletter

CLICK HERE to read the latest newsletter!

Communiqué de presse - Centre Jeunes Kamenge

Encore un dimanche après-midi de musique : c’est le concours de Rap des Quartiers Nord 2010, sur le thème de la liberté d’expression et d’opinion. 20 groupes inscrits, 15 sélectionnés.

Avec une foule de 3000 spectateurs, au Centre Jeunes Kamenge nous avons pu nous amuser et aussi réfléchir grâce aux textes proposés. Les événements qui se passent dans le monde nous poussent à être actifs sur ces thèmes. Malheureusement la pluie est arrivée juste quelques minutes avant la fin de la remise des prix. Voilà les trois premiers groupes : New Buja Boys, The Little Gangsters of ACNV, The Light Stone. La Télévision Nationale et la Télé Renaissance étaient avec nous. Les prix donnés étaient constitués de radios, de baffles, du matériel scolaire,… C’était un très bon spectacle. Demain il y aura la finale du Tournoi de Football des Ecoles Primaires. Un tour de force pas très simple : 38 équipes, 3 semaines, 41 matchs, 8 terrains, 30 arbitres, 20.000 spectateurs…Les quatre équipes finalistes sont l’Ecole Primaire de Kinama I, l’Ecole Primaire Kinama II, l’Ecole Primaire Kinama IV et l’Ecole Primaire Sainte Famille, toutes de Kinama. Les équipes disqualifiées pour n’avoir pas suivi le règlement sont au nombre de 6. Cette finale nous amènera au commencement de toute une série d’activités pour les fêtes proches : concert de fin d’année, courses en vélo pour les filles et les garçons sur 10 kilomètres de route dans les Quartiers Nord (Kamenge, Kinama, Cibitoke, Ngagara), le boum sèche, 3 jours de projection de documentaires sur le Centre et sur le Burundi,…

Dans cette période proche de Noël, là où on est plus ouverts, là où on pense beaucoup aux autres peut être que certains penserons à nous. On ne sait jamais, au cas où vous voudriez nous faire des cadeaux, vous pouvez nous contacter afin de vous passer nos coordonnées.

Bujumbura-Burundi, 12/12/2010

Pax Christ MO Youth in Burundi - Centre Jeunes Kamenge

PRESS RELEASE FOR YEAR'S END AT CENTRE JEUNES KAMENGE
TO TRANSLATE CLICK THE TRANSLATE TOOL BAR ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS BLOG; OR CLICK HERE TO PASTE THE TEXT

FOCUS

Encore une fois le Centre est un lieu où on dédie notre attention pour un problème très grave : le SIDA. Le 1 décembre est une journée de réflexion sur ce thème, au niveau international.

Au Centre, nous avons décidé de fêter cette journée aujourd’hui, le 28 novembre afin de pouvoir se rencontrer et passer quelques moments en pensant aux malades du SIDA du monde entier. Pour cette occasion, nous avons organisé un grand concert avec Steven Sogo et son orchestre ainsi que quelques Clubs Stop Sida des Quartiers Nord. Devant un public de 3000 spectateurs, nous avons assisté à des performances de théâtre, musique, poèmes, messages, danses… Grâce à l’aide de la télévision et des journalistes, le message sera répandu aussi ailleurs.

En plus de ça, nous avons des activités que nous sommes en train d’effectuer pour continuer à mettre ensemble les jeunes de Bujumbura et les jeunes des Quartiers Nord. Nous sommes en train de faire un tournoi de foot avec 38 équipes sur les 51 écoles Primaires des Quartiers Nord. Le tournoi qui est suivi avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme par les enfants des écoles prendra fin le 13 décembre. Un concours de chansons « live » est prévu le 5 décembre avec la participation de 8 groupes et orchestres. Ce portera le thème « la paix et réconciliation ». Le 12 décembre sera réservé aux 15 groupes Rap qui se retrouveront dans un concours avec comme pour thème « la liberté d’expression ».

Au cours de cette période, nous mettrons fin à une phase d’un projet de Misereor en mettant à la disposition de toutes les écoles primaires et secondaires des Quartiers Nord 3 ballons. Un autre projet qui tend vers sa fin est celui que nous avons mis en place pour les 16 Communautés Religieuses (catholiques, protestantes et musulmanes) en collaboration avec la Coopération Suisse à travers le don matériel et la possibilité pour les animateurs de ces communautés d’œuvrer sur plusieurs sujets dont théâtre, l’écriture, le civisme, la musique, la coupe couture,… Nous venons de terminer aussi une deuxième partie d’un projet d’informatique 2010, cette fois-ci avec l’appui de Spagnolli de Trento (Italie) pour remettre en marche plusieurs ordinateurs pour l’apprentissage, le cyber, les bureaux du Centre. Un documentaire qui nous concerne, « Kamenge Northern Quarters », réalisé par Manu Gerosa et Salva Munoz a gagné le deuxième prix du festival du documentaire de Vancouver. C’est un documentaire qui parle des Quartiers Nord, des politiciens et du Centre Jeunes Kamenge. Un groupe d’amis canadiens de Développement et Paix a vécu durant deux semaines au Burundi pour visiter leurs partenaires de cette organisation (y compris le Centre) et leurs projets. Ils ont logé au Centre et la logistique a été mise en marche avec succès.

Voilà un petit aperçu de la vie au Centre dans cette période de fin d’année. Toujours en marche pour préparer les futures générations pour le pays.

Centre Jeunes Kamenge
Bujumbura-Burundi, 28/11/2010

Pax Christi Youth in the Phillipines - Global Report

Pax Christi-Miriam College is active in education and advocacy work. In the Year 2010, it put up exhibits and organized forums during the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, International Humanitarian Law Day, International Day of Peace , the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Mindanao Week of Peace.

This week, which is the Mindanao Week of Peace, the group is spearheading the selling of rice porridge for a cause. They were able to sell approximately two thousand tickets for this purpose. They dubbed this activity “Rice Porridge for Peace”. Proceeds of the project will go to Miriam College’s twin school in Pikit Cotabato-the Rajah Muda High School - a public school attended by Muslims. Miriam College is a Catholic school for girls. The purpose of the twinning is to help build bridges of understanding between peoples of different faiths and culture.

Read more about the group on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

Pax Christi: Give gift of prayer for peaceful Bethlehem Christmas!

This Advent, we remember Bethlehem, where Christians have revered the place of the Christ Child's birth for the last two thousand years. They are the so-called living stones of the Church in the Holy Land. They are the men and women native to this land who have faithfully carried on Christ’s mission and witness through conflict and strife through so many ages.

In a sign of solidarity and encouragement to our fellow Christians in the land of Jesus’ birth, the international Catholic peace organization, Pax Christi, has organized a “prayer and good wishes” campaign to celebrate Advent and Christmas with the Christian community in Bethlehem. Anyone can be a part of it! All you need is a computer and the internet and you can give the gift of prayer and hope to someone who needs it most…

Tracey McClure spoke to the Senior Policy Advisor for the international Catholic peace organization Pax Christi, Fr. Paul Lansu about the initiative, on its 11th year. He explains how you can send your prayer of peace to the Holy Land's Christians!

CLICK HERE

SHARE THE STORY: Volunteering for the MDGs

Dear volunteers, colleagues, friends, and partners,

Today we are starting a global discussion (www.facebook.com/unvolunteers) to Share the Story about volunteering to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We can meet the Goals, but only if we complement essential government action with the engagement of millions of people through volunteer action. Already, individuals are contributing their expertise; communities are taking steps to improve their lives; and decision makers are increasingly realizing the value of volunteerism. These stories don’t make the news, but they are changing the world. We invite you to join volunteers and others in the volunteer movement as they share their experiences and challenges in tackling some of the world’s big issues related to environment, hunger, education, maternal health and HIV/AIDs.

The discussion we start today on www.facebook.com/unvolunteers will culminate in a 24-hour, online film festival (4 December) that will showcase the best video stories we have received from volunteers, communities, civil society, non-governmental organizations and United Nations partners. We are extremely grateful to the UNV volunteers filming in around 30 countries who have volunteered to be a part of this initiative. Their diverse stories will give us a unique insight into the daily realities of volunteering. To enable a truly inclusive discussion, along with their stories, we also invite other colleagues and partners to share stories of their own. We welcome these contributions, both as final video pieces and as part of the online discussion.

The festival will run for 24 hours, so that no matter where you are in the world you can participate. To celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD), on 5 December 2010, a number of UNV field colleagues will also showcase the films and the discussion as part of their events.

But the story does not stop with the last film of the festival. As with all the best stories, it will inspire debate and dialogue next year when we mark the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) and continue all the way to 2015, the globally-agreed deadline for achieving the MDGs. It is your collective contribution to this global initiative that we start today which will enable substantive dialogue on how volunteering is changing our world, for the MDGs, for each other and for our future.

It's your story, it's our story, so let's share it.

Join the discussion and Share the Story today.

Flavia Pansieri
Executive Coordinator
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme


Campaign Contacts:

About the campaign: sharethestory@unvolunteers.org
About the videos: video@unvolunteers.org

Share the Story
Visit www.facebook.com/unvolunteers

Phone: +49(0)2288152220

Pax Christi International Youth attends historic conference on cluster munitions in Laos

The "First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention of Cluster Munitions" will be held in Vientiane, Laos PDR from 9-12 November. Pax Christi International Youth will be represented by Pax Christi’s International disarmament Officer Stijn Van Bever, who will participate in the Youth Leaders Forum of Mines Action Canada.

On August 1 the ban on cluster munitions entered into force. The convention on cluster munitions defends countries that ratified the convention to use cluster munitions, to manufacture or to invest in the production of these weapons and obliges them to destroy the remaining stock. The ban on cluster munitions is regarded as a historical moment of the year long campaign by the Cluster Munitions Coalition, an international coalition of actors from the civil society. Pax Christi International was a founding member of the Cluster Munitions Coalition.

The ban on cluster munitions is an historical step in the campaign against this terrible weapon. While this restriction is not globally applicable, it will make countries that would use the weapon more reluctant. The actual situation is not an ending point: large countries and major arms producers like the U.S., Russia or China have not yet signed the convention. Many countries that signed the convention have not yet ratified it. Moreover, there are still funds and commercial entities that are investing in companies that manufacture these weapons.

This meeting will lay the foundation for future engagement on the Convention by bringing together for the first time States Parties to the treaty, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, and cluster bomb survivors. States will share progress and plans for implementation, with the aim of drawing up a blueprint to translate the treaty into action and meet the lifesaving obligations they have consented to be bound by.

Pax Christi will have several representatives in Vientiane. One of them is Stijn Van Bever, youth representative and Pax Christi International disarmament officer. He is selected by Mines Action Canada, to participate in their 2010 Youth Leaders Forum. Stijn will as well take part in the skills building sessions and real-time practice opportunities for topics such as lobbying and advocacy strategies; fundraising and grant management; media relations; volunteer management provided by Mines Action Canada, as he plans to attend sessions of the State Meeting and the conference organized by the Cluster Munitions Coalition. He hopes that Pax Christi and all presented youth campaign leaders can contribute to a global ban on these weapons by developing new initiatives in the campaign against cluster munitions so that a global ban may soon be realized.

UN summit confident of achieving MDGs on time if world delivers

While expressing deep concern that progress has fallen far short of what is needed, the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held in New York from 20-22 September ended with confidence that with renewed global commitment the targets to slash hunger, poverty, disease and a host of other social ills can still be achieved by 2015.

“This Summit has laid a solid foundation for the progress we need in our quest to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the internationally agreed deadline of 2015,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the closing session of the MDG Summit. “The Summit outcome document sends a clear sign that you remain committed to the goals even in a difficult international environment,” he added.

Video:

http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2010/09/secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-closing-statement-mdg-debate.html (5:48 minutes)

Statement: http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4798

Website: http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/index.shtml

Outcome document: http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/pdf/mdg%20outcome%20document.pdf

Get the Inside Story on the MDG Summit

Dear Friend,

Nearly 140 world leaders joined President Obama in New York yesterday to discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While much of the talks took place behind closed doors, you can get the inside story on what happened by joining our global briefing call this Thursday:

http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/MDGBriefing

This summit in New York may have taken place 4,000 miles from Africa, but it's a watershed moment for the continent.

The last time these leaders gathered, in 2000, they made eight landmark promises to the world's people - the Millennium Development Goals.

In the 10 years since, governments have made progress towards those goals - but not nearly enough. Some of the promises of the MDGs are in danger of being broken.

The MDG summit is an opportunity for all of us to re-affirm our commitments to the world's poorest people - and for our leaders to agree to a concrete plan to fulfill the promises of the MDGs.

Our call will be an opportunity for you to find out what you can do in your own faith community to help. Charles Abugre Akelyira, Deputy Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign in Africa, will fill us in on outcomes from the summit and what our next steps should be.

Also joining the call will be Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur of Malaria No More, who serves as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Malaria. She'll discuss how faith communities and African government leaders are halting deaths from malaria - one of the MDGs.

Don't miss our briefing on Thursday:

http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/MDGBriefing

Susie McShane
Tony Blair Faith Foundation

P.S. Have you seen this video? President Jimmy Carter speaks with feeling about why we as people of faith must draw attention to extreme poverty. Watch it now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwwlbBNY3I8

Tony Blair Faith Foundation - MDG Call on Africa

Dear Friend,

Next week marks a historic moment in the fight against extreme poverty.

World leaders are gathering in New York to discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. It's a golden opportunity for us to urge our leaders to do more to honour their promises to the world's poorest people.

Learn more about what took place at the summit, and what you can do to make noise to end extreme poverty.

Join us Thursday, 23 September, for our next free Faiths Act Global Briefing call: Voices from Africa on the MDGs.

RSVP here:

http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/MDGCall

The call will take place at 13:00 EDT, 18:00 BST, 20:00 UTC.

Our speakers are uniquely equipped to speak to ways we can all help fulfill our promise to the world's most vulnerable people.

The call will feature a dialogue between Faiths Act Fellow Alum Pritpal Kaur Riat and Charles Abugre Akelyira, the United Nations Development Programme's African Director on outcomes from the UN MDG Summit.

Pritpal will also speak to an advocate for interfaith cooperation to fight malaria as well as a Faiths Act supporter from Uganda.

Hear how communities on the ground in Africa are experiencing the impact of the MDGs - and don't miss the online webcast accompanying the call!

http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/MDGCall

By learning about the issues and making a noise in your community, you will join people around the world in directing the international community's attention to the plight of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.

Hope you can join us.

Best

Kate

Kate Millar
Tony Blair Faith Foundation

A Million Minutes for Peace

21 September 2010 - A Million Minutes for Peace

Each year Pax Christi International Member Organisations join thousands of other organizations worldwide to mark the UN International Day of Peace on 21st September. The day is also observed as an International Day of Prayer for Peace. This day offers opportunities for (faith) communities to hold events, worship and prayer vigils, and forum on peace-related themes in your area or country. All Member Organisations of Pax Christi International are invited to focus on this International Day. More information is available in 2010-0467-en-gl-PE.

Odyssey Networks invites us all to join them on this day in their campaign ‘A Million Minutes of Peace’. They call on all people around the world to stop at noon and pray for peace for one minute- in their own way. No matter what your religious affiliation is, make a pledge to join in on this initiative. It only takes a minute.

For more information and to sign up for the campaign CLICK HERE.

More information on the International Day of Peace CLICK HERE.

Pax Christi Youth - Millennium Development Goals Summit Videos!

Peace = Future, the math is easy

Youth for Peace and Development

In commemoration of 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding

This year, the International Day of Peace (21 September) falls within the same time period as a major summit on the UN Millennium Development Goals, the world’s largest anti-poverty campaign. The Summit brings world leaders together at the United Nations in New York from 20 - 22 September.

The United Nations is looking for stories from young people around the world who are working for peace.

Send your stories to Anna Fritzsche at ousg-dpi@un.org and Eleonore Kopera at kopera@un.org.

Youth, peace and development are closely interlinked:

·Peace enables development, which is critical in providing opportunities for young people, particularly those in countries emerging from conflict.

·Healthy, educated youth are in turn crucial to sustainable development and peace.

·Peace, stability and security are essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at slashing poverty, hunger, disease, and maternal and child death by 2015.

Apply to be a Faiths Act Fellow: MDGs

Apply now to join the 2011 Faiths Act Fellowship

The Faiths Act Fellowship is a year long paid opportunity for young leaders to work towards the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to end the scandal of extreme poverty.

After one month of training in London, Faiths Act Fellows are placed into pairs and matched with development organisations and NGOs in local communities. There, they work for the rest of their Fellowship year to build partnerships across faiths and mobilise communities in support of the MDGs whilst developing their own interfaith leadership skills.

Faiths Act Fellows can demonstrate how faith can play a hugely positive force in the world through an exciting, motivating, demanding and moving experience.

Applicants must be between the ages of 20 and 27 and citizens or legal residents of Canada, India, the United Kingdom, or the United States.

We're looking forward to another amazing year of the Faiths Act Fellowship. I hope you'll be a part of it - either by applying yourself or by spreading word of this amazing opportunity to an extraordinary young leader you know.

Thank you,

Hannah Wallace
Faiths Act Programme Manager

World Council of Churches Stewards Programme 2011

Apply now: Stewards Programme 2011

Young Christians from around the world are invited to apply to the World Council of Churches (WCC) stewards programme for one of two hands-on learning experiences at major ecumenical meetings in 2011, the WCC Central Committee meeting, 8-24 February, and the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, 12-26 May. Applicants must be between the age of 18-30 years.

During the meetings stewards will work in the areas of worship, conference room, documentation, press office, sound, and other administrative and support tasks.

The WCC Central Committee meets every 18 months in Geneva, Switzerland to monitor and set directions to the Council's work. The meeting brings together about 150 church representatives, advisers and observers from WCC member churches and associated organizations worldwide. Twenty stewards will help to make this event happen.

The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC) will gather some 1000 participants from all over the world in Kingston, Jamaica. Participants of many different backgrounds will witness to the peace of God as both gift and responsibility of the entire human family. The IEPC stewards programme will have 45 participants, with one third of them coming from Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Before the meetings, stewards follow an ecumenical learning programme which exposes them to the key issues of the ecumenical movement worldwide. The last phase of the stewards programme, following the meeting, focuses on designing ecumenical projects which stewards will implement back home.

Being a steward means hard work, but it is also a unique ecumenical experience of togetherness with young people from different churches, countries and cultures.

Applicants are invited to send in the application form:

· by 30 September 2010 for the Central Committee

· by 30 November 2010 for the IEPC

Download the application form HERE.

Violent Actors, Peaceful Alternatives: A Faith-Sensitive Training Toolkit for Youth

Open publication - Free publishing - More youth