Mexico – Puebla

Do you know where Acatzingo de Hidalgo is? It is a city 50 Km south of Puebla, in Mexico. Teenagers, young people, adults and families ran for 4 kilometres through the streets of their city to bring a message of peace and fraternity. “The next day the Mayor made a surprise visit to the nearby little town of the Focolare called ‘El Diamante’ to thank us. He was surprised how clean we had left all the places we had been to. He wants to collaborate with us in future too.”

Jordan – Amman

100 balloons rose up into the Middle Eastern sky to plead for peace. That is how the Run4Unity ended in Amman, Jordan. “There were about 100 participants – between the ages of 13 and 30 – and we all did three stages dedicated to sport, education and the environment. Among the topics included in the event was mercy which we put into practice by going to visit some people who were ill and some families in need. Then we all met together in the city centre where we wrote messages for peace and attached them to the balloons and sent them up into the sky.”

India – Mumbai

The Run4Unity in Mumbai was split into four parts. Four events were held over four weeks! “We organised games with some boys and girls who were homeless and living on the streets. We also went to see some children in an orphanage. In the evening, it was incredible … everyone went to bed early… we were tired out but really happy. After a few days, together with our friends from Bangalore, we went to get to know the boys and girls at the Shanti Ashram in Coimbatore, an organisation that is active in social work and education. We set off on an adventurous journey and discovered the depths of love, especially loving people in difficulty. We did the Run4Unity Together, walking up a huge number of red and orange steps to a temple on a mountain top. Then we played together. On Sunday 8th May, at Bandra (Mumbai) there will be another, the last, Run4Unity.”

Albania – Durrës

The Run4unity was held in Durrës. Christian and Muslim students from two schools went out into the main square together to show their unity and say “Stop the violence”!

Italia – Cupra Marittima

A walk for peace along the seashore. “It was a wonderful occasion to build the reality of being one family between generations, cultures and religions. Our friends from Senegal, Morocco, Argentina and Albania walked with us. Especially touching was the time-out led by the Muslim children and the telephone link up with France. Our public event involved many different people in our town: the local radio, sports associations, and the local authority. The mayor came too which emphasised the importance of the occasion