LINK CULTURES – is a pathway for peace. Ago Fiorella Alex Encar Daniele Stella Julian Sara Carlos Jonna Danilo Annalisa Marcos Sandra Jean-Paul…

Dear gen 3 and Teen for unity,

Our worldwide relay race has set off and the baton is already being handed on from one time zone to the next so as to tell the whole world that we want peace and unity. Here is the first news we have received about the Runs 4 Unity that are taking place all over the world.

EUROPA

Italy – Rome

Run4unity and … Pope Francis! In Rome the baton set off at the end of our Mariapolis at the end of which we had the huge surprise of a visit by Pope Francis!!!
“Can you see our photo with him? We were talking about the Run4Unity and all of you. We were especially happy that in his message to us he spoke about the value of sport and games so as to learn to give freely and to learn social friendship. We set off with his words of encouragement: go to where there is desert and transform it into forest through love!”.

Italy – Marina di Massa

In Marina di Massa the baton was taken up by many friends of ours who are differently able and young people from other organisations. “There were more than 400 people. The race was guided by a horse drawn barouche where there were differently able boys and girls at the Ippomare Centre. Because they were not able to run like us they started everything off with their horses. Afterwards, our friends in the Scout Movement organised wonderful games on the field in the park. Then there were dances, live music, artistic gymnastics, zumba, fencing and equestrian. At the end there was a very deep moment which helped us not to be afraid of diversity. The subject was dialogue between Christians and Muslims. Michele Zanzucchi, who wrote a book called “Islam explained to those who are afraid of Muslims”, spoke to us together with the vice-president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, Youssef Sbai and our Bishop Giovanni Santucci.

France – Lyon

It was a race of love between generations. The Teens for Unity in Lyon wanted to bring their love and unity to older people in a care home. “It was a very meaningful moment – the young people said. The older people were very touched by our visit and by the paper flowers we brought as gifts to them. We have seen it is through little things that peace and a sense of family among all can grow!”

Austria – Vienna

16 nationalities, 36 teams, 225 players, 238 goals for Syria and 150 fans! These are the statistics of the Run4Unity held in Vienna. Children, young people and adults were there who came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and different countries in Africa as well as Austria itself. We raised funds for Syria by scoring goals! In fact every goal was “sponsored” and so earned money. “With the motto “link cultures” (written in German and Arabic) we told everyone about the rules of “fair play” in the game, for example “accept everyone as they are; no violence and try to make friends” At the end of the game we showed a video made by some young people in Syria and had a Skype with the Run4Unity in Sopron (Hungary). We ended the day with a BBQ and everyone agreed that it had been an extraordinary day that must happen again next year”.

Hungry – Sopron

On the first of May 2004 Hungary entered the European Union. To remember this event a half marathon (21 Km) is organise every year which starts from Eisenstadt in Austria and ends in Sopron in Hungary. This year, following the tensions on the border because of the many migrants, we asked the organisers if we could hold the Run4Unity during this event so as to give it the meaning of a race for peace. “Sopron is a Hungarian city on the border with Austria and Slovakia – write the Teens for Unity in Hungary – this is why we had the idea of inviting our friends from neighbouring countries. 40 girls and boys from Slovakia came and the same number from Austria”. Some people in our community were in touch with a refugee camp in Austria so we were able to invite them to come to the race for peace. 20 came and they ran from Eisenstadt to the border with Hungary. Then they handed on the baton and we continued to the end. In the end we took a photo with the Cup and sent it to the young people who ran the first part with us. They sent us their photo and so we were all very happy about the Cup we had won and struggled for together!”

LATIN AMERICA

Brazil – Rio de Janeiro

An ecological Run4Unity! There was a steep path that brought the Run4Unity participants through the lush Atlantic forest on the Urca Mountain. At the start, in addition to a headband printed with the word “PEACE” in many different languages (for the tourists to understand), each runner also received a rubber glove and a sack! Going up the path, it was like a competition for everyone to discover and collect the garbage left by many tourists. When they reached the top, it was a surprise to see a wonderful view and there was the joy of launching to the world with a flash mob the unanimous desire for peace.

Brazil – Florianopolis, Porto Alegre and Maringà

The oldest and most prestigious sports event in the world that brings together the greatest champions of the world is the Olympic Games. This year (5th – 21st August 2016) it will be held in Brazil. Three months before the Olympics, the Teens for Unity of Florianopolis, Porto Alegre and Maringà, three cities in Brazil, have organized the “Teen Olympics” with the desire to become … champions of love and unity! There were 517 participants. The event was organized in collaboration with two universities. There were various sports events: football, athletics, swimming, volleyball and much more. Two participants told us: “At these Olympics I found many friends who love me, I have experienced the family and now I want to bring this love to many people.” “I was afraid to enter the water, but looking into my eyes our coach told me: ‘You’ll make it, go and give your best!’ I will never forget that encouragement and to hear someone who believes in me. The lessons I learned through sport and from all of you will help me throughout my entire life.”

AFRICA

Lesotho – Bela-Bela

On a mountain top in order to strengthen the commitment to live for unity and peace! “There were 20 of us, but with a great desire in our heart: to be united with all of you so as to bring peace and brotherhood everywhere. We went up the Lesotho Mountains and we affirmed our commitment to live for peace by making fraternal gestures to the people we encountered along the way. When we arrived on the mountain top we shared our experiences. We felt united to all of you in this relay race for world unity.”

ASIA

Pakistan – Lahore

In Lahore there was a race … of love. The “relay race” encouraged the Teens for Unity to give joy and a smile to 120 poor children in a school run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. “At first it was difficult to build a relationship with the children – said one of the girls participating in the activity – but in the end, it was so nice that we did not want to leave. We brought many of our clothes and toys to share with them. Then we told them our experiences, we played and sang. In the end, each one left their handprint on a billboard as a sign of their commitment to work for peace. I feel so transformed after this experience. The school children were very happy and we were too: we have loved each other without making differences between those who were more or less attractive, pleasant and unpleasant …” The teachers and the Sisters thanked us so much and asked us to come back soon!

Taiwan – Taipei and Kaohsiung

The vice-president ran with us! We had two Run4Unity activities in Taiwan: one in the north, in Taipei and one in the south in Kaohsiung. “It was a great surprise in the capital city Taipei when we saw Chen Chien-Jen, the vice-president of the country, arrive. He was accompanied by his wife and ten bodyguards! He was very happy to see us and very happy about our commitment to peace.”