Dear URI Cooperation Circles,
As 2012 comes to its end, we announce our newest approved members. In December, URI incorporated five Cooperation Circles belonging to Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Multi-Region. We are happy to be working together with these wonderful groups to make URI´s vision a reality. With these new additions, the URI community now includes 568 Cooperation Circles.
AFRICA - You Can Foundation
The You Can Foundation was established in 2006 and consists of Muslims, Catholics, Presbyterians, Pentecostal churches and Seventh Day Adventists. It conducts activities for young people such as interfaith leadership seminars, debates on HIV/AIDS, capacity building workshops and talent shows. Members motivate students at primary schools, secondary schools and colleges using song, poetry, drama, sports, debates and talk shows. It also provides young people with the training needed to develop a vocation. One of its main goals is to help young people grow up with a tolerance for others’ religions and respect for one another’s political beliefs and ethnic groupings.
ASIA - Santhwanam Cancer Care and Palliative Centre
This Cooperation Circle is formed by deeply committed people who have been engaged in community development and interfaith work for many years. They provide medical assistance primarily to those whose lives have been affected by cancer, as well as people suffering from tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other major diseases. The organization has assisted hundreds of patients since their doors opened in 2010. They provide ambulance services for those in need; plant trees every year to combat climate change and help women build skills to sustain a livelihood. For more information about their many activities, visit their website: http://www.santhwanamkarickom.org/
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - Aflaiai (Eterno)
The name AflaIai is the word used by the Mapuche people to mean “eternal.” This group came together to revive their cosmovision and ensure its eternity through promoting their language, culture, its values and spirituality. In doing so, they hope to heal the earth and enrich the larger community. One of the highlights of their work has been to promote gatherings between Mapuche women, the ones who have been entrusted to share their ancestral knowledge. Another highlight has been to restore the cultivation of medicinal plants, a practice which has been replaced by the commercial venture of ornamental plants.
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA -The Arabic Speaking CC
The purpose of this group is to promote the usage of Modern Standard Arabic language in Israel. Members invite those of the Jewish faith to become acquainted with and appreciative of Islamic culture, by studying language and literature. They study books written by Najib Mahfouz, an Egyptian writer and the winner of Nobel Prize for Literature in 1988. Coming together in this way promotes peace, one meeting at a time. A highlight of their work to date has been a deep sense of cooperation and enduring friendship between Jewish and Arab educators, despite escalating tension in the region.
MULTI-REGION - Radio Tram
The purpose of Radio Tram is to promote free expression, human rights, gender equality and tolerance through radio in Egypt. The channel was founded and fully funded by young people. They present ideas, talent, projects and activities that emerged among youth following the 2011 revolution. Today, Radio Tram is one of the top online channels in Egypt. Their ideals go hand-in-hand with URI’s purpose and principles and they believe their participation will give them greater credibility. In turn, their local partnerships will enable the message of tolerance and acceptance to be broadcast far and wide. To learn more, go to www.radiotram.com.
May Peace prevail on Earth!
If you wish to extend your warm wishes to these new groups, please click on the links for their CC pages.
With love,
Maria Crespo
on behalf of the URI CC Approval Committee
