PHOTO: A view of Mt. Fuji at the Annual Symphony of Prayers in Japan, home to two new URI Cooperation Circles
Sixteen new Cooperation Circles (CCs) from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, India, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and, notably, our first two CCs from Japan have joined the URI global community. As of June, URI now has 587 CCs in 84 countries.
There are numerous ways groups and organizations find out about URI. Some first connect through URI’s website. But, increasingly, new members come into URI’s network through a complex web of relationships with URI leaders and CC members that evolve over many years.
Two significant examples include our new CCs from Japan: ANT Hiroshima and the Japan Interfaith Council. At URI’s second Global Summit in 1997, CC member Deborah Moldow introduced Africa Continent Coordinator Mussie Hailu to URI Executive Director Charles Gibbs. This initial connection led to a relationship with the World Peace Prayer Society, founded in Japan and the creator of the Peace Pole and the universal prayer, May Peace Prevail on Earth. Charles recognized Mussie’s natural gift for leadership and not long after, he was hired to coordinate URI’s growth in Africa.
The three continued deepening relationships with the World Peace Prayer Society, and in May 2013, Mussie journeyed to Japan on behalf of URI to attend the World Peace Prayer Society’s annual Symphony of Peace Prayers. Having met with ANT Hiroshima and the Japan Interfaith Council on previous trips, he invited their representatives to participate in the event. By the end of Mussie’s most recent visit, both organizations decided to apply to become URI CCs.
ANT Hiroshima’s slogan, “like ants, we may have little power alone, but through partnership we can accomplish great things” in many ways sums up the approach that Charles Gibbs has inspired during his tenure at URI and has served as an engine for URI’s growth. Mussie’s work, in close collaboration with Regional Coordinators, Country Liaisons and Global Trustees based in different parts of Africa, has built a regional network of 115 CCs - nearly 20% of URI’s membership.
This vital network of relationship-building is the foundation of all URI regional growth. As Maria Crespo, Director of CC Support, says, “We may not always see immediate results from the contacts URI leaders like Charles have made over the years, but we see it constantly reflected in CC applications: ‘I met Charles in 2001’ or ‘Despina Namwembe [URI Regional Coordinator in Uganda] visited us and listened to our stories earlier this year.’ We know that these relationships really do make a difference over time.”
For a full listing of new CC additions and links to individual CC pages, click here.