Photo Report: United Religions Initiative Europe Assembly in Damme, Belgium
Cherishing the past building the future, co-creating our vision, and making URI Europe a strong actor for positive change.
We were guests at the Stiltehoeve (Silence Farm, vegetarian meals, partly grown in own garden!) of Cooperation Circle BZN. Here we had a short, three-day meeting with Cooperation Circles from all over Europe, to share experiences, new ideas and thoughts.
It was very intense, filled with knowledge and young fresh ideas and inspiration. We shared these through plenary group sessions, making posters, and various brainstorming techniques, bringing out all the input in a structured manner.
This was also a moment to explain again how URI Europe is organized, and to explain certain things. For example, currently there is a paid staff of three who are doing all the coordinating and communication jobs concerning the 36 operating Cooperation Circles and 16 starting Cooperation Circles in Europe. But also about the role of Patrick Hanjoul, who has fulfilled the last 13 years as chair for URI Europe, as well as the director of BZN, (Bond Zonder Naam, Movement Without a Name; everybody contributes without taking credit) a major partner in backing activities for URI Europe to happen.
But how do we envision and plan to continue? This was the main question for this meeting.
There was also a small visit to Brugge, a local city, and a musical talent show. It was again a great experience to meet people from countries from their own context, and being able to ask questions. Sadly, it was more or less the same story regarding disappearing jobs, secularization, violence relating to religion, and rising populism. Never the less we are grateful for this opportunity to put our heads together and create a vision for the future. Let’s see where it will take us!
- URI IBS CC Editorial Team 2016
Below are a few photos. See many more photos of each day, with captions, here.
