Marist solidarity activity in America
Solidarity activity in America is the subject of the IIIrd Inter-American Meeting « Marist hearts in solidarity ». It is through this activity that the Marist institution takes part in the World Social Forum 2009, which is taking place in Brazil.
The opening of the Inter-American Meeting on 23 January at Belém, Pará, the city where the World Social Forum is being held, was marked by the coming of brothers and lay people from 10 Marist Provinces and two Districts and from other organisms of the Marist organization. The opening celebration took into account the cultural diversity of the communities where the Institute is working, and included elements of the native Mayan culture in which the Marists of Mexico work.
The official opening was presided over by the members of the Inter-American solidarity sub-commission, responsible for the organisation of the Meeting, represented by Mónica Linares. Brothers Juan Miguel Anaya, of the Marist Institute in Rome, and Claudino Falchetto, representing the Marist Union of Brazil – UMBRASIL ? wished everyone a welcome.
The Meeting had as its aim the promotion and strengthening of Marist solidarity and presence in America, in view of a network organisation , to contribute to the defense and the guarantee of the rights of children, adolescents, and young people.
Various sources fed the reflections and the formation of proposals : analysis of the realities of children, adolescents and young people, with the participation of Jorge Freyre, of the Latin-American and Caribbean Network for the Rights of Children and Adolescents ? REDLAMYC -, and Juarez Dayrel, professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil) ; the sharing of the solidarity proceedings of the Marist Institute ; and the structuring of the project which will allow the voices and the « dreams » of children, adolescents, young people, and educational specialists to be heard. These actions aim to work out the document « the Marist mission of solidarity in America », a proceeding which will develop over the next three years, by reinforcing solidarity networks in all the milieux : local, regional, national, and international.
As a conclusion to the Meeting, brothers and lay Marists will take part in the World Social Forum. The first activity will be a walk, which will count more than 400 Marist representatives from Brazil and different countries on January 27. The Marist Provinces « Brasil Centro-Sul », « Brasil Centro-Norte », « Rio Grande do Sul » and the Marist Union of Brazil ? UMBRASIL -, participate in the World Social Forum with workshops on the domains of economic solidarity, holistic education, and the defence and guarantee of the rights of children and adolescents.
Information on Marist participation in the World Social Forum can be found on the blog fsm2009.marista.edu.br.
The participation of the Marist Institute in the World Social Forum 2009, thanks to the IIIrd Inter-American Meeting and to the activities of the official programme of the World Social Forum, contribute to reinforce the Marist heart in solidarity with children, adolescents and young people throughout America, in the light of rights, for the social transformation of the different.