HomeEVENTSTowards Genfest 2018

Towards Genfest 2018

One year from now, the International Youth Festival, or Genfest, will be taking place in the Philippines. This will be the first time that it will be held outside Europe. To prepare for this big and great event, we will be allotting pages every month in our magazine to update you about this gathering.

Genfest is a meeting of thousands of youths from all over the world, from varying ethnic backgrounds, cultures and religions, motivated by the idea that the construction of a united and more sympathetic world is already an experience of life and social action.

The Genfest is an occasion for the exchange of and approach towards ideas on economy, art, environment, social realities and intercultural dialogue. It is an invitation to build bridges of fraternity and contribute to breaking down barriers of indifference, prejudice, and egoism. Starting in 1973 as the brainchild of Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement, the Genfest will reach its 11th edition in 2018 in Manila.

HISTORY

The Genfest is a meeting of youths who want to show the world that universal fraternity, a united world, is an Ideal worth living for. Over the years, the Genfest has become a great festival where ideas, thoughts are generated, and actions are launched to inspire thousands of youths to change their lives, their futures and, finally, the world itself.

1973 – “People with a Global Vision who Overcome all Barriers” – The first Genfest in history, attended by 8,000 youths. – Loppiano (Florence – Italy)

1975 – “Unity is Possible” – 20,000 youths, coming for the first time from five continents, were received in audience and blessed by Paul VI, who later exclaimed: “A new world is born!” – Palaeur of Rome (Italy)

1980 – “For a united world” – 40,000s youth gathered at the height of the cold war. – Flaminio Stadium in Rome (Italy)

1985 – “Many Ways to a United World.” – A key moment: the baptism of the movement Youth for a United World. Thousands of youth participated, connected by a conference call from America to Australia. – Palaeur of Rome (Italy)

1987 – Genfest Events. 120,000 youths from the five continents gather in 40 different countries in order to bridge the disunities of their own lands and initiate concrete and targeted activities.

1990 – “A United World – An Ideal that makes History” – The collapse of the wall between the East and the West seemed to accelerate the times. In this event, youths from Eastern Europe could finally participate, following the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Welcoming them was one person who had contributed to this: John Paul II. A video connection, via satellite, transmitted the Genfest to every corner of the world. – Palaeur of Rome (Italy)

1993 – “Unity of the peoples” – 130,000 youths participated in 56 national Genfests.

1995 – “Let’s show a united world” – A strong media exposure, four satellite broadcasters, 55 national television services, 350 regional television services transmitted the message of the Genfest to millions of people, the first Genfest streamed live. The United World Week was born. – Palaeur of Rome (Italy)

2000 – The Genfest was integrated as
an event in the World Youth Day. – Stadio Flaminio of Rome (Italy)

2012 – “Let’s Bridge” – 12,000 youths gathered in Budapest on the crossroads between Central and Eastern Europe. A key moment: the launch of the United World Project, which marked a new step for the Youth for United World. Live streaming of the program and social network coverage conveyed the message of the Genfest to millions of people. – Sports Arena, Budapest (Hungary)

2018 – In preparation: “Beyond all Borders” – World Trade Center, Metro Manila

PROMOTERS

“Youth for a United World” of the Focolare Movement are young people between the ages of 17 and 30 committed to constructing a more united world, to making humanity ever more one family, while respecting each other’s identity. They carry out numerous activities in their own environments, in favour of universal brotherhood. Their characteristic is universality: hailing from the five continents, they are of different ethnic groups, nationalities and cultures. They also belong to various Christian denominations, diverse religions and some of them don’t profess a religious faith, yet believe in the highest values of the human being.

Beyond All Borders

The title BEYOND ALL BORDERS intends to highlight the boundaries that need to be overcome on the personal and social levels. It was chosen with the purpose of opening up the minds and hearts of the participants in the Genfest.

This eleventh edition aims to inspire participants to build a happier and a united world. To breathe, love, work and live with concern for everyone. This is why the Genfest places value on artistic manifestations, music, dances, expositions, and forums, etc., to enable everyone to think differently and to transform life into something more beautiful.

In one’s PERSONAL life

  1. Egoism (to go out of ourselves for love)
  2. Stereotypes and prejudices (to welcome the diversity in the other)
  3. Fears (future, limits, expectations, etc…)
  4. Indecision (to make a choice)
  5. Superficial relationships (to build authentic relationships)
  6. Offense (forgive always)
  7. Individualism (trust the others, to build things together)
  8. Impatience (to stay and to reflect on the meaning of your own life)
  9. Pain (to overcome the pain with love)

In one’s SOCIAL life

  1. Difference (to get along well with the religious, cultural, and social differences)
  2. Consumerism (to go beyond the consumerist mentality so as to find happiness)
  3. Unfair/unjust/dictatorial policies (active/responsible/honest citizenship)
  4. Conflicts (solving the conflicts with dialogue, and not war)
  5. Unjust economy (to go beyond an economy that only cares about individual wealth)
  6. Ignorance / misinformation (to search for information, critical and free thinking, to search for the truth)
  7. Negative use of technology and mass media (use it for educational and social purposes)
  8. Indifference (to care about others and social problems)
  9. Generational Gap and indifference(inter-generational collaboration)

Let’s begin the countdown to Genfest 2018 by living beyond all borders, beyond limits, and beyond boundaries. How? By making experiences in overcoming our self-centeredness, always looking outside ourselves by reaching out to others in simple ways: a smile, a helping hand, a listening heart or through any creative ways that we can think of, and then let’s share our experiences. Together let’s heed the call of our times to live in unity and brotherhood, and to build a world in harmony and peace.

For more information keep in touch with us through our website: y4uw.org/genfest

 

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