“This image of taking care is very beautiful – said the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli in dialogue with a group of young people at the opening of the International Forum ‘DareToCare – Dare to take care’ in Brussels (Belgium) – because politics has this horizon, it cannot have others, it is the horizon of politics: to take care of people, of one’s community, of one’s cities. I think this is really an expression that represents this desire to bet on the future.”

The young people who spoke with him were students of international relations, politicians, communicators, peacemakers from Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Colombia, Hungary, and Rwanda. Their questions focused on topics such as democracy, Europe’s accession to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, reception and humanitarian corridors, and the climate crisis. “We know that politics can do many things – said Sassoli – but it certainly cannot do much without citizens, especially without young people. Therefore, in this difficult moment, if we also want to think and prepare ourselves for the challenges of the future, the participation of young people is very important and decisive.”

The International Forum which opened in Brussels is part of United World Week 2021, an annual event promoted during the first week of May by the Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement. Each year, a continent is chosen to host and prepare the central event. This time it was Europe’s turn, with Brussels, the capital of the European Union, at the heart of the events broadcast via Internet.

The starting point of the Forum was the Atomium, the monument erected in 1958 for the World Fair in Brussels (also known as Expo ’58), which has become the symbol of the Belgian capital. Prophetically, the theme of that Expo was: “For a more human world.” From here, from the heart of Europe, the young promoters of the “DareToCare” campaign today launched their commitment to ensure that in the world there is more care, more inclusion, more fraternity, for a world that respects the dignity of all human beings and the identity of every people and community.

Through testimonies, actions, and initiatives from the five continents, Rita, Febe, and Johnny, young Belgians and Luxembourgers of different origins, showed the path taken by the “DareToCare” campaign since its launch in June 2020. Burundi, El Salvador, Myanmar, Italy, and Colombia, are the countries touched by this virtual world tour, discovering the most diverse ways of taking care of their communities, their countries, and living political commitment or active citizenship.

Then, the young people of Porto (Portugal) involved in the “DareToCare” campaign were able to convey an “Appeal to Care” to European leaders gathered in their city for the Social Summit. Among other things, the text reads: “On behalf of all those connected to the #daretocare campaign, we ask the European Union (EU) leaders gathered in our country this weekend – and leaders around the world – to answer our call and ‘dare to take care.’ […] To strengthen social rights throughout Europe, to launch the Conference on the Future of Europe with the goal of uniting the peoples of Europe, putting care at the heart of this European project, and making sure that the COVID-19 vaccine becomes a vaccine for all, a global common good shared by all across all borders.”

Care Continues…

Even after the conclusion of United World Week 2021, the commitment goes ahead. The young people of the Focolare Movement, together with all the other promoters and partners of the #daretocare campaign, renew for the years 2021-2022 their commitment to “dare to care,” focusing on caring for the planet (Earth) and for people, encouraging a true ecological conversion, taking responsibility for changing lifestyles, making them more sustainable, and trying to involve as many people as possible in this revolution.

Over 800 events, more than 400 “Run4Unity” activities around the world, about 2,016 hours of streaming with insights on politics, migration, justice, rights, economics, health, ecology, dialogue, and art. Not just theory. Not only experts. But also many ongoing best practices, actions of sensitization, and solidarity that have involved groups of young people, parishes, associations, families, the religious, entire communities, and even newspapers. All generations were represented, with the special active support of children, who participated with initiatives of active citizenship.

It was precisely on Europe Day, May 9, that United World Week 2021 concluded in Brussels. Entitled “#daretocare,” this 9-day festival of fraternity engaged thousands and thousands of people from all over the planet, who witnessed and promoted the urgency of “dare to care,” that is, the need to make “care” the common denominator that can guide our actions as citizens, as well as those of politicians. If the heart of the event, the main event, was in Brussels, there were also many events organized in the rest of the world, in which everyone could participate, thanks to an interactive calendar: from France to Korea, from Bolivia to Sierra Leone, from the Philippines to the Holy Land.

#daretocare, people, the planet, and our ecological conversion

And now, one would wonder, is it all over? What has happened to so much mobilization? The effort certainly doesn’t stop with the end of the United World Week! In fact, the young people of the Focolare Movement, together with all the promoters and partners of the #daretocare campaign, recommit themselves to “dare to care,” focusing on people and the planet, proposing an “ecological conversion.” How? By promoting and implementing integral ecology, through initiatives that can involve associations, organizations, institutions but also through our simple daily gestures, to break the logic of violence, exploitation, and selfishness typical of the culture of waste.

Planet Pledge

Separating waste, not buying fast fashion,[1] taking part in solidarity initiatives for the disadvantaged of one’s city, avoiding the use of plastic items, cooking only as much as one can eat, treating other living beings with care, using public transport, turning off unnecessary lights… Small actions can help generate big changes! With the new campaign #daretocare, we are all invited to make a commitment for the people and the planet, and to endorse it “publicly” through the website: http://www.unitedworldproject.org/daretocare2021/

Internationalization of vaccines

And then, we give plenty of scope for health. Strong was the call, the urgency, throughout the United World Week, to make the COVID-19 vaccine a common good for all, shared across borders. The young people, in fact, have reiterated their commitment to stimulate the governments of their respective countries to practice greater political and economic cooperation in the rollout of vaccines: “We call on EU leaders here in Brussels and all leaders around the world to seriously make COVID -19 vaccines accessible to everyone, no matter where they are. We pledge to continue to push for vaccine access for all.”

Alongside this, as part of the new #daretocare campaign, the desire to “get our hands dirty” was born, reaching those margins of the world that have difficulty accessing care and assistance, especially in this time of pandemic.

Tamara Pastorelli

[1] Mass production of cheap, poor quality, disposable clothing that samples ideas from frequently changing fashion trends