Viviamo!, Italian for “We live!”, is a World Youth Alliance (WYA) project launched in 2006 which focused on improving local habitats around the globe. Each of the five WYA Regions identified a community-based habitat project that is effectively addressing poverty and local concerns while highlighting the dignity of the person. These Habitat projects are an opportunity for us to look at some of the ways in which the ingenuity of each person is being harnessed to find unique and creative new solutions to large-scale problems. Now, one year after its initial launch, the various Viviamo! Projects are thriving and attracting more and more volunteers.
This year, the World Youth Alliance would like to give its members the opportunity to experience Viviamo! Projects of regions other than their own. Of particular importance is the opportunity given to members in developed nations a chance to visit the Viviamo! Projects of developing nations.
With these goals in mind, the Viviamo! Camp was conceived. An immersion program taking place in a different WYA region, the participant is given ample time to know more about the other region’s history and culture, and see how these affect its development needs today.
This project aims to strengthen relationships between developed and developing nations by:
• Giving participants a deeper understanding of the depth and
breadth of the issue of development
• Exposing participants to situations where development priorities are
different from that of their home country
• Teaching participants different tools and programs to help achieve
development goals and overcome the challenges that
may hinder development
Who is invited to join the camps?
Participating in these Viviamo! Camps will be members of the World Youth Alliance who have completed a certain degree of training, and are interested in learning more about the issue of development and its many faces. Preference is given to members who have participated in the Viviamo! Projects in their own region.
Where will the camps be held?
Asia Pacific is partnering with Gawad Kalinga whose mission is to transform slums into beautiful, peaceful and self-reliant communities by building a culture of caring and partnership among the inhabitants of the slums. (Manila, Philippines)
For more information, click on the logo above or email WYA - Asia Pacific Director of Operations, Tamara Tan at tamara@wya.net .
Europe is patnering with Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Caritas, an organisation which work in the frame of social mission of the church and offer various programmes for children, especially those with disabilities and AIDS, assistance to the elderly and the lonely. (Targu Mures, Romania)
For more information, click on the logo above or email WYA - Europe Director of Operations, Magdalena Bien at magdalena@wya.net .
Latin America is partnering with Acortar Distancias, an organization that helps people in extreme poverty to develop their individual talents and skills. (Guadalajara, Mexico)
For more information, click on the logo above or email WYA - Latin America Director of Operations, Marianne Gerhard at marianne@wya.net .
We wish to express our solidarity with those suffering from violence and unrest in the Middle East and in so many other areas of the world.
"Visible signs of need, suffering and injustice expose the universal human condition of vulnerability and reveal a common identity amongst the self and other persons. This in turn lays the foundation for the understanding and forgiveness necessary for lasting solidarity. We, as young people, particularly commit ourselves in solidarity to all those who live in need, experience the vulnerability and hardships of war, famine, disease or social unrest, and who suffer the poverty of hopelessness.
Through this unified commitment to solidarity, we build the foundation for the establishment of a free, just and peaceful world." ~From the World Youth Alliance Solidarity Declaration
Please send us a brief expressionof your solidarity (3-4 lines) with those people who are suffering to: international@wya.net
We will post as many as we are able (postings are subject to the approval of WYA International).
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Deseo expresar lo que siento sobre la guerra en el Líbano: tiene que terminar. No es justo lo que la gente está viviendo por allá. Deseo que la guerra ya termine y que se manifieste la paz como un acto de solidaridad. I want to express what I feel about the war in : It must end. It is not fair what the people are suffering. I wish the end of the war and the manifestation of peace as a solidarity act.
Fernando Schoeneck, 15 years old,
Guadalajara, México
There are, definitely, better ways of finding solutions than using violence. Usually violence causes more damages than the ones that were planned. I pray for those people that are suffering those unfair damages, and hope that the people involved in the problem understand some day that in order to have a better world, is very important to learn how to cooperate, forgive and understand each other.
Fernando Esquer Báez
Culiacán, México
Realmente me pesa todo lo que está pasando, y desde aquí apoyamos a todos los que están sufriendo con muchas oraciones, deseando que todo esto termine.... pienso y rezo siempre por ustedes. I'm really saddened with all that is happening, and from here we are supporting all of those suffering with many prayers, hoping that this is all over soon... I am thinking and praying for you.
Monserrat Villanueva, 16 años
Guadalajara, México
De verdad espero y todos los días rezo por que la guerra finalice, para que todos ustedes dejen de sufrir y recuperemos mundialmente la paz y alegría. I really hope and everyday I pray for the war to be over so your suffering will be eased and so that globally, we reclaim peace and happiness.
Michelle Arellano, 15 años
Guadalajara, México
Espero que pronto pueda haber paz... ya que esta guerra esta acabando con muchas familias y así pueda terminar todo su sufrimiento. I hope that soon we can have peace from this war that is destroying so many families so that all their suffering may be ended.
Mariane Alcaraz. 16 años
Guadalajara, México
Estamos pidiendo por todos los que están sufriendo en este momento y que, además, no lo merecen… esperamos que pronto acabe todo esto... que pronto haya paz. Our thoughts go out to those innocent people who are suffering. We hope that this will all be over soon...that there can be peace...
Sofía Agraz, 15 años
Guadalajara, México
Debemos de pensar que la guerra no es la mejor solución para algún problema ya que toda la gente inocente sufre y estamos rezando mucho y pidiendole a Dios que ayude a toda esa gente tan necesitada para que termine esta pesadilla para ellos. We have to realize that war is not the best solution for any problem because it is innocent people who suffer. We are praying a lot and asking God to help these needy people and to end this nightmare for them.
Verónica Ruelas, 16 años
Guadalajara, México
Quienes gozamos de paz en nuestros países, no podemos siquiera imaginar el gran dolor, que tantos de nuestros hermanos viven en Líbano con la guerra que ahí se desarrolla. Lo que si podemos hacer, es empatizar y solidarizarnos con ellos no pidiendo, sino exigiendo paz y respeto a la vida; más allá de los pretextos culturales, políticos y contextuales, que nos empujan a juzgarnos entre nosotros y a dañarnos, juzgando y dañando a nuestros iguales, seres intrínsecamente dignos.
Alexis Renée Ramírez, 20 años
Guadalajara, Jal. México
In these times of turmoil and crisis, i wish to express my message of hope and love to all those suffering in the war. As the whole world watches, may they not perceive us mere spectators to their predicament, but as advocates ready to fight for their right to a peaceful environment and most importantly, for their right to live. May they also remember that peace comes not through force, but through acceptance, and that talking with, and not just talking to, another is the first step to creating a meaningful dialogue. Lastly, this message is to remind those who are suffering that they are not forgotten or neglected, and that they will always be in the prayers of others.
Elisa Claustro,
Philipines
Only God knows why we should be so lucky to have peace in our lives while so many are suffering in Lebanon and Israel. It could have been any of us. Knowing that, we keep them in our prayers.
Stefanie Jacinto, (on behalf of the Jacinto family)
Philippines
The effects of war could last a lifetime. I pray for all those lives, especially those of children, which have been affected by the war. I pray that the trauma and the fear will not destroy their ability to dream of a brighter future for themselves. I pray that their emotional wounds will heal and that they will find forgiveness in their hearts. I pray that despite everything, they will always have hope.
Emily, 22, Cebu, Philippines
My heart bleeds when I see and hear the number of people losing their lives as a result of and crisis. The most worrisome is the fact that the cost of weapons used in perpetrating this crisis will save millions lives of poor, excluded and marginalized people. The contradiction is that the emissaries of these rifts will go untouched by the effect of the crisis. I appeal to all visible and invisible hand to the crisis to preach peace and respect human dignity. I pray for the women and children who are the most vulnerable and are bearing the burden of conflict.
I call on younger generation to learn a lesson from these for a peaceful world. Should we learn how to settle conflict without taking up arms; the world will witness peace. It is an imperative to apply diplomacy and corporation in conflict resolution. Let’s build a new world devoid of crisis.
In solidarity to the women and children; "the casualties of war"
Chika Charles Aniekwe,
Nigeria
Profundamente consternado comparto con ustedes la desolación y el luto del terrible situación que ha golpeado esta vez a su país.
Reciban Ustedes cada uno de los ciudadanos todo el abrazo fraterno y la solidaridad personal y colectiva que se pondrá también de manifiesto en todo nuestro país. Les acompañaremos en el dolor de nuestros como hermanos que somos hoy más que siempre.
Juan Carlos Chaves, 23 años
Costa Rica, Centroamérica
"Solidarity is indeed the best word that can capture what I can express to the victims of the Lebanon – Israel war and of other pockets of harsh violence throughout the world. I express solidarity because I join you in bearing the solidity of all the harm you are experiencing. I express solidarity because I solidly link my life to yours and to all the other people in the world concerned about this unnecessary violence so that somehow, we can together ease and heal your pain."
