Ikuméni was present at Genfest 2024 “TOGETHER TO CARE”, a global meeting of young people promoted by the Focolare Movement that takes place every 6 years to share experiences and projects committed to building a united world.
The 12th edition of the meeting, which for the first time was organized in 3 phases: “social action”, “live the experience – Celebrat” and “United World Community”, took place in Aparecida, Brazil, from July 12 to 24.
Ikuméni was invited to participate in various ways in phases 2 and 3. Thus, thanks to the providence and collaboration of various churches, institutions and the Focolare, 14 young people who participated in Ikuméni in 2021, 2022 and 2023 were able to travel to Aparecida and participate in the Genfest to share their experience and testimony with other young people. Thus, Ikuméni participated:
On Sunday 21, at the central event of phase 2 “Live the experience – Celebrate”, they shared their experience and testimony in Ikuméni with more than 4,000 young people.
In phase 3, they led the dynamic of the Conversation Menu in the community “Dialogue and Interculture” together with more than 180 young people. They also facilitated and led a workshop under the theme “Artisans of Fraternity: Young leadership for encounter and cooperation” and in another workshop they shared their experiences implementing Good Ecumenical and Interreligious Practices.
From the 19th to the 24th they collaborated with an Ikuméni stand where they presented the Ikuméni training itinerary and invited people to participate in the 5th edition of Ikuméni in 2025.
Celebrating and sharing faith
At the “Celebrat” event, 13 young people (belonging to 6 churches and 9 countries) shared, on stage and via streaming, their testimony about the experience of carrying out the Laboratory of Good Ecumenical and Interreligious Practices. Using a video with illustrative photos, the young people told about their projects and how Ikuméni helped them go beyond their own community.
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In the third phase of Genfest, in the block “Community, dialogue and interculture”, the young people of Ikuméni presented a “Conversation Menu”, a tool to open meaningful and transformative conversations. Following the format of a meal, with a starter, first course, second course and dessert, they invited people to get to know each other and share, starting with triggering questions, for example: What is the first thing you do when you start the day? How do you live faith and the spiritual dimension in your daily life? What have been the greatest difficulties in overcoming prejudices?, generating deep exchanges and new reflections.
Forming the united world community
In the last days of Genfest 2024, participants were able to attend workshops, TED Talks and immersive experiences, to establish international networks and grow the global network of institutions and groups that “share the desire for a more united world” as expressed in the event itself.
Ikuméni presented its workshop “Artisans of Fraternity: Young leadership for encounter and cooperation” there. Starting from questions such as What is Leadership?, What is leadership for encounter and cooperation?, Why Artisans of Fraternity?, they presented a form of leadership from the art of hospitality and the recognition of the other as a neighbor, valuing differences, understanding them and exploring ways to sow hope together through reciprocal collaboration and solidarity cooperation, regardless of differences.
In a very significant testimonial block under the motto: “Now, it’s our turn”, the young people of Ikuméni presented 4 Good ecumenical and interreligious practices: Sarai from Mexico (comprehensive development in vulnerable communities); Laura Camila in Argentina (Ecumenical dialogue for Democracy, for the Construction of Peace); Laura Franco from Colombia (sport for peace).
In this way, Ikuméni had its first experience on Brazilian soil and is preparing to welcome the young people of this vast Latin American country in the new edition of its training Itinerary, which is already open for pre-registration for 2025. This year, the fourth edition is already underway, with more than 120 young people from 16 different Christian denominations and 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean participating.
“It has been a wonderful and unique experience. No one could have imagined what Genfest was going to be like. We were there representing Ikuméni, and the fraternity that was the objective of Genfest was the testimony that it is possible to live it. That even in the midst of differences we can move forward and say that we can live in fraternity and live in Christ,” shared Laura Camila Jiménez, from Colombia.
“It was impressive to see the strength, enthusiasm, and conviction that the young people of Ikuméni have transmitted at Genfest. They transmitted with great conviction that Ikuméni was not only a formative journey for them, but a change of life, a way of looking at reality from hospitality and ecumenism. It was wonderful to feel the echo in many people present, young people and adults, religious leaders and other participants, discovering the vitality and impact that Ikuméni has generated in young people and in their communities, also with the implementation of its good practices. New doors have been opened in various areas, as well as for many young people interested in doing the training experience,” said Beatriz Isola, Coordinator of Pedagogical Training at Ikuméni, at the end of the event.
