Last May 12, 2012 from 3-4 pm (in the different time zones), thousands of young people of different cultures and religions organized sports competitions together with actions for peace and solidarity. Many of them also met with civic and religious dignitaries.

The first leg of “Run for Unity” kicked off in New Zealand, followed by Australia, and hour by hour, it continued throughout the countries of Asia and the Middle East, Europe and Africa, South and North America. The last leg was run by the youth in Vancouver, Canada.

Runners in the relay teams chose places that were a sign of peace and unity: the peace bell in Bicentennial Park in Sydney (Australia); Schengen (Luxembourg) which is famous for the signing of treaties regarding European borders; in Berlin (Germany) they ran past the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of Germany unity; in Belfast the Parliament Buildings and the Stormont Estate hosted the Irish portion of the worldwide event.

The relay race drew Christians from different denominations. In many countries youths belonging to different faiths, cultures and ethnic groups ran together to show their commitment to peace and unity. In New Delhi (India) the “Run for Unity” event involved Sikhs, Muslims, Hindu and Christians; in Karachi (Pakistan), the participants were composed of Christians, Muslims and Hindus; in Caesarea Maritima (Holy Land), the event included Jewish, Muslim and Christian youths; in New York (USA) Christians and Muslims came together at Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem.

The “Run for Unity” website, Facebook, and the YouTube channel published real-time updates of scheduled events with information, photos and video. On Saturday, May 12, three brief transmissions were shown with news from various cities on all five continents, reported by these youths themselves. These activities form part of a bigger project entitled “Let’s Color Our Cities” where young people carry out actions of solidarity in places where poverty and in situations of conflict are prevalent.

In the Philippines, the Run for Unity was held in the cities of Cebu, Davao and Tagaytay. A total of one thousand teenagers participated.

From Manila:
Held in Tagaytay, Mariapolis Peace, the Run for Unity was the culminating event of a four day youth camp which saw 150 teenagers participate from different parts of Luzon from May 8-12, 2012. This Youth camp offered different workshops on six yeses: “Yes” to peace, creation, to family and life, to a just economy, to solidarity and responsibility.

Experts in various fields were invited to share their knowledge and experiences on different themes related to the six yeses. Significant was the planting of more than 100 trees after the talk on Ecology by Mr. Rainier Manalo – a former professor of Palawan state University and president of Bird watch Palawan Ornithological Society (BWP). He is also the head of Crocodylus Porosus Phils., Inc (CPPI) Crocodile Conservation Program.

Encouraged by Professor Manalo’s talk on ecology, the Youth campers hiked to a nearby rural village where they planted more than 100 trees as part of their yes to creation. There were also games called a “Race to love” encouraging unity and brotherhood among the participants. On May 12, the more than 100 youth campers welcomed the participants for the Run for Unity event. More than 400 young people participated in the actual run in Terra Moy, Mariapolis Peace. Although it rained hard during the event, that did not stop some of the youths from finishing the 4 kilometer run. After the run, a concert was organized by the Focolare Youth who also shared experiences on how they have concretized the six yeses as a contribution to the initiative, Let’s Color our City.

From Cebu:
The run for unity started in Davao city on May 10, and culminated in Cebu City on May 12.

The event was such a visible fruit of the unity built together by the Teens for Unity, Youth for a United World and all the members of the Focolare Movement in the region. The project “Coloring our Cities with Love” was launched to all as a challenge to be lived together.

It was presented through creative dances and choreography, songs, personal and collective experiences, and through workshops and games. Chiara Lubich had advised the youth to make their calculations in coloring their city, so plans of concrete actions were drawn up in the workshops with the help of mathematical signs, i.e, plus meant adding more love and minus was for lessening the sorrows of others; the multiplication stood for multiplying joys, and division stood for dividing and sharing what we have; the equal sign recalled our equality in God’s eyes, and the percentage sign represented the promise of the hundredfold when we do God’s will.

These mathematical signs were concretized through the six (6) yeses. Each group chose a specific “Yes” and made a project proposal about how to realize it in their respective parishes, schools, churches and their respective organizations.

During the actual Run4Unity, the participants had much fun, running and waving colorful scarves. A wellknown TV network even covered this event by interviewing some of the participants about the goals of Run4Unity.

One of the participants remarked later: “It was really a great opportunity to share the Ideal of Unity from the ‘skyscrapers’ (or above the rooftops)!” Then there was the finale Flash Mob of their YES to all the goals and proposals of Run4Unity. Another youth shared: “Building unity really costs a lot! But gradually, by trying to be the first to love, I saw how the barriers among us crumbled and I experienced how we are brothers and sisters.”

Here are more news from other Asian nations.

From Indonesia:
“Our Fun-Bike for Run4Unity concluded in Bantul, Yogyakarta, attended by 75 children and 40 adults, the majority of whom were Muslims. We began cycling just after dawn, starting out at the same time from four different meeting points in town. There was great enthusiasm among all and it never waned, not even with the heavy rain that started to pour down right at the beginning. We had expected a hot day with a scorching sun. Instead, the rain refreshed all the roads we passed.
After an hour we reached our final destination, where people of the village welcomed us with music and song. We then held our program in a pendopo (a traditional, open hall where villagers normally hold their important events), which had been built after an earthquake in 2006, with the help of an association called Action for a United World. There we shared the message of Run4Unity, which we demonstrated through games prepared together with older youths. With one voice, we openly declared our ‘Yes’ – committing ourselves to spreading peace and unity wherever we are, starting with our own selves.”

From Pakistan:
“For the first time the Run4unity event was held in Lahore. It was a true miracle! Young people were the protagonists, performing on stage, as singers, emcees and in dances that spoke about their own life experiences, particularly on the Golden Rule.

The event was even publicized in a local newspaper. The more than 200 children, including 20 Muslims, were then divided into 10 groups for the Run. The driving spirit of Run4unity was the Golden Rule which helped the young people to play better and in harmony with one another.

A participant shared: “For two weeks in Lahore the temperature exceeded 40 degrees and we were afraid of how it was like playing outside under the hot sun! But that day, from early morning on, there was the cool breeze blowing very nicely. Then we ended up flying balloons high up in the air, as symbols of our wish to bring to everyone our message of peace.

The day ended with the message of Chiara Lubich at the Supercongress of 2002, ‘We have one life to live... live it the best we can!’ Our joy was infinite and we all went home happy with a heart full of new hope: helping us to believe and live in a world that is more beautiful, and more united!”

New City