MPPU triennium 2019-2022

• 23-25 October 2019: election of the president and co-president; appointment of the secretary general; assignment of the operative geographical and thematic delegations; meeting with the presidents of the MPPU Centers around the world and, subsequently, the diffusion of the 2019-2022 term planning document.
• Start of monthly meetings at the International Center and, approximately every three months, with local presidents and representatives.
• Revision of the strategic communication plan: launch of the new website in 5 languages and reinforcement of communication on social networks – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
• Trip to Ottmaring-  (7-9 Nov. 2019) by Mario Bruno for the Conference of Friends of Together for Europe, 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
• Trip to Trent (25 January 2020) by some members of the International Center for the visit of the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella – https://www.quirinale.it/elementi/44005 – on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the birth of Chiara Lubich.
• The outbreak of the pandemic does not stop the work of the international network.
• In collaboration with other partners, the activity #STOP Embargo on Syria and support of the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a global cease fire. (25 March 2020).
• Support for the work of MPPU Centers in Europe: letters and appeals to European institutional leaders regarding the issues of migration, the fight against the pandemic and economic choices (4 April 2020).
• In June 2020, the launch of the Pathway – Active Citizenship and Politics for Unity: collaboration with the team of young people who decide to study the political dimension of care – #DareToCare – identifying 20 themes and 5 specific questions (action and care, listening and dialogue, fraternity, participation and co-governance, environment): establishment of the Learn Team / Scientific Committee.
• Distinct Zoom appointments since July 2020 to meet the MPPU Centers, to get to know local realities, as well as to share information and plans. Joint construction of the international online seminar (10-12 December 2020) was started, and ultimately saw 508 registrations, 12 languages and 22 countries represented. The message from Emmaus Voce and Jesus Moran was rich in guidance.
• Activity continues both for Syria and, with Città Nuova Italia, for the migrant emergency on the Balkan route, cooperating with social and political actors operating at various levels.

• Together for a New Africa (3-5 January 2021): third and final seminar of the three-year training program for over 120 young people from 7 East African countries. Commitment and roots in the territories grows, involving politicians and university professors in different countries. Preparation for the second three-year program commences; as of 2023 there will be 14 national groups. Formation Seminar for tutors and professors at the end of September 2022. In the Democratic Republic of Congo the work continues with the Ecoforleaders School supported by the National MPPU Center.
• The “Pathway – Active Citizenship and Politics for Unity #DareToCare” continues. Some stages:
  1. Meeting with the Core Team of young people to focus on political contents;
  2. Extension of the project to a European level: with MPPU Europe Centers, European Focolare, Together for Europe;
  3. Working group for “#Daretocare International Convention.”
• ​​Start of the participatory construction process of the “Global appeal of innovation for a politics of quality” promoted by the International Center: cooperation among citizens, administrators, legislators, officials and diplomats, scholars and members of civil organizations in 25 countries around the world.
• Livestream International seminar, particularly directed towards politicians (20 March 2021): public presentation of the Appeal/Call for action, starting from: 1. Irreplaceable function of politics, 2. Orientation towards forms of collaborative and polycentric governance, 3. Centrality of the socially weakest people.
• Preparation and implementation of the United World Week/SMU 2021 and #DareToCare International Convention (Brussels 1-9 May 2021) with the international network of the Focolare Movement. Appointments:

1. May 2: 25th anniversary of the MPPU. Directed by a team of young politicians and communicators. Livestream in 8 languages, more than 500 listening points, 4000 live views – from South Korea to Venezuela, from Poland to South Sudan, from Lebanon to Germany. Greetings from Papa Francesco during the Sunday Angelus to the adherents of the “Movement founded by Chiara Lubich,” wishing “good work in the service of good politics,”
2. Live streamed dialogue between a group of young people and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli,
3. Participation in the online seminar with Città Nuova about “the Balkan migrant route,”
4. Workshop with Roger Casale/UK – New Europeans, on the topic of European citizenship,
5. Online Seminar about pandemic and the vaccine campaign, with Jeffrey Sachs and Pasquale Ferrara; opening of the Pathway – #Daretocare 2021/22: health as a global common good/integral ecology,
6. 20 May – International Press Conference on the eve of the G20 in Rome with the Italian presidency and the WTO summit to launch the “A Vaccine For All” campaign: the vaccine as a common good, for the universality of access and the widespread production of vaccines. Manifesto signed by an international network of more than 40 promoters: associations, cultural research centers and different religions.
   At the end of the Campaign, € 23,448.46 was raised to fund the commitment to purchase the Covid Kit for hygiene, prevention, care and nutritional aid distributed by “Barco Papa Francisco” to the indigenous populations of the Amazon/Parà (the action was recognized by the “SUS,” Brazil’s “Unified Health System”). Since December 2021 the second collection has been addressed to Shanti   in India for 2,500 people to be vaccinated at mobile clinics: pledge  of € 30,000 covered with more than € 50,000 (31 May 2022).
   Also noteworthy was the meeting with the Italian Minister of Health and the Appeal to the Mayors of the world on the occasion of the G20 health in Rome.

• On the occasion of the truce of 17 May 2021 in the Holy Land, with hundreds of victims, “let’s start over, begging with the children.” Support for the Appeal launched by the La Pira Center in Florence and other entities: “collection for peace” for physical and psychological care of the affected children (€ 12,000).
• Second International Conference “Co-governance as a process of building fraternity in politics, starting from the cities” (9-12 Octobe 2021): 4 days of online work, 950 registrations, 9 preparatory commissions in Latin America, International scientific committee, and with significant contribution from young people. Concluding   and International Coordination Network “For Co-Governance.”
  E-book published by ASCES-UNITA in Caruarù: 400 pages, 23 contributions in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, 6 chapters according to thematic axes to strengthen reflection on definition, contents and case studies.
  Primary actors: MPPU,  , Youth for a United World, the network of V Dialogue in Latin America and Europe, publishing house Cidade Nova, New Humanity NGO, University Institute Sophia and University Network of Studies about Fraternity  ademic partners from leading Latin American public universities.
• TRIP TO A BRUSSELS (19-21 Nov. 2021) to get to know the “European house” of the Focolare Movement, also open to serve the activities of the MPPU. Verification of the elective path for the new European MPPU Center, and setup of the first stages of the MPPU program to be carried out in Brussels:

1. workshops with officials and young people active in the European institutions;
2. public inauguration with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and officials in relationship with the MPPU.

• A contribution to the “Conference on the future of Europe” on the topic of migration
  At the initiative of MPPU’s young people, the Document “Europe, a frontier of peace against all barriers” for a long-term management of solidarity for migration in Europe, in particular on the Mediterranean and Balkan routes, has been signed by other Italian and international associations, and published on the Conference website.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MPPU NETWORK

RENEWAL OF NATIONAL MPPU CENTERS IN ARGENTINA, ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA

In Argentina: “… most of us have graduated from MPPU Social and Political Training Schools (…) We have the strength of 20 years of work behind us (…) We now aim to conduct strategic planning in a participatory way (…) with three main axes: 1) political dialogue, 2) social and political training and education, 3) research and political analysis.

In Italy: “… The new National Center is made up of 9 members and represents the entire constitutional span of the different geographical and intergenerational areas. It will pursue (…) territorial health (together with MPPU, New Humanity and Health Dialogue Culture); contacts with the Ministry of Health and the presentation of the project in different regions; work on schooling, together with the Minister of Education, with meetings in November and January and widespread engagement with associations, trade unions, teachers, students…; dialogue on the issue of peace/war with some Italian parliamentarians.”

In South Korea: – “Political Forum for Unity,” officially registered in Parliament as a research group, with 10-15 Members of Parliament. For 10 years the MPPU has been organizing the annual awards ceremony, with the presence of the President of Parliament, for parliamentarians who use peaceful language. – “Social Forum for Unity”, made up of former parliamentarians, academics, lawyers, mayors, public officials, citizens, etc. – Youth policy school, active since 2010, with lessons once a week.

ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTINENTAL/REGIONAL CENTERS

In Europe: through a long process of sharing, the 7 national MPPU centers in Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany, Great Britain and Hungary), while war was breaking out in Ukraine in March 2021, created the new European MPPU Center: 9 members + other qualified friends, young people and adults, as collaborators, for formation projects; collaborations with the principals of entities of European society, both lay and religious, for European and global co-governance policies.

In Latin America: establishment of a continental secretariat, at the initiative of the presidents of the national centers, with a minimum structure: the plenary of presidents and referents, a secretary and three pro-secretaries, to support formation and collaboration, in the scenario of a united Latin America.

In Africa: local groups are being strengthened particularly with the support of numerous young people engaged in Together for a New Africa. A liaison secretariat has been set up for the countries of East Africa.

• The secretarial and institutional communication team of the International Center was strengthened: 4 young people collaborated effectively at the end of their journey at Sophia and in other universities. A young man from MILONGA in Italy carried out an extensive project archiving the documents from the Co-Governance path.
• ​​To strengthen visibility and network capacity, today the MPPU is configured as the political department of the New Humanity NGO. We participated in the drafting of the internal bylaws that define the relationships of the networks inspired by the culture of unity with the NGO of the Focolare Movement.
• In the last year we drew up “Guidelines” for the birth and development of new MPPU Centers at various territorial levels, together with the New Humanity Movement.
• Meeting almost at the end of the three-year term, on 31 January 2022, with the Presidency of the Focolare Movement: Margaret Karram and Jesus Moran. A meeting that conveyed clarity, determination and momentum; some points covered:
  • Presentation of the main projects underway: developments of Together for a New Africa, 2. international co-governance process, 3. “A vaccine for all” campaign, 4. work towards the establishment of the MPPU Scientific Committee,
  • Process of building and strengthening synergies between MPPU/New Humanity-World of Politics and Public Administration at all territorial levels: it is urgent to express the common baggage of life and political culture, and not only occasionally. The public figure of the activity will primarily be MPPU, with full appreciation for the specific contributions coming from the people involved in New Humanity: the strong political subjectivity of citizens, the accompaniment of those who make policy, the attention to continuous training and to cities as a place of regeneration of democracy. Opportunity to experience the new phase: the renewal of the MPPU International Center (next October 2022), reconfigured in part with the contribution of New Humanity.
  • Towards 2025: the frame of the 80th anniversary of the UN, with 5 years since the verification of its 2030 Agenda, warrants an international event to present politicians with a global pact and new paradigm of political action that recognizes centrality and political subjectivity in the cities, beginning with 5 leading capitals. Project to be delivered to the future International Center, in cooperation with New Humanity.

• INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF CO-GOVERNANCE – launched at the conclusion of the 2021 Conference.
• INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF YOUTH POLITICIANS – launched on 18 June 2022: the young protagonists of the new generation of MPPU, delivered with unwavering intelligence and energy, supported by the constant commitment of those who preceded them.
• FRAMEWORK PROJECT FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS and ADVOCACY WITH NEW HUMANITY – progressive accreditation among international Institutions and Organizations
• FUNDRAISING FOR SUSTAINABILITY– open challenge: two project proposals submitted to the European Commission were not successful; it is necessary to resume engagement.