URI Stories of Impact

“We have 9/11 every day in Pakistan,” said Fr. James Channan, Regional Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI) in Pakistan, speaking on “Interfaith in Pakistan” at the Chapel at Croton Falls on Sunday, July 10, 2011. He explained that more than 35,000 people in his country have been killed by terrorists, making ordinary life very unsafe. There are now guards outside of mosques and churches. And it was a particular shock when Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who had been appointed Federal Minister for Minorities, was assassinated in March 2011 for his stance on the blasphemy laws often used as an excuse for persecution. Fr. Channan believes that ignorance is the root cause of terrorism and thus education is the real key to a brighter future.

“We are creating religious harmony and peace through education in a slum where there was no concept of education,” said Yuel Bhatti, a founder of ABC4All Pakistan Cooperation Circle and school principal. “We are trying hard to motivate the community that education is the only way towards peace and love for humanity.”

The UN counts nearly 5 million Palestinian refugees, and Tareq Altamimi, a Palestinian youth leader, counts millions more. So when he was asked to lead a workshop on Refugee Realities in Belgrade, Serbia, he jumped at the opportunity to learn more about the plight of refugees in another land.

URI welcomes new staff to guide URI’s Young Leaders Program after the departure of program founder Sarah Talcott. Former URI Global Council Trustee Matthew Youde will coordinate the Global Youth...

“There are no limits when there is spiritual strength,” said Ciro Gabriel Abruj, a quadraplegic who has given his life to helping others find harmony.