A zoom session, live stream on YouTube or on Facebook or Instagram… These are the means today to keep our relationships alive across thousands of miles. That’s how we tear down walls and barriers; you just have to keep an eye on time differences and which language to speak in.
It sounds strange, but it is the life of Gen Verde during this time of pandemic. The life may seem isolated, but instead it is immersed in the world and people more than ever.
And even more so in the last few days: they took part, hour after hour, in United World Week, a true festival of fraternity. “We met thousands of young people from France to Mexico, from India to Argentina, from Italy to Portugal, not to mention all the Latin American countries – Marita tells us – the relationship we built with each one made us realize once again that we can make it if we stay united, living together for great ideals such as peace and universal fraternity. Together we can be builders of a big family that has a global dimension.”
Truly, the family today has new dimensions. Gen Verde met over 50,000 people from 5 continents in just one week. It seems strange to talk about positive aspects of COVID-19, but the world is moving faster towards fraternity. Many impressions that reach Gen Verde’s digital platforms can testify to that as well:
- “The truth is that I had never imagined to be able to do something with Gen Verde, everything that’s happening to us right now is just incredible, it came at the right moment!!!”
- “It’s so nice to feel close like being a family.”
Gen Verde receives all kinds of requests, Alessandra tells us: “one day the Shalom community in Italian-speaking Switzerland contacted us. We feel that we mustn’t hold back – our songs and experiences can be shared and spread. So within a matter of days we organized to meet on-line with them and it was great, especially because we had the chance to get to know each other and discover how we are a gift one for the other.”
So what are the next steps? Gen Verde receives all kinds of requests, Alessandra tells us: “one day the Shalom community in Italian-speaking Switzerland contacted us. We feel that we mustn’t hold back – our songs and experiences can be shared and spread. So within a matter of days we organized to meet on-line with them and it was great, especially because we had the chance to get to know each other and discover how we are a gift one for the other.” So what are the next steps? We will carry on with our live streams, and won’t miss the opportunity of meeting up with young people all over the world, and also… video lessons are scheduled with students of some schools in Italy who have already had the opportunity through their teachers to reflect on Gen Verde’s songs and lyrics.
The context and ways may change, but the pandemic is stimulating all towards a united world, towards universal fraternity.
Tiziana Nicastro
Link YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHifOZUrr7U
