Boys and girls from 18 countries around the world with representatives of various religions, including Islam, gathered last August 6-13 at the Kumaraguru College of Science and Technology in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), India for the Youth Supercongress 2009 sponsored by the Focolare Movement in collaboration with Shanti Ashram.

   The Supercongress is an international festival of teenagers, held once every 5 years. The protagonists are the boys and girls themselves of different cultures and backgrounds. They propose a new lifestyle, based on the universal values already present in the various cultures, such as peace, solidarity and the Culture of Giving, and their goal is to involve the young generations in bringing about universal brotherhood in the world.

   Representatives from the Philippines were: Miguel Asprer (Catholic), Gino de Guzman (Catholic), Iva Asutilla (Catholic), Beverly Gecale (Catholic), and Anna Tajanna Basman (Muslim). The event consisted of a peace festival, country presentations, walk for peace, a youth parliament, sharing, visits to different communities hosted by local families, and visits to different places of worship in Coimbatore. (More photos in our Gallery )