Fondazione Marista per la Solidarietà Internazionale ONLUS

Hungary: Education, Protection, and Rights for Romani and Sinti Children

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:09 +0000

Hungary: Education, Protection, and Rights for Romani and Sinti Children

FMSI Field Visit in Hungary – February 2026

In February, the Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI), together with the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI, visited Marist communities in Hungary, exploring the work being done in Karcag, Esztergom, and Budapest.

The visit was part of a workshop connected to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the United Nations mechanism that monitors human rights situations in member countries. It was a valuable opportunity to be present on the ground: to meet children, families, educators, and social workers, listen to their stories, and gain a closer understanding of the dailychallenges that continue to hinder full access to fundamental rights,particularly for Romani and Sinti children in Hungary.

The Romani community is the largest ethnicminority in Hungary. While their rights are officially recognized, many families face exclusion and limited opportunities in their daily lives. These difficulties are not isolated incidents but are structural. They appear in precarious housing conditions, often in neighbourhoods isolated from the rest of the city. They show in limited access to healthcare, intergenerational unemployment, and social stigma that continues to weigh heavily on Romani and Sinti identity.

In many urban and suburban areas, entire communities live physically separated from the rest of the population. This geographical distance becomes social distance: fewer services, fewer networks, fewer opportunities. Children bear the heaviest consequences. The barriers they encounter are not related to talent, intelligence, or ambition, but to the circumstances into which they are born. It is here that exclusion takes root and risks becoming a predetermined path—unless interrupted by courageous policies and educational presence that creates real opportunities.

The Marist Presence in Hungary
The Marist Brothers of the Hermitage Province are in Hungary with a clear mission: to support the young people living in the most vulnerable conditions. Their work is not just about projects but about relationships built day by day. Brothers and Lay Marists offer concrete support, including personalized education, social protection, psychological counseling, and recreational and educational activities.

The field visit highlighted that the true strength of these interventions is continuity: a stable, reliable presence that builds trust over time. This trust allows children to feel seen, families to feel supported, and communities to envision a different future.

Karcag – Inclusive Education and Learning Quality
In Karcag, at Szent Pál Marista Általános Iskola, the Marists run a primary school that is far more than a place of learning for many families it is a reference point, a hub of possibilities. In 2023, a new school building was inaugurated, expanding classrooms and improving infrastructure to accommodate more students. Yet the most significant change is not in the walls themselves, but in the vision of school that is built every day.

In a context where school segregation still affects many Romani children, offering an inclusive and high-quality environment helps break the cycle of exclusion. Education here is not only academic—it is holistic, encompassing emotional, social, and relational growth. It is a space where every child can discover their value.

Esztergom – “A Mi Házunk”: Feeling at Home
In Esztergom, we visited the educational center A Mi Házunk – “Our House.” The name is no mere symbol: for many children, it truly feels like a home. Built in 2001 in a peripheral area mainly inhabited by Romani families, the center provides school support, recreational activities, and psychological counseling. Above all, it provides safety. In neighborhoods marked by economic and social vulnerability, a stable, caring, and protective space can make the difference between feeling invisible and feeling recognized. Here, children find adults who listen, encourage, and believe in their potential.

Budapest – Protection for Mothers and Children in Crisis
In Budapest, we visited the Jó Pásztor Marista Anyaotthon social center, a residential facility for mothers with children in situations of severe vulnerability.

Since January 20, 2025, it has been managed by the Marist Brothers of the Hermitage Province, integrating it into their mission. The center does more than provide temporary shelter: it supports autonomy through psychological assistance, job guidance, and social counseling. The goal is for mothers to regain stability and dignity, and for children to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

During the visit, a UPR workshop was facilitated by Marist Brothers Diego Leonardo Zawadzky Zapata and Nnodu Chukwubueze Onwutalu from the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI, and by Pamela Difino, Child Rights and Projects Officer at FMSI. Children were invited to share their perspectives on rights and the obstacles they face. They did not speak abstractly about “rights”—they spoke about their lives. They talked about the spread of drugs in their neighborhoods and the fear that it could become a dead-end path for many of their peers. They spoke about safety at home, on the streets, and in public spaces. They expressed the need for adequate, accessible, and dignified healthcare.

Their words highlighted what is often only implied in documents: health, safety, protection, and education are not separate issues, they are interwoven threads of the same fabric. When one breaks, the entire growth path of a child is weakened.

Listening to them was not symbolic, it was an act of recognition. Children are not just recipients of interventions; they are active agents, capable of understanding reality, identifying problems, and proposing solutions. They are bearers of experience, not only of need.

The insights gathered during this visit will inform FMSI’s advocacy work within the UPR process, ensuring that children’s voices are integral to the international dialogue on human rights. Promoting rights means, first and foremost, making them real in the daily lives of those who are most vulnerable.

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Earth Day 2026

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:33:36 +0000

Earth Day 2026: Marist Institute, Marist Communities and FMSI renew their commitment to climate justice and children’s rights

Every year on 22 April, more than one billion people across over 190 countries celebrate Earth Day, one of the largest civic observances in the world. Established in 1970, Earth Day has become a global platform to promote environmental protection, climate action,and sustainable development. According to official Earth Day sources and United Nations data, the climate crisis continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, particularly children, who face increased risks linked to environmental degradation, extreme weather events, food insecurity, and displacement.

In recent years, international human rights bodies – including the UN Human Rights Council – have increasingly recognized a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right. Climate justice is now understood not only as an environmental issue, but as a matter of equity, dignity, and intergenerational responsibility.

Within this global framework, the Marist Brothers Institute and the Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI) have consistently integrated environmental protection into their educational, pastoral, and advocacy mission. Inspired by the principles of Laudato Si’ and grounded in a child-rights-based approach, Marist communities worldwide promote ecological awareness, sustainable practices, and youth participation in environmental action. Through schools, community programs, advocacy at the United Nations – including contributions to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – and grassroots initiatives, FMSI works to ensure that children and young people are not only protected from environmental harm but empowered as protagonists of change.

Against this backdrop, the Marist network will celebrate Earth Day 2026 with a global online event, bringing together voices from different continents to reflect on education, inclusion, and climate justice. The first session, in English, will take place at 9:00 AM Rome time, and the second session, in Spanish (with translations in Portuguese and English), at 4:00 PM Rome time. Both sessions will take place on Zoom and will be moderated by Br. Niño Mayor Pizarro, Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization.

The event will gather eight speakers from various Marist provinces and projects worldwide, each offering concrete examples of how environmental responsibility and child protection intersect in their local contexts.

Br. Peter Carroll will open the session by reflecting on the role of education, inclusion, and community action in protecting our planet. His intervention will frame environmental responsibility as a core educational mission and a shared commitment within the Marist charism.

Ms. Maryury Morales will present the experience of Marist projects in Colombia, highlighting how caring for children also means caring for the Earth, especially in fragile and vulnerable environments. The project demonstrates how environmental awareness and child protection are deeply interconnected.

Mr. Sam King will share the development of a Provincial Laudato Si’ Action Plan, including contributions from students themselves. This participatory approach reflects a model where young people are not passive recipients of environmental education but active contributors to ecological transformation.

Mr. Sothun Nop will present the experience of Marist projects in Cambodia, focusing on the participation of children and young people with disabilities in education and climate action initiatives. The project underlines that environmental justice must also be inclusive justice.

Br. Diego Zawadzky, Director of the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI (Spanish session), and Br. Nnodu Chukwubueze Onwutalu, Assistant Director of the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI (English session), will address climate justice as a human right, presenting key contributions from the UPR reports of Fiji and Kiribati. These advocacy efforts demonstrate how environmental concerns are raised at the international level, linking grassroots realities to global human rights mechanisms.

Br. Camille Ramarosandratana will illustrate how environmental education in Madagascar is fostering empowerment and a new vision for future generations, strengthening resilience and responsibility among children and youth.

Br. Junel Pierre will describe how Marist communities in Haiti and Mexico are moving from awareness to action, with children taking leadership in promoting a more sustainable planet through school and community initiatives.

Mr. Luciano Landivar will present the Eco-Hábitos initiative in Bolivia, which empowers communities and students to adopt sustainable daily practices and protect their environment through concrete behavioral change.

The event will conclude with final reflections and greetings by Mr. Andrea Rossi – FMSI General Director – reinforcing the shared responsibility of the Marist family in advancing environmental stewardship and children’s rights.

This Earth Day event reflects a broader and long-standing Marist commitment: integrating ecological responsibility into education, safeguarding, inclusion, and advocacy. From local school gardens and eco-habit campaigns to international human rights reporting, Marist communities and FMSI demonstrate that environmental protection is inseparable from the promotion of human dignity.

As the global climate crisis intensifies, the voices of children and young people – especially those in vulnerable contexts – must be heard. Earth Day 2026 offers not only a moment of reflection, but a renewed call to action: to educate for sustainability, to advocate for climate justice, and to empower the next generation to lead the way toward a more just and sustainable world.

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Children’s Voices at the Centre of International Advocacy

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:57:12 +0000

Children’s Voices at the Centre of International Advocacy

From 10 to 12 February, the Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI) and the Secretariat of Solidarity participated in the UPR-Info Pre-Sessions and the EU Pre-Session to the Working Group 52 in Geneva. These meetings offered a meaningful opportunity to bring the lived experiences and priorities of children and young people into international human rights discussions.

Throughout the sessions, FMSI and the Secretariat disseminated Advocacy Factsheets prepared in close collaboration with children and youth who actively contributed to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. These documents conveyed concrete concerns and recommendations formulated directly by young people themselves.

Across different regions, children highlighted urgent and context-specific challenges.

In Singapore, youth mental well-being emerged as a central concern. Young people described intense academic pressure reinforced by parental and societal expectations, constant comparison, and a competitive environment that leaves many feeling overwhelmed and anxious. They also reflected on the impact of excessive screen time and social media, which often replace rest, physical activity, and meaningful in-person relationships.

Read the Advocacy factsheet: PDF

In Mozambique, children raised alarm about restrictions on freedom of expression and a shrinking civic space. They spoke of intimidation, reprisals, and violence against those who criticize authorities, describing a climate of fear that affects families, education, mental well-being, and trust in society.

Read the Advocacy factsheet: PDF

In Paraguay, children reported widespread violence — sexual, domestic, institutional, and online. Many shared that attempts to report abuse are frequently dismissed or delayed, and that protection systems fail to respond effectively. Barriers to confidential and autonomous access to justice further contribute to silence and impunity.

Read the Advocacy factsheet: PDF

In Solomon Islands, children drew attention to environmental degradation and its direct consequences on their lives. Illegal and destructive fishing, logging, and mining undermine food security, access to clean water, livelihoods, and school attendance. For them, environmental protection is inseparable from the protection of their rights and future.

Read the Advocacy factsheet: PDF

Children in Belgium similarly highlighted the gap between strong legal frameworks and their everyday experience, particularly in education and mental health. Rising stress levels, unequal access to educational resources, and limited availability of timely psychological support were central concerns.

Read the Advocacy factsheet: PDF

During the EU Pre-Session, FMSI and the Secretariat of Solidarity echoed these priorities directly to EU Permanent Missions representatives inviting them to take these child-led recommendations seriously.

The presence of FMSI and the Secretariat of Solidarity in Geneva marked the continuation of a participatory process in which children were not passive beneficiaries but active contributors to international human rights monitoring. By bringing their voices into diplomatic spaces where recommendations are shaped and commitments are negotiated, this advocacy ensured that discussions remained grounded in lived realities.

We are very grateful to all our local partners, both individuals and institutions, who worked tirelessly to organize workshops to hear and collect the voices of children and young people. They processed the firsthand data and helped draft the reports. Your support is invaluable in ensuring that the documents submitted to the UN are reliable and amplify the needs, expectations, and concerns of children.

This experience once again demonstrates that meaningful child participation strengthens the UPR process. When children are genuinely listened to, international advocacy becomes more credible, more urgent, and more transformative.

FMSI and the Secretariat of Solidarity remain committed to ensuring that children’s voices continue to reach global platforms — because human rights discussions are stronger when those most affected are heard.

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Quality Education and Human Rights for Burmese Migrant Children

admin — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:11:06 +0000

Quality Education and Human Rights for Burmese Migrant Children

FMSI field visit to Thailand – January 2026

In January, the Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI) carried out a field visit in Thailand to the Marist Learning Centre (MLC), a project that accompanies more than 400 Burmese migrant children and adolescents living in the Samphran District. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to listen directly to children, educators, and community members, and to better understand the complex realities shaping access to education and rights for families living in migration contexts.

All of the children supported by the project come from Myanmar, a country marked by prolonged political instability, armed conflict, and human rights violations. According to the United Nations, approximately 3.6 million people have been displaced as a result of the ongoing crisis, forcing many families to seek safety across borders, including in Thailand.

However, displacement does not automatically translate into protection. In Thailand, many families live in conditions of legal insecurity, without formal documentation, limiting their freedom of movement and access to essential services.

These structural barriers deeply affect children’s daily lives. Restricted mobility, fear of discrimination, and the risk of detention or arrest create an environment of uncertainty that directly impacts access to education, safety, and long-term opportunities—reinforcing cycles of exclusion that are entirely beyond children’s control.

The project responds to this reality by creating an inclusive and protective learning environment where children are welcomed first and foremost as rights-holders. Education is understood not only as academic instruction, but as a pathway to dignity, stability, and belonging. Through child-centred and participatory learning activities, children strengthen their academic skills while developing self-confidence, critical thinking, and an understanding of their rights, grounded in their lived experiences.

Human rights education is integrated with care and responsibility. Children are supported to explore concepts such as equality, protection, and mutual respect. Educators accompany each child with a relational and strengths-based approach that recognises resilience, cultural identity, and personal potential. Creating a safe space—where children feel heard, respected, and valued—is central to the project’s methodology.

The learning centre also serves as a point of stability for families, becoming a trusted reference within the community. By ensuring continuity in education and reinforcing a sense of safety, the project helps reduce the risks associated with social exclusion and marginalisation.

In Thailand, the Marist Brothers are not officially recognised as a Congregation. Despite this, they continue to accompany children and families with commitment, ensuring that the right to education remains always accessible.

During the January visit, an UPR workshop was facilitated by the Marist Brothers Diego Leonardo Zawadzky Zapata and Nnodu Chukwubueze Onwutalu from the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI of the Marist Institute. In this space, children were invited to share their perspectives on rights and the barriers they face. They spoke about their wish to move freely beyond their immediate surroundings, to have access to regular documentation and legal recognition, and to be treated with the same dignity and respect as other children. Above all, they expressed a strong hope for a future with opportunities—free from fear, discrimination, and exclusion.

Listening to these voices reinforced the importance of approaches that do not speak for children, but with them—recognising their agency, aspirations, and right to participate in shaping their own futures.

By combining quality education with a rights-based and inclusive approach, the Marist Learning Centre contributes to strengthening protection, participation, and future opportunities for Burmese migrant children in Thailand—affirming a simple but powerful truth: when children’s rights are protected, contexts of vulnerability can become spaces of hope.

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13 new Marist Projects of Solidarity

admin — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:48:55 +0000

Advancing Solidarity: A Global Marist Commitment to Child Rights

The Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI) has submitted 13 new Marist Projects of Solidarity, reinforcing the Marist Institute’s commitment to stand alongside children and communities living at the margins of society. Rooted in a multiannual, results-oriented approach, these initiatives focus on some of today’s most complex and fragile contexts—Madagascar, Maicao at the Colombia–Venezuela border, Chad, Nigeria, India, Cambodia—especially in areas where poverty, displacement, exclusion, and weak protection systems intersect.

At the heart of every project is a clear priority: placing human and child rights at the center of action. The projects respond to the realities of children facing multiple forms of vulnerability, including children with disabilities, migrant and displaced children, children with no access to education and children from ethnic minorities. Beyond service delivery, each initiative is designed to strengthen dignity, participation, and long-term resilience—ensuring that solidarity translates into lasting change.

Most of the projects are implemented within school settings, recognizing schools as key spaces for protection, inclusion, and the promotion of child rights. In several African countries, this work is carried out in close collaboration with the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization through Youth Empowerment Clubs, which strengthen young people’s participation, leadership, and human rights awareness.

A defining feature of this new portfolio is its strong advocacy component. Alongside community-based action, all projects contribute evidence, voices, and lived experiences to advocacy efforts at national and international levels. Together with the Secretariat of Solidarity-CMI, FMSI amplifies these realities within UN human rights mechanisms, helping ensure that policies and recommendations reflect the daily lives of children at the peripheries and that duty-bearers are held accountable.

This work is made possible through long-standing partnerships. Misean Cara stands among the Marist Institute’s strongest allies, having supported solidarity initiatives and emergency responses for more than a decade. This partnership, together with the Marist Brothers of Ireland, has been instrumental in enabling sustained, multi-year engagement—moving beyond short-term interventions toward measurable outcomes and systemic impact.

Together, these 13 projects reflect a shared vision: solidarity that is strategic, rights-based, and transformative. By combining grassroots action with powerful advocacy, and by treating children not only as beneficiaries but as rights-holders and agents of change, FMSI, the Marist Brothers institute and its partners continue to push for a world where the most excluded children are seen, heard, and protected—both on the ground and at the global decision-making table.

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The Commitment to Youth Empowerment in SACC Bafut

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:58:22 +0000

The Commitment to Youth Empowerment in SACC Bafut

Saint Albert Comprehensive College (SACC) Bafut, located in the North West Region of Cameroon and owned by the Marist Brothers, has made youth empowerment one of its major priorities for this academic year. This commitment aims to equip students with the leadership skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to become active participants in building a better world.

Since the beginning of the academic year three weeks ago, the school administration has already organized two sessions with students on leadership. These workships have focused on essential aspects of leadership formation, including decision-making, servant and prophetic leadership, creativity and innovation, and fostering respect for fellow students and staff. Students are encouraged to lead in the Marist way; with humility, compassion, and a spirit of service.

One of the key components of the youth empowerment program at SACC Bafut is the formation of clubs, which provide practical platforms for personal growth and community engagement. Among these, the Music Club stands out as a vital initiative offering psychosocial support through music therapy, especially for students affected by the ongoing sociopolitical situation in the region. Through music and creative expression, many students have found healing, comfort, and renewed hope, promoting mental wellness within the school community.

This inspiring initiative is made possible through the support of FMSI, whose advocacy, funding, and promotion of children’s rights have been instrumental in advancing youth empowerment at SACC Bafut. Their commitment to protecting and uplifting young people, particularly those in need, continues to bear meaningful fruit in the lives of our students.

As a Marist school community, we remain deeply grateful for this partnership and reaffirm our dedication to forming young people who are responsible, compassionate, and ready to shape a more just and peaceful world

By Brother Wiykiynyuy Therence Banseka,

In Charge of Youth Empowerment, SACC Bafut

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First Presential Phase of Capacity-Building Training Held in Accra, Ghana

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:02:32 +0000

First Presential Phase of Capacity-Building Training Held in Accra, Ghana

From 12 to 14 January, Accra, Ghana, hosted the first presential phase of the capacity-building training supported by Misean Cara and promoted within the framework of strengthening project management and safeguarding with a child-rights approach. The gathering brought together all members of the African Mission Commission (AMC) representing the five regions of Nigeria, Madagascar, West-Africa, Pace and Southern Africa, marking an important milestone in the regional formation process.

A central component of the training focused on safeguarding according to Child Rights principles, facilitated by Br. Fortune Chakasara. Through participatory sessions, practical examples, and reflective dialogue, participants deepened their understanding of child protection, prevention of harm, and the responsibility of Marist works to place the dignity and rights of children at the heart of all actions.

Beyond the immediate learning outcomes, it confirmed the readiness of the AMC to reproduce the training through a cascade approach across all its territories. This train-the-trainer dynamic will allow the competencies acquired in Accra to be progressively transferred to provinces and local works, ensuring sustainability and a broader institutional impact.

The next two online training sessions are set for 10th February and 3rd March at 15:00 Italian time.

From 15 January onwards, the programme continued with field visits to several projects in Accra and Kumasi. These visits offered a concrete opportunity to witness the support provided by FMSI to the Mission of West Africa, reaching thousands of children, particularly those most at risk of exclusion. Education, social inclusion, and protection initiatives illustrated how a rights-based approach translates into tangible change in the lives of children and young people.

The visits also provided a valuable space for dialogue and forward-looking reflection on the Youth Empowerment Clubs Network. Particular focus was placed on the imminent opening of the first Youth Empowerment Club in Ghana, which will be established at Our Good Mother School in Ashalaja. This initiative marks an important step in strengthening youth participation, leadership, and empowerment within Marist educational contexts. At the same time, the AMC is invited to reflect on how to create synergies between the Youth Empowerment Clubs and other existing initiatives, such as Champagnat Global, in order to enhance coherence and impact.

Overall, the Accra presential phase emerged as a meaningful moment of learning, consolidation, and renewed commitment to serve children and young people—especially the one in conditions of vulnerability— through professional, coordinated, and rights-based action.

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51st Session of the UPR Working Group

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:16:23 +0000

51st Session of the UPR Working Group

From 19 to 30 January 2026, the 51st Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will take place in Geneva. During this session, UN Member States will review national human rights records and issue recommendations to strengthen the protection of human rights worldwide.

Countries under review during this session include Australia, Austria, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

For the full schedule of all UPR sessions, see the official calendar: UPR Calendar

As FMSI, together with the Marist Brothers, youth and children, we actively contributed to the drafting of the UPR submissions for Australia, Lebanon, and Rwanda. For these countries, we also took part in the EU pre-sessions, bringing to the international arena the recommendations and voices of children, collected through our projects and child participation processes. Ensuring that children’s perspectives are heard at the highest international level is a key part of our commitment to a child-rights-based approach and meaningful participation.

Lebanon

Children and young people involved in the Fratelli Project raised serious concerns in our UPR submission on children’s rights — particularly around education, child labour, access to documentation, and basic needs.

During the European Union pre-session, they strongly emphasised the need to ensure that every child — regardless of nationality, socio-economic status or legal background — has access to primary and secondary education. As highlighted in our report, many children in Lebanon still face major barriers linked to poverty, displacement, school fees, transportation costs and the deterioration of public education. In their own words:

“We want real education, not just a place to sit.”

Guaranteeing universal access to quality education is essential to preventing school dropout, child labour and long-term exclusion. Children also called on Lebanon to provide identification documents to all children, including refugee, migrant and undocumented children, so they can access education, healthcare and essential public services.

“Some of us don’t even have legal papers… we can’t register for school or move freely.”

Finally, they urged the State to recognise and uphold the intrinsic dignity and value of every child, regardless of social status, religion, education or legal situation. In a context of deep social fragmentation, children repeatedly asked to have their abilities, voices and potential acknowledged.

We hope Lebanon will take meaningful steps forward on these key issues.

Read our UPR report: PDF

Watch the review of Lebanon (19 January, 2:30 CET): UN WebTV

Rwanda

During the European Union pre-session, children and young people in Rwanda clearly expressed that education is not only a fundamental right, but a pathway to dignity, empowerment and future opportunities. As one student told us:

“Every student, regardless of background, deserves equal access to quality learning so they can reach their full potential.”

Children highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable access to quality primary and secondary education for all, including those affected by poverty, disability or displacement. They also stressed the need to strengthen inclusive education systems, through better learning materials, digital access, teacher training and safer, more supportive school environments.

Persistent challenges such as high repetition rates and low completion levels were raised as obstacles that risk undermining children’s long-term prospects if not addressed through targeted national strategies.

Young people also strongly emphasised that child protection is essential to their well-being and development. One student shared:

“Every child deserves care, safety, and a peaceful environment… When children are protected, they develop confidence and joy.”

They called for continued investment in child protection systems, including adequately funded services, trained professionals and strong community-based mechanisms. Mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents emerged as a key priority, alongside the promotion of safe and non-violent environments in schools and communities.

Across all discussions, children made it clear that education and protection are deeply interconnected. When children feel safe, they are able to learn; and when they learn, they are better equipped to grow, participate and thrive.

These priorities echo the broader concerns raised in our UPR submission, including youth development and opportunities, children’s overall well-being, and the need for infrastructure and development that truly respond to children’s rights.

As Rwanda approaches its UPR review, we extend our best wishes for a constructive and successful process. We hope this review will translate into renewed commitment and concrete action to ensure that every child in Rwanda can learn safely, grow with dignity, and look to the future with hope.

Read our UPR report: PDF

Watch the review of Rwanda (21 January, 9:00 CET): UN WebTv

AUSTRALIA

Children and young people involved in our Marist school and social works raised key concerns in our UPR submission on children’s rights in Australia, particularly in relation to youth crime, child protection, and the situation of refugee and asylum-seeking children.

While overall youth offending has declined, recidivism rates remain alarmingly high. This points to systemic shortcomings in rehabilitation, detention conditions and long-term reintegration support. Young people themselves highlighted the need for justice responses that are centred on care, healing and accountability, rather than punishment alone.

Raising the age of criminal responsibility and strengthening trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support are essential steps to ensure that youth justice systems respond to children in line with their rights and developmental needs. Children also stressed the importance of consistent, long-term accompaniment after release, including mentoring and social-worker-based support to help young people reconnect with education, employment and community life. Without these pathways, many adolescents risk being trapped in cycles of reoffending and exclusion.

At the same time, children and young people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds drew attention to persistent barriers to education, financial stability and long-term integration. Prolonged uncertainty linked to temporary visa regimes continues to affect children’s wellbeing, learning outcomes and future opportunities. Targeted educational support, alongside transition programmes focused on financial literacy and employment readiness, were identified as crucial to helping families move towards independence and stable housing.

At the heart of their message is a clear call: children must be protected, supported and empowered — never left behind because of their background or legal status

Read our UPR report: PDF

Watch the review of Australia (26 January, 9:00 CET): UN WebTV

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The FMSI Board of Directors Meeting of 4–5 December: Looking Ahead with Confidence

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:29:30 +0000

The FMSI Board of Directors Meeting of 4–5 December: Looking Ahead with Confidence

On 4 and 5 December, the FMSI Board of Directors convened for an important moment of dialogue, reflection, and shared vision on the Foundation’s journey. The meeting opened with a particularly meaningful and emotional moment: a live connection from Australia with the outgoing President, Fr. Kenneth Charles McDonald, who wished to extend his greetings, express his closeness, and offer his best wishes to the new Board. A simple yet profound gesture that reminded everyone of the value of continuity, relationships, and the shared path that characterizes FMSI’s history.

The Board expressed great appreciation for the work carried out, acknowledging the commitment, quality, and coherence of the activities implemented. Particular satisfaction was also expressed regarding the objectives for 2026, which outline a clear and ambitious direction for FMSI’s future. The Board of Directors encouraged the staff to continue moving forward with confidence along this path, further strengthening the Foundation’s impact.

In a special way, the Board expressed its full support for the decision to orient all FMSI activities toward a child-centered approach, reaffirming the centrality of children’s rights, participation, and well-being as the core of the Foundation’s identity and action.

The Board of Directors meeting concluded in a climate of trust, responsibility, and renewed enthusiasm, reaffirming a shared commitment to building a future that is increasingly just and attentive to the rights of children.

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Strengthening Marist Solidarity and Volunteering: MISN and MVN Meet in Rome

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:27:11 +0000

Strengthening Marist Solidarity and Volunteering: MISN and MVN Meet in Rome

Rome, December 2025 – In early December, members of the Marist International Solidarity Network (MISN) and the Marist Volunteering Network (MVN) gathered at the General House in Rome for a joint working meeting aimed at reinforcing collaboration and renewing their shared commitment to solidarity and volunteering within the Marist Institute.

Eleven participants from different regions of the Marist world took part in the meeting, including Brothers Diego and Nnodu from the Secretariat of Solidarity. Their presence reflected the Institute’s spirit of communion and the collective responsibility of Brothers and Lay partners in advancing the Marist mission.

The meeting focused on strengthening internal coordination, refining organizational structures, and exploring ways to better integrate MISN and MVN as complementary expressions of a single Marist Solidarity ecosystem. Participants engaged in open dialogue on emerging global challenges, evolving missionary priorities, and concrete opportunities to revitalize both solidarity initiatives and volunteering pathways.

A central moment of the gathering was a SWOT analysis of the Marist Solidarity area, which helped identify strengths to build upon, weaknesses to address, opportunities for growth, and potential risks. This exercise led to greater clarity around the operational framework, with an emphasis on coherence, regional alignment, clearly defined roles, and improved internal communication.

Looking ahead, the group also began preparations for the upcoming joint assembly, collaborating on key themes and participatory methodologies. Particular attention was given to the celebration of Marist Volunteer Day, envisioned as a meaningful opportunity to recognize and honor the commitment of volunteers serving in diverse contexts around the world.

The week unfolded in a spirit of fraternity and shared reflection. It opened with greetings from the Superior General and the Vicar General and continued with project updates, reflections on regional realities, and discussions on advocacy, formation, social ministries, and volunteering. A fraternal visit to Rome further strengthened intercultural bonds and community life among participants.

The meeting concluded with a moment of evaluation, expressions of gratitude, a shared celebration.

Overall, the Joint Meeting of the MISN–MVN Bodies marked an important step forward in consolidating the global Marist mission of solidarity and volunteering. Walking together—Brothers and Lay, across cultures and continents—continues to be the most effective and prophetic way of nurturing a hope-filled Marist presence in today’s world.

The post Strengthening Marist Solidarity and Volunteering: MISN and MVN Meet in Rome first appeared on Fondazione Marista per la Solidarietà Internazionale ONLUS.