On Wednesday, July 16th, the CC Approval Committee met to review nine applications from different regions: one from Asia, three from Africa, two from Middle East and North Africa, one from North America, and two from South East Asia. All of them are committed groups of more than seven people with requested diversity and purposes and activities in line with our Preamble, Purpose and Principles. After a careful study of each of the applications, CC Approval Committee unanimously approved them for membership. Please join us in welcoming these new members to our global family.

Asia Region

Anando CC
Mohammadpur Dhaka, Bangladesh

This CC states its purpose is the “promotion of peace through community understanding and fulfillment of basic need.” Since 1997, Anando has been promoting peace, protecting indigenous culture, and providing human right & skill development for youth through integrated development activities including education, training, peace promotion, traditional culture, job creation, etc. Their peacework deals specifically with people who live in the plains in Bangladesh, many who are migrating to the hill in search of land and work. There are basic cultural differences between people who live in the hill, and those who live on the plains, and sometimes they treat each other as enemies. Anando is working to help these people to understand one another and work together peacefully. 

Mulunguzi CC
Mikolongwe, Malawi

Focused on helping the needy in their communities, this CC unites over thirteen religions and various religious leaders, non-governmental organizations, and other partners in their area to work to promote peace and stability, and to provide solutions for income generation to help the needy and orphans. One of their main fouses is to bring HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention to some of the most needed areas in their community through songs, drama/plays, recitals, and discussions and debates.  

Tigwirane Manga CC
Blantyre, Malawi

The purpose of Tigwirane Manga CC is to promote love and peace among the aged, the sick and the orphans living in both rural and urban area of Malawi. Their programs include ministering to people; introducing home based care & training for caretakers; looking after the very sick and orphans by providing them with general care and basic necessities; building houses for people who are not capable of building houses due to old age; and reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic for better standard of living for an ordinary Malawian. When members hold meetings, one of their main topics of discussion is how love and peace is the source of happiness for the human race. 

NIDA CC
Blantyre, Malawi

The Interdenomination Alliance (NIDA) was formed in November, 2007 to bring people of different religions together with the aim of sharing religious experiences and beliefs and discussing important traditional religious issues. This CC provides training and activities to facilitate relationships between denominations and to find solutions to religious problems. Also actively involved in the community, NIDA helps to economically empower members through vocational training, garden inputs and livestock production. 

Middle East and North Africa Region

Save our Souls from Jordan CC
Amman, Jordan 

This CCs purpose is “To find better methods to serve the children and to provide help to children regardless of religious affiliation.” They have conducted many activities to help orphans and less fortunate children live better life, and have organized several training, educational and entertainment activities for children in their community. Soon this CC plans to start awareness campaigns and training programs to promote their goals, draw in more members, and make their voice heard to everyone who believes that the world needs to be a better place.

Palestinian Youngs for Peace CC
West Bank, Palestinian Authority

This CC is actively involved in peace meetings in the Middle East, stating their purpose is “to struggle against bigotry and sprout peace among the Palestinian and Israeli Grass-Roots Youth, despite faith, confession, ethnic origin, tribe, sect, tenet, color, boundary, cultural difference, etc.” Drawing young people in their community together, this CC is working to urge “blocked” groups to participate in their CC activities, express their points of views frankly, and participate in peaceful and constructive dialogues. Already they have carried out peace meetings with Israeli colleagues and other youth from Europe, USA and other Middle East Countries.

North America Region

Unity Made Visible, a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative CC
New York, NY 

UMV was born in February 2004 from the spirit and enthusiasm emerging from the Annual Martin Luther King Community Choir performance in New York.  Conceived of by Gwen Brown-Murray, Earlena Thevenin and Kathy & Paul Storfer, it was hoped that the power of music could be leveraged as a common language to unite people of different faiths and different spoken languages in our community. In 2007, two years after their first major event, members decided to join URI. Their recent highlight was the “Religions Look at Prayer” program with over 250 people in attendance.  This CC continues to follow its purpose “to create opportunities for education, dialogue and community among people of all beliefs” through musical activities and other interfaith programs. 

Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region

G.R.O.W.T.H. (Giving, Respect, Opportunity, Wisdom, Transcendence, Harmony) CC
Cebu City, the Phillipines 

This CCs’ purpose is “to give and share knowledge to youth through music and the arts.” They do this by using spiritual retreats, yoga, meditation, music, dance and other arts to engage teens who struggle with drug addiction and suicide thoughts. Some of the groups past activities include regular yoga sessions, cooking demos, and seminars and workshops on drug addictions. Their most memorable activity was a mass feeding of over 100 mothers and children in Baragay. 

Mugna Kabataan CC
Cebu City, the Phillipines

This CC is comprised mostly of youth volunteers of the Civic Welfare Training Service of the University of Cebu, and many are youth leaders of different religions & spiritual practices in Cebu. For two years, they have come together to celebrate life and serve as facilitators in handling classes for the university, stating that their purpose is to “to lead the youth in promoting peace and interfaith dialogue through creative thinking and ways, for new innovations, mutual respect, understanding and the formation of the youth to be accountable leaders among the youth today and for the future.” Their highlight was in 2007, when they participated in the Festivals of Religions. 

For contact information for any of the above listed CCs, please contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it