The URI is organized locally, regionally and globally. Regional teams, made up of Global Council trustees and Regional Coordinators, work in eight regions to sustain Cooperation Circles, provide communication links, and develop URI through interfaith partnerships. Global Council trustees are elected by regional CCs. Visit the Regional/CC News, for stories and reports of actions from our CCs in all regions. Visit the Regional Assemblies Calendar for a listing of recent and future regional gatherings.

(Click the map or use the links below to find your regional group)

Africa

Asia

Europe

Latin America

Middle East and North Africa
North America

Southeast Asia, Indonesia & the Pacific
Multiregional

Africa

Regional Coordinators:

Mr. Mussie Hailu, HORN of Africa

Ms. Despina Namwembe, Great Lakes  

Ms. Joyce Deliwe Ng'oma, Malawi

Global Council Members:
Ms. Rattan Channa
Mr. Pelecinnah Josiah-Pele
Bishop Samuel Lubogo

From HIV/AIDS education and awareness in Malawi, with call in talk shows on a youth run radio station Live 101, to youth peace training in Ethiopia, interfaith leadership in Mozambique, and government-rebel mediation in Uganda, the URI has many active Cooperation Circles in Africa . Also, read about the URI Peacebuilding Team, six members from throughout the world, who came to Virginia to attend training at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute.

View Africa CC News

View Contact information

Asia

Regional Coordinators:
Dr. Hira Paul Gangnegi, India (North Zone)
Mr. Biswadeb Chakraborty, India (East Zone)
Father James Channan, Pakistan
Dr. Abraham Karickam, India (South Zone)
Ms. Qutub Jehan Kidwai (West Zone) 

Global Council Members:

Swami Agnivesh
Ven. Dr. Jinwol Young H. Lee (serving as regional coordinator)
Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir

The network of Cooperation Circles in India, Pakistan, and Korea has expanded with outreach to Japan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and China. Following that growth, members are coming together person-to-person in sub-regional gatherings in 2004 and 2005 in Korea and in India/Pakistan.

Visit URI Korea website

Visit URI Pakistan website

View Asia CC News

View Contact information

Europe

Regional Coordinator:
Ms. Karimah Stauch

Global Council Trustees:
Ms. Kiran Bali
Shaikh Bashir Dultz
Ms. Elisabeth Lheure

The URI in Europe hosted global URI participation in the Parliament of World's Religions in Barcelona in July, 2004. Newest CCs are in Denmark, Turkey, and Tajikistan, bringing the total to 17 Cooperation Circles in Europe. Plans are being made for the Regional Assembly to take place in Brussels September 22-24, 2005, titled "Overcoming prejudices and irritations between people of different cultures and religions in the process of the European unification.

View URI Europe Website

View URI Denmark Website 

View URI Germany Website  

View Europe CC News

View Contact information

Latin America

Regional Coordinator: 

Global Council Members:
Ms. Fany Avila Eleta

Rev. David Limo Pajar
Rev. Elias de Andrade Pinto

URI Latin America’s spotlight is building the capacity for action in its own CCs and creating enhanced capacity in the whole URI network. Some of their ongoing programs are interfaith education, urban disarmament, and calling forth the voice of the indigenous. In August 2008, ninety representatives of 21 Cooperation Circles from eleven countries gathered in Iguaçu Falls, Brazil for the Third URI Latin America regional assembly. The four-day assembly focused on healing, networking and building capacity.

Visit URI Latin America website

View Latin America CC News

View Contact information

Middle East and North Africa

Regional Coordinators:
Mr. Mamoun Khreisat

Global Council Trustees:

Mr. Anas Al-Abbadi

Mr. Tareq Al-Tamimi

Ms. Suzan Debabneh

URI Cooperation Circles in the Middle East and North Africa are working to deepen relationships between people of different faiths through interfaith encounter gatherings and retreats. Special focus is on youth gatherings and the power of women to bridge incredible gaps of violence and mistrust.

View Middle East and North Africa CC News

View Contact information

North America

Regional Coordinator:
Ms. Sandy Westin

Global Council Trustees: 

Ms. Rebecca Gonzalez-Tobias
Ms. Anne Roth
Ms. Adelia Sandoval

Cooperation Circles in North America focus on programs in URI's Action Agenda areas. From writing peace training curriculum to environmental education programs to building interfaith houses with Habitat for Humanity, people are active at all levels working to build enduring daily interfaith cooperation, to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the earth and all living beings.

View North America CC News

Visit URI North America website

View Contact information

Southeast Asia & the Pacific

Regional Coordinator:
Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani

Global Council Members:
Dr. Amir Farid bin D. Isahak
Mr. Musa Sanguila

We are coming alive with the spirit of unity in diversity, good will, and cooperation. Efforts are being made to 1) build bridges of friendship and peace among our members, 2) share the URI vision with others, and 3) create and nurture new CCs in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. An Interim Regional Council (IRC) composed of CC representatives has been created to provide leadership, inspiration, and guidance to our regional efforts. Together we endeavor to be the change that we wish to see in the world!"

View Southeast Asia & the Pacific CC News

Visit URI SEAPAC Website

View Contact information

Multiregional

Regional Coordinator:
Mr. Lance Trumbull, USA

Global Council Members:
Dr. Linda Bennett Elder, USA
Mr. Matthew Paul Youde, Wales, UK 
Ms. Yoland Trevino, USA

This region was created for interest- or issue-based or Cooperation Circles that connect beyond geographic regional boundaries. Interfaith practice can be practical as well as spiritual. The CCs of this multi-region connect and network among religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions, based on such interests as music and the arts, women’s spirituality, interfaith volunteer service, youth, prevention of HIB infection in developing countries, and linking the UN and URI.