For 5 days Ruse hosted the international camp for interfaith dialogue of URI Europe, “Rivers of Peace 2025”
The goal of the camp was for young people to work actively toward building a peaceful future and understanding.
From August 4 to 8, 2025, the city of Ruse turned into a stage for an international youth dialogue with a focus on interfauth and intercultural communication, social justice, and peace. It hosted the five‑day camp “Rivers of Peace 2025,” organized by URI Europe and the BRIDGES CC, in partnership with the URI Global and Cooperation Circles (CCs) from various points in Europe.
We express special thanks to Ruse Municipality for the partnership and support.
The camp brought together nearly 30 young people aged 15 to 17 from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Bulgarian school in London “Ivan Stanchov.” With them during the days of the camp worked intensively 9 young facilitators from 4 different countries (aged between 18 and 27), who had a key role in creating and running the program.
The camp is a continuation of the successful project “Seeding the Peace,” implemented in 2024 in the Hague, the Netherlands, which is already bearing fruits through new youth initiatives and growing communities in several European countries. URI Europe managed to gather a diverse group of participants, each partner seeking a balance between gender, religion, and cultural background in forming their youth delegations.
This year’s format enjoyed the high presence of URI leadership, both at the European and at the global level, which emphasizes one of the organization’s main global priorities - building and shaping a youth leadership community of peacemakers.
In Ruse, especially for the camp, arrived the newly elected Chair of URI Europe board, Daniel Eror from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Samira Fatma Baruchia, Regional Coordinator for URI Multiregion and URI Outreach and Network Vitality Coordinator, as well as the Chair of URI Global Council, Eric Roux, who arrived in Ruse from Paris.
A particularly important accent was added by the presence and role in the camp of HRH Prince Boris Saxe‑Coburg‑Gotha, who for yet another year supported the initiative, now also as part of BRIDGES’ board.
The goal of “Rivers of Peace” was to create a safe and inspiring space in which participants would build friendships, exchange experience and ideas, and discover common paths for cooperation on topics such as peace, ecological and social justice, interreligious dialogue, and the arts.
Program by days
Day 1: Building trust and friendships
On August 4 at 16:30, the camp was opened in the presence of representatives of Ruse Municipality. Among the official guests were Mrs. Tanya Todorova, Head of Department “Education, Sport and Youth Activities” at Ruse Municipality; Mr. Nikola Lazarov, Deputy Mayor of Ruse Municipality; Mr. Sasho Shterev, Senior Expert in the “Education” department; Mr. Ivan Stefanov, PR of Ruse Municipality.
The camp was opened by Angelina Vladikova, Chair of Bridges and part URI Europe team (URIE CC Liaison Officer), who addressed the participants with inspiring words:
“The Danube is the river that unites Europe, passing through 10 countries before flowing into the Black Sea. It is a living thread of the continent’s history, uniting and connecting the different, carrying memory and wisdom. May the Rivers of Peace water European soil.”
On the occasion of the initiative, Mayor Pencho Milkov sent a note to the camp, stating that Ruse has always been an example of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between different communities. “Hosting ‘Rivers of Peace 2025’ is yet another proof that here we build bridges of trust and understanding among people. I am confident that this camp will reinforce Ruse’s image as a city of tolerance, dialogue, and shared values.”
HRH Prince Boris Saxe Coburg-Gotha, Silvia Trifonova (Bridges board member), Petar Gramatikov (Bridges board member and URI representative in UN Geneva), Steven Dias Pires (Colorful Segbroek board member), Marvina Mansaku (Udhetim I Lire board member), together with youth facilitators from Bridges, Dimitar Borumov, Nona Kuteva, and Vladimir Stoichev, expressed their joy and excitement for the following days and welcomed all participants.
After the formal part, the participants took part in ice‑breaker games and interactive sessions devoted to building trust, empathy, and interpersonal communication. Each one received a T‑shirt and a water bottle with the camp’s logo, in order to reduce the use of plastic bottles and be more ecologically sustainable during the days together. The facilitators created an atmosphere of openness in which every opinion was heard and every culture respected.
Day 2: Culture and inter‑religious dialogue
The second day of the camp was dedicated to spirituality, faith, and dialogue between different religious traditions.
The day began with a visit to the Historical Museum in Ruse, where participants became acquainted with the region’s cultural heritage – a foundation for understanding contemporary identity.
This was followed by visits to some religious communities and meetings with their leaders:
At the Catholic Church “St. Paul of the Cross,” Father Walter spoke about the Catholic tradition and the role of the Church as a community center, about its mission in Bulgaria, and the work with young people, which is of exceptional importance to the parish. With great joy and warm feelings, Father Walter welcomed the group of young people and thanked them for what they do and the organizers for choosing Ruse as the place to host this significant international URI youth forum.
At the Orthodox Church “St. Nicholas,” Father Stefan introduced the youth into the world of Orthodox spirituality, the meaning of ritual, faith, and the path of Christ. With warmth and fatherly feelings, he addressed the young people and encouraged them to work together beyond differences, to support each other, and to fight hatred in the world.
The friendship and brotherly love between Father Walter and Father Stefan, with a 26‑year history, which they shared with us in person, served as a vivid example of dialogue of the spirit. Both fathers spoke with much emotion about their joint services at Easter, when the date coincides, about their long‑lasting excellent relationships, as “neighbors” and about the support and friendship they have.
In the afternoon, the tour continued with a visit to the mosque “Said Pasha,” where Regional Mufti Yucel Hayredin explained about the local Muslim community and the role of the Mosque as a home for faith, culture, and social activity. He paid special attention to the connection of the Bulgarian Royal family with the Muslim community, and the good attitude that the confession receives in Ruse. The Mufti did not fail to highlight the warm relations among religious leaders in Ruse and the custom of sharing major holidays together.
Then the program continued with a workshop led by Samira Fatma Baruchia (URI Multiregion) and Daniel Eror (Chair of the URI Europe board), in which the youth discussed the challenges and opportunities of inter‑religious dialogue. “Listening circles” were created, in which everyone could tell about their faith, family tradition, or path toward personal tolerance.
At the end of the day, we enjoyed a walk in the center of Ruse, where participants had the opportunity to feel the atmosphere of the city and see its landmarks. The evening ended with informal communication.
Day 3: Ecological and social engagement
This day of “Rivers of Peace” was devoted entirely to nature, sustainable development, and social engagement!
Joining the group on the third day was Chair of the URI Global Council Eric Roux, who arrived in Ruse from Paris. He congratulated the youth for their commitment to interfaith dialogue and expressed his joy in seeing so many future leaders from various parts of Europe united by the idea of working together for peace. He also shared that among all invitations for this summer, he chose to attend exactly “Rivers of Peace” and was glad to be part of the youth forum of URI Europe.
Before the daytime sessions, we observed August 6 – Nuclear Prayer Day, with the prayer written by URI founder Bishop Swing, which Eric Roux read.
Working day began with an inspiring session, “Leadership and Decision‑Making,” led by the team of facilitators from the Netherlands and Bulgaria, Steven and Vladi. We talked about what it means to be a peacemaker, how responsible decisions are made, and how each of us can carry positive change in our community.
In the workshop “Let’s Act!,” facilitated by the team from Bulgaria and Albania, Dimitar and Marvina, participants created their own mini‑projects with a cause – campaigns for a clean environment, dialogue initiatives in school, green projects, and art ideas for social change.
In the afternoon, HRH Prince Boris of Saxe‑Coburg‑Gotha presented the “Green Energy in Motion” initiative. Together with him, we learned how to create a miniature wind generator - a symbol of a sustainable future and the young energy that drives it forward!
The evening concluded with a walk along the river and a special “Nature at Night” session under the stars, led by Ivo Djokin, contact person for NASA in Bulgaria. Under the night sky, participants learned about the stars, the moon, and connected with nature and themselves. And finally, everyone received a certificate as amateur astronomers!
Another day full of meaning, ideas, and inspiration for a more just and sustainable world.
Day 4: Peace through art
The fourth day highlighted the power of art as a path to dialogue.
In the morning, we visited the Basarbovo Monastery “St. Dmitrius of Basarbovo.” The monastery is one of two active rock monasteries in Bulgaria. It originated during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th–14th century), but the earliest records of it date from the Ottoman tax registers of 1431. After the spiritual experience, we returned to Ruse to continue with active work.
In the session “Environmental Awareness and Dilemmas,” led by Dimitar and Marvina, the youth discussed real cases related to climate justice and personal responsibility.
In the afternoon, a symbolic boat ride on the Danube aboard “St. Sofia” connected the camp’s theme with the river’s role as a unifier. In the presence of Mrs. Tanya Kyuranova and Mrs. Tanya Todorova from Ruse Municipality, the youth had the opportunity to talk about the significance of the Danube not only as a geographical but also as a cultural and emotional pathway. Each received a small gift from the municipality as a souvenir.
Then followed an official meeting at Ruse Municipality between the leadership of BRIDGES, URI Europe, URI Global, with deputy mayors and heads of departments of the Municipality, during which future joint projects and initiatives were discussed. Willingness was expressed to strengthen good relations and reinforce the model of partnership between the non‑governmental sector and regional state administration.
The evening ended with a cultural program at the City Art Gallery, a concert attended by the religious leaders with whom we had met on previous days: Father Stefan, Father Valter, Father Daraiy, as well as representatives of the cultural community of Ruse. Entirely prepared and led by the participants of the camp, the cultural program became a true palette of diverse performances, music, dance, and songs. Invited to participate besides the camp’s youth from different countries were Armenian priest Father Daraiy and Chair of URI Global Council Eric Roux, who gladly accepted the youth’s invitation and performed their original songs. The concert program of “Rivers of Peace” concluded with the group performance of John Lennon’s emblematic song “Imagine.”
We thank the gallery’s director, Mrs. Elsitza Popova, for her hospitality and warm attitude.
A gala dinner followed at the restaurant‑tavern “Chinara,” filled with music, thanks, and many emotions.
Day 5: Final meetings and certificates
The final day was a time for reflection, evaluation, and gratitude.
During the session “Final Sharing and Thank‑Yous,” led by the team Samira and Dimitar, the participants had the opportunity to express what they had learned, how they had changed, and what they would take with them. The sharing was emotional, inspiring, and sincere, and the tears in the participants’ eyes were a testimony to the success of the format.
At an official ceremony, certificates of active participation were awarded and personal letters of appreciation were presented, sent to us from various points in the world by young people from the URI network, congratulating each participant and facilitator from the camp for contributing to URI’s mission.
HRH Prince Boris Saxe‑Coburg‑Gotha presented the certificates to the youth, and Eric Roux – to the youth facilitators and organizers.
“The river that connects” – the symbolism of the camp
The name “Rivers of Peace” is not just a metaphor – it is the heart of this camp. The river is a living symbol - of movement, connection, and change. Just as the Danube passes through 10 countries, so too did the participants pass through 5 days of awareness, communication, and building new bridges - between themselves and toward the world.
Special thanks to the Ruse Municipality for its valuable partnership and hosting. We thank all participants, facilitators, lecturers, and guests who made “Rivers of Peace 2025” not just a camp, but an experience that will leave a mark.
