In 2025, the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region of URI continued to strengthen its role as a vibrant peacebuilding network rooted in interfaith cooperation, gender equity, youth leadership, and violence prevention. Guided by URI’s values and global mission, the region expanded its reach, deepened its programs, and multiplied its human impact across the region.
Regional Growth at a Glance
This extraordinary expansion reflects renewed enthusiasm for URI’s mission and the effectiveness of grassroots-led engagement strategies across the region.
Interfaith Harmony in Action
World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW)
In alignment with the United Nations’ call for interreligious understanding, URI LAC celebrated World Interfaith Harmony Week by amplifying diverse voices of faith and conscience across the region through a vigorous social media campaign.
20 Cooperation Circles from 11 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, El Salvador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, and Venezuela) took part in the video outreach.
This initiative strengthened interfaith visibility, fostered mutual respect, and reminded communities that harmony is not abstract, it is built through listening, testimony, and shared commitment.
Youth as Architects of Peace
Youth Leaders for Peace Program – 1st Cohort
One of the region’s most significant achievements in 2025 was the public presentation of projects designed and implemented by graduates of the 1st Cohort of the Youth Leaders for Peace Training Program.
Program Results:
- 10 youth-led projects implemented in 6 countries
- 656 people directly impacted
8 partner organizations engaged
Each project addressed local needs from violence prevention to community education, demonstrating that when young people are trusted and trained, they become powerful agents of peace.
Youth Voices, One Declaration
Online Forum: Youth for Peace
In collaboration with CC Generación de Luz and URI regions in Europe, Africa, and MENA, URI LAC convened an interregional online forum that brought young leaders together across borders.
25 young people from diverse cooperation circles participated in this initiative, out of which the youth declaration was made and shared through social media.
The forum fostered global solidarity and affirmed youth as moral voices capable of articulating shared visions for peace in an increasingly fragmented world.
Preventing Violence Through Community Action
URI LAC addressed violence not only through dialogue, but through practical, community-based interventions.
Two regional online workshops on violence prevention through art were held in Guatemala.
As a result of this initiative, 97 people participated, with 10 women trained as facilitators. In addition, 45 children and youth were sensitized on violence prevention.
These efforts reduced vulnerability, strengthened local leadership, and used creativity and education as tools for healing and prevention.
Growing the URI Community in Latin America
Inviting individuals into active participation in URI’s global movement
URI Latin America and the Caribbean launched a comprehensive regional campaign to promote its individual membership program. This was achieved through a region-wide digital campaign that invited individuals to join URI by sharing short, heartfelt testimonial videos.
A total of 12 videos were produced and shared across social media. In turn, this initiative contributed to a 68% increase in individual members in this region.
This campaign demonstrated how authentic voices can strengthen a global movement.
Creating Safer Spaces for Children in Honduras
Classroom Ventilation for Children in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Facing extreme heat and poor ventilation, a local Cooperation Circle partnered with a faith community to improve conditions for children attending Sunday school.
Through this project, multiple fans for classrooms and common areas were purchased to improve comfort, health, and safety for dozens of children
This initiative shows that small, well-targeted investments can significantly improve daily life and dignity.
Honduras Spotlight
19 projects were generated by Cooperation Cirlces and IMs on the ground for the wellbeing of the communities.
These projects are funded by seed grants provided by URI and include:
- Water harvesting
- Supporting the installation of an aquaponics system (fish and vegetable farming) as a source of income for young people with various disabilities
- new roads to favor a quick support to those ill in the community
- new trends in agriculture training, an ecological microenterprise for income generation to promote the resilience of people with disabilities as well as aligning AI with indigenous worldviews and values
- solutions to the structural and specific problems that affect urban indigenous communities, healing trauma in communities
- teaching the indigenous mother tongue to children in the different educational centers.
Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2026
To sustain and expand this impact, URI LAC has identified key micro-projects for donor partnership:
- Youth Leaders for Peace Network – 2nd Cohort
- Training Women Facilitators in Violence Prevention
- “Cosmovision: Ancestral Legacy” – Trilingual Edition
These initiatives respond directly to regional needs and align with URI’s global priorities of youth leadership, gender equity, and respect for Indigenous wisdom.
