Arigatou International

20/10/2026

🌍 Last week in Bangkok, the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) Annual Assembly brought members and partners together to discuss current issues in religion and sustainable development, as well as the future of the partnership.

As a Steering Board member and co-chair of several Working Groups, Arigatou International was honored to contribute actively throughout the assembly. Representing Arigatou International, Eleonora Mura, Head of Partnerships and Organizational Development, chaired the opening session on behalf of Civil Society.

👉 A key highlight was the official launch of the new publication: “Religion in Global Affairs: The Contributions of Religious Actors to Education, Environmental Protection, Gender Equality, Human Rights, Peace, and Well-Being.”

Initiated by the PaRD Secretariat, the brochure gathers concrete examples of how people inspired by religious and spiritual traditions address critical global challenges. In his foreword, Khushwant Singh, Head of the PaRD Secretariat, underscores why these lived experiences and community-led initiatives matter.

During the launch panel, “Religion in Global Affairs – Why It Matters,” moderated by Henriette Greulich (GIZ), Eleonora joined Evans Nyesi (The Tikvah Center), Dilshan Annaraj (World Vision International), and Rose Campion (GIZ) to discuss integrating faith-sensitive approaches into global policy and practice.

In her intervention, Eleonora shared the work of PaRD's Health and Peacebuilding work streams, which led the brochure's section on faith-sensitive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for children on the move.

Our sincere gratitude goes to the PaRD Secretariat, members, and fellow contributors for an inspiring assembly and for demonstrating what can be achieved when faith-based and secular actors unite around practical solutions for the most vulnerable.

📖 Read and download the publication:https://www.partner-religion-development.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/PARD_Brochure_Religion-in-Global-Affairs_WEB.pdf

Pictures: © PaRD/GIZ

14/10/2026

💭 Why does engaging with faith actors matter for child protection?

Faith actors can play an important role within communities—influencing social norms, family decisions, and the networks that support children and families.

But how can child protection practitioners engage with this influence effectively and meaningfully?

Join the Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and Arigatou International as we explore experiences, challenges and opportunities in engaging with faith actors.

📅 28 October | 🕑 14:00 CEST | 🌐 French, Spanish, and Arabic.
🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zWvFCHGHSPyzRGcaXpwGkg

14/10/2026

What can we learn from faith communities making a difference for children?

As part of the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, the World Day Interfaith Dialogue Series brings together religious and community leaders, practitioners, and child rights experts from diverse faith traditions and regions to reflect on the responsibility and distinctive contribution of faith communities to children’s lives.

The public livestream will feature reflections from religious leaders representing different faith traditions, setting the context for a broader exchange on protecting children’s rights and advancing their well-being.

📅 November 5, 2026
🕗 Public livestream | 8:00–8:30 a.m. EST
💻 Online

🔗 Register to join the public livestream: https://religionsforpeace.zoom.us/meeting/register/9M5UHKXpTMmBTu_ekCmoNg #/registration

The livestream will be followed by a 60-minute, invitation-only dialogue among religious and community leaders through facilitated Dialogue Circles.

Co-convened by Arigatou International, Religions for Peace, the World Council of Churches, and the United Religions Initiative.

Ethics Education for Children - Arigatou International End Child Poverty Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)

02/10/2026

🔴 LIVE: The World Summit for the Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict has started!

🎥 Watch the entire event live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/vthjgYy3GVo?is=00DZRmLOkIu8KOtg

✏ Don't miss our special session "Education as Protection, Recovery and Prevention: From Rights to Action" at 14:40 CET.

🔗 Tune in and experience the Summit with us!

Sommet mondial pour la protection des enfants touchés par les confl...

02/10/2026

Education is not just a right—it is a vital, protective lifeline for children living in armed conflict.

During the upcoming World Summit for the Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflicts, organized by Paix Pour l'Enfance International and other partners, we are co-organizing a special thematic session:

👉"Education as Protection, Recovery and Prevention: From Rights to Action"

Join us to explore how learning environments can foster safety, resilience, and inclusion, and identify the policy, system, and financing reforms needed to scale sustainable educational solutions.

📅 October 2, 2026
🕑 14:40 – 15:30 CET
📍 Maison de la Paix, Geneva
🌐 https://lnkd.in/dwQ-Rk5Y

Speakers:
Dr. Nayla Tabbara – Adyan Foundation - مؤسّسة أديان
Ms. Maria Lucia Uribe Torres – Ethics Education for Children - Arigatou International
Ms. Saly Diankon Mbaye – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Ms. Jihane Latrous – Education Cannot Wait (ECW)
Layan – Child Representative

Moderator: Mr. Alex Kamarotos – Defence for Children International

01/10/2026

📅 ¡Ya puedes conocer el programa de la Cumbre Regional!
Del 16 al 20 de octubre, nos encontraremos virtualmente para compartir resultados, conectar entre participantes y, sobre todo, construir juntos propuestas y mensajes para una región libre de violencia. 💜🌎

💬 Diálogo intergeneracional
🤝 Networking y conexión
💡 Construcción de propuestas y soluciones
📢 Mensajes regionales
💻 Derechos digitales
✨ Propuestas y compromisos para la región

¡Serán cuatro jornadas de participación, intercambio y construcción colectiva!

👉 Contesta la Encuesta! https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Z2pZwHY4UY

👉 Registra tu organización o red y recibe el enlace de ingreso:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKBj9rPc5XZAMt-_2iyPx_cF1xZDgoA9DG9boDUuvIgmQagw/viewform

17/09/2026

📢 Las decisiones globales deben construirse desde las realidades locales.

👫 Cumbre Regional Virtual de Niños, Niñas, Adolescentes, Jóvenes y Sobrevivientes de América Latina y el Caribe los días 16, 17, 19 y 20 de octubre

👉 Hacia la Segunda Conferencia Ministerial Global para Poner Fin a la Violencia contra la Niñez, necesitamos que las propuestas y exigencias de niñas, niños y adolescentes (NNA) de Latinoamérica y el Caribe tengan un lugar protagónico. Para lograrlo de forma segura, el compromiso de las organizaciones, redes y colectivos de base es clave.

¿Cómo puede sumarse tu organización❓

1️⃣ Registren su interés: Inscriban a su grupo (de 12 a 17 años) y designen a una persona adulta como punto focal de salvaguarda y comunicación.
👉 Link de registro: https://forms.gle/A2a3cyQZ1ExmnmXWA

2️⃣ Promuevan la Encuesta Regional: Difúndanla para que sus preocupaciones y propuestas orienten las discusiones de la Cumbre.
👉 Link de la Encuesta: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Z2pZwHY4UY

3️⃣ Faciliten consultas locales: Promuevan diálogos entre pares para que lleven miradas comunitarias más amplias.

4️⃣ Corre la voz: Compartan esta convocatoria con otras redes y grupos de base.

Facilitemos los puentes; la voz y el liderazgo los ponen ellas y ellos.

04/09/2026

Smiley 😄 faces galore at the Global Advocacy Meeting.

Many thanks to all of you for joining us in Nairobi 🇰🇪 and following virtually as well.

04/09/2026

Faith actors are playing a key role in advancing accountability for children affected by armed conflict; they are often present before, during and after conflict, maintaining trusted relationships with affected communities and reaching children where formal institutions and humanitarian actors have limited access.

While they contribute to prevention, community-based monitoring, survivor support, referrals, and reconciliation, they remain insufficiently integrated into formal accountability systems.

📌 Strengthening accountability requires deeper collaboration with local faith actors.

Join us for the launch of the policy brief Strengthening Accountability for Children in Armed Conflict through the Systematic Integration of Local Faith Communities.

📅 1 October 2026
🕑 13:30 to 15:00 CET
📍 CAV Room, 1 rue de Varembe 1202, Geneva
🎥 Live-streaming: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bgZP2mfcQCCG7rJie3VzZg

The discussion will bring together Member States, United Nations entities, faith-based organizations, child rights organizations, religious leaders, and youth to examine how the policy recommendations can be translated into concrete action at national, regional, and international levels.

Panelists will reflect on practical opportunities for integrating local faith actors into accountability systems through strengthened partnerships, institutional recognition, capacity building, safeguarding standards, and sustainable investment.

The discussion will also explore how implementation of these recommendations can contribute to stronger prevention, community-based monitoring, referrals, child participation, justice and long-term peacebuilding.

This event is co-sponsored by Arigatou International, Adyan Foundation - مؤسّسة أديان, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities, the Permanent Mission of South Sudan to the UN in Geneva, and the United Nations Office for Children and Armed Conflict.

01/09/2026

Today, Emma Nowotny, Child Rights Policy & Advocacy Lead, Arigatou International, participated in the Children’s Voices Conference, hosted by the Children's Voices Centre - Charles Sturt University.

During her session, Ms. Nowotny presented the findings of a pilot project focused on supporting children and adolescents in navigating digital environments not only safely but also ethically, responsibly, and with empathy.

As digital spaces continue to reshape how young people learn, interact, and build relationships, rising polarisation and narratives of hate highlight an urgent gap in values-based digital education. This initiative responds to that challenge by exploring the adaptation of Arigatou International’s flagship program, Learning to Live Together, for the digital age.

Key insights from the pilot emphasize the need for a "hybrid pedagogy", an approach that treats online and offline interactions as a single social reality rooted in ethical decision-making and participation. The findings also underscore the vital role of strengthening digital emotional intelligence and co-creating digital citizenship frameworks directly with children so their lived realities remain at the center.

Watch the full presentation to explore the insights in depth: https://youtu.be/FT0lqdl1Ieo?si=IPEvSUAg5ottWm08

Cultivating digital empathy: Children’s voices on identity, ethics,...