Photoreport: United Religions Initiative Europe Assembly in Damme, Belgium

Cherishing the Past building the future, Co-creating our vision and making URI Europe a
strong actor for positive change
We were guests at the Stiltehoeve (Silentfarm, vegetarian meals, partly grown in own garden!) of
BZN. Here we had a short three day meeting with CC's from all over Europe, to share experience,
new ideas and thoughts. It was a very intense pack filled with knowledge and young fresh idea's and
inspiration. We shared these through plenary group sessions, making posters, and various
brainstorm techniques, bringing out all the input in a structured manner.
This was also a moment to explain again how URI Europe is organized, and to explain certain
things. For example currently there is a paid staff of three who are doing all the coordinating and
communication jobs concerning the 36 operating CC's and 16 starting CC's in Europe.
But also about the role of Patrick Hanjoul who has fulfilled the last 13 years as chair for URI
Europe, as well as the director of BZN,(Bond Zonder Naam, Movement Without a Name everybody
contributes without taking credit) a major partner in backing activities for URI Europe to happen.
But how do we envision and plan to continue was the main question for this meeting.
There was also a small visit to Brugge, a local city and a musical talent show.
It was again a great experience to meet people from countries from their own context, and being
able to ask questions. Sadly it was more or less the same story regarding dissappearing jobs,
secularisation, violence relating to religion and rising populism.
Never the less we are grateful for this oppurtunity, to put our heads together and create a vision for
the future.
Lets see where it will take us future will take us!
URI IBS CC Editorial Team 2016

First day: Arrival and meeting the group, our driver and hostess at the B&B

First day: meetinng and setting up some ground rules

Second day: silent breakfast

Second day: ceremonial opening and group introductions, who are you, what bringss you
here, what peacebuilding works calls you, what is your personal highlight: 3 min each person

Second day: group introductions, and River of High Lights for linked to URI Europe

Second day: River of High lights linked to URI Europe and elaborating on some points

Second day: Small break and starting the question round for the URI Europe team

Second day: Answering most of the questions summed up for URI Europe

Second day: Lunch break

Second day: creating posters about own CC initiative

Second day: creating posters about own CC initiative

Second day: creating posters about own CC initiative

Second day: creating posters about own CC initiative and learning more about each others
initiative. Through voting, by sticking a red bullet on the poster, the 5 with the most bullets
would get some time to explain more during a plenary session tomorrow morning.

Second day: poster results URI CC Germany

Second day: poster results URI CC Spain

Second day: poster results URI CC Germany

Second day: poster results URI CC Balkan

Second day: poster results URI CC Germany

Second day: poster results URI CC Bulgaria and Tajikistan

Second day: poster results URI CC Bulgaria

Second day: poster results URI CC Turkey

Second day: poster results URI CC Netherlands

Second day: poster results URI CC Bosnia Herzegovina

Second day: poster results URI CC Serbia

Second day: poster results URI CC France

Second day: poster results URI CC Austria

Second day: poster results URI CC Germany

Second day: poster results URI CC Belgium

Second day: short break

second day: newsreport is 2020 what has happend in the world and what was the role of URI
in small groups discussing one topic concerining europe and how URI can make its
contribution. From each group one reporter would make an announcement.

Second day: dinner

Second day: dish washing

Link to video surprise for Patrick and Sally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wR3_g9FRKl8 OR search youtube URI Europe meeting

Third day: breakfast

Third day: Opening ritual and explaining more about the most voted for CC's

Third day: explaining more about most voted for CC's and from the Turkish CC the women
received a souvenir shawl

Third day: small break and voting for next workshop session

Third day: seperate workshop sessions

Third day: Presenting results workshop sessions

Third day: Lunch break

Third day: in Brugge we got a great tour

Third day: in Brugge and ofcourse at a chocolate shop, where the shoplady kept saying: Enjoy
your chocolate how you would enjoy your time with a lady.

Third day: back to the bus and dinner time

Third day: And a piece of their garden

Until we meet again!