Roots and wings

This book is a mixture of reality and dreams, a combination of roots that link to the real context where life happens and where the inspiration emerges that makes the person move to new and unexplored yet possible realities. The roots have become the symbol of permanence in the vision, of the different elements that give a sense of belonging, unity of purpose and capacity to stay upright without crashing when storms arrive and fragility is felt. The wings have become the symbol of movement, of trust in others, of openness to the wind, of best impulses and motivations; the symbol of allowing and encouraging passion for life, the undeniable search for fraternity and freedom for understanding and for meaning.

This book belongs to a group of about two hundred young people who for two years participated in different ventures, such as the six volunteers who spent two months in the Philippines, teaching in three public schools and one for street children in a deprived area of Manila. It belongs to those who took part in the seminars in Madrid, in Rome and in Brussels, debating, reflecting, clarifying routes, sharing enthusiasm and threats, visions and fears, challenges and dances, toasts with witty ideas and breaks with Diogo’s guitar music. It belongs to the much broader groups who met to develop generic competences and to prepare for these intense days making some of their dreams come true in several projects and youth-led groups in halls of residences in Madrid, in Zaragoza and in Granada, in Valladolid and in Avila, in Munich, in Paris, in Cordoba, in Rossano or in Oliveiras, in Oviedo…