“Nuestras Raíces” (Our Roots) project invites youth to share stories of hope

Vatican News

The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (PCAL), the Fe y Vida Institute, together with the Organization of Catholic Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (ODUCAL) and the University Network for the Care of Our Common Home (RUC), are launching “Nuestras Raíces” (Our Roots), an initiative that invites young people to creatively tell stories of experiences that have transformed the lives of their communities.

This continent-wide call is open to young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are actively involved in universities, parishes, movements, organizations, or communities and who see art as a language for expressing faith, memory, and hope. Eligible stories may include solidarity initiatives, accompaniment projects, efforts to care for our common home, pastoral experiences, community organizing processes, or any other practice that bears witness to the ability of communities to build hope and fraternity while honoring their shared memory.

Through music, storytelling, visual arts, photography, audiovisual media, and other creative expressions, participants will be able to share stories that emerge from the everyday life of their communities—stories that often remain unseen beyond their local context.

CELAM’s Ibero-American Network for Popular Culture (RECUPO) announced that the call for submissions will be open from July 8 to September 30, 2026. Guidelines and the submission form are available at nuestrashistorias.org.

The organizers explain that the initiative is inspired by the conviction that the Christian faith is expressed not only in words but also in concrete actions capable of healing the wounds of our time and promoting a more dignified life for all.

Our Roots seeks to become a space for listening, participation, and creative expression, inspired by the Social Doctrine of the Church, for young people across the continent. It is rooted in the belief that stories born within local communities can illuminate paths of hope for society as a whole.

Selected works will be featured in a digital gallery, and their authors will participate in regional gatherings beginning in November 2026, to be held at various university campuses throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

The initiative is supported by Church organizations, university networks, and educational institutions committed to fostering a culture of encounter, dialogue, and peace.