Lima (Fides Service ) - “To rediscover the authentic meaning of Christmas, that is the birth of Jesus Christ made Man for our salvation,” is the objective of a solidarity campaign “Christmas is Jesus. Give hope to 50.000 children” organised by the Movement for Christian Life. The initiative intends to carry the joyous message of Christmas by promoting solidarity towards brothers and sisters most in need, children in particular. In fact the initiative was started in 1985, to respond to the serious situation of poverty of thousands of families in Lima the capital of Peru.
On the days before Christmas hundreds of volunteers, (university students school children etc) visit the many “favelas” shanty towns in the outlying areas of della Lima, organising parties for the children, distributing gifts and organising games and spectacles on the theme of Christmas.
One young volunteer Carlos Eduardo Zamalloa who studies industrial engineering at Lima University describes the initiative: “We think it is important to have institutions in universities which increase awareness among students to help them look beyond their group of friends and family and realise that many people around them need help. When people see how happy we are to help others then the process of solidarity gradually grows. ”
The Movement of Christian Live (MVC) is an international movement involved basically in promoting new evangelisation and reconciliation. Its members aspire to be permanently evangelised and reconciled so they may be evangelisers and reconcilers according to the working of the Holy Spirit. The Movement is present in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Canada, United States, Germany and Italy. It was started by Luis Fernando Figari, born in Lima, 8 July 1947. After taking part in World Youth Day 1984 as one of the speakers giving catechesis on Love in 1985 he started the Movimento di Vita Cristiana (MVC). In 1994 the Holy See approved MVC as an association of Pontifical Right. (R.Z.) (Fides Service 22/12/2003; lines 27; words 371)