by Nina Vaclavikova
Interview: Mailys, a member of the organization; participants of the voyage
A Danish schooner carrying young peace advocates from across the Mediterranean docked in Trieste on Thursday, part of a months-long voyage aimed at promoting dialogue across cultures and religions.
The vessel, Bel Espoir, is the flagship of “Med25,” a program launched in March to train 200 young people from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East as “ambassadors of fraternity.” This week’s group of 25 participants, ages 20 to 35, sailed from Durrës, Albania, on a leg devoted to the challenges of migration — a subject Trieste knows firsthand as a key entry point on the Balkan route.
During their stay, the crew will meet with local charities, historians and faith groups working with migrants, and hear accounts of welcoming displaced Ukrainians. The program will end in Marseille in October, with participants earning university certificates and contributing to a planned Mediterranean peace think tank.
