Tirana, Albania—More than 160 participants, including many prominent Albanians, attended a celebration of the UN International Day of Families in the UNESCO Hall of the National Historical Museum.
The title of the program, “Families, Education and Well-Being,” was taken from the theme decided by the United Nations for the 2017 International Day of Families.
Among the participants were Ambassadors for Peace and many academics from different fields, as well as members of organizations affiliated with UPF—the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), and the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP). In addition, many young people volunteered to carry out different responsibilities to realize this event.
The program was moderated by Mrs. Manjola Vasmatics of UPF, who occasionally quoted excerpts from UPF founder Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s autobiography, As a Peace Loving Global Citizen, that emphasize the importance of the family.
Mrs. Lavdie Ruci, the chair of the Tirana Peace Council, gave the opening remarks, encouraging the participants to work together diligently to strengthen the family.
The director of the National Historical Museum welcomed the participants and said he felt honored and grateful to organize this activity at his institution, promising to cooperate in the future as an Ambassador for Peace.
Professor Zamira Cavo described the decline of the family and stressed that we should act to protect it. She said, “I believe, and I will fight, that the family will be not only a unit for reproduction but can fulfill its role as the unit that inherits values, develops character, secures history and prepares the future.”
A video was shown that introduced the UPF principles and the initiatives of Ambassadors for Peace throughout the world. The short film explained the vision of the UPF founders and their lifelong efforts to build world peace.
At the end of the program Mr. Flamur Sheu, the vice chair of UPF-Albania, invited the participants, and especially the Ambassadors for Peace, to become servants of love, servants to each other, and servants of the Albanian nation.
He quoted Rev. Moon: “We came to life because of love. Our life was created by receiving the unconditional love of our parents, and so we should live our entire life by giving back that love. In our lives, this is the only value we can choose ourselves. Success or failure in life depends on how much love we were able to give.”
Three young CARP members from Japan and Albania performed a beautiful dance, and another young UPF supporter sang the song Nella Fantasia in a beautiful voice.
At the end 13 attendees were awarded Ambassador for Peace certificates, including two couples who had been married more than 40 years. Among the new Ambassadors for Peace were a former minister of defense, the chair of a political party, directors of institutions, the acting vice minister of the environment, professors, and artists. They publicly promised to do their best to promote healthy families and to use their talents and position to fulfill the role of Ambassador for Peace.