Where connection becomes collaboration and collaboration becomes global impact.
A Region Defined by Diversity, Innovation, and Global Reach
The URI Multiregion is unlike any other region in the network. Spanning continents, cultures, and faith traditions, it is home to Cooperation Circles that do not belong to a single geographic region but instead gather around shared values, global issues, and thematic commitments.
With 82 Cooperation Circles and new partners joining each year, the Multiregion stands as a vibrant hub for cross-border collaboration, youth leadership, interfaith innovation, and global advocacy.
“The Multiregion reminds us that interfaith peacebuilding is not bound by geography; it is bound by purpose.”
In 2025, the Multiregion significantly strengthened its connectivity, leadership capacity, and youth empowerment work, while elevating URI’s mission across global spaces, from Kuala Lumpur to Cape Town, from online internship cohorts to in-person peacebuilding forums.
Strengthening Cross-Regional Leadership and Collaboration
Regional Leadership Team Gathering, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (April 2025)
A milestone in cross-regional unity and global interfaith partnership.
In collaboration with URI Southeast Asia and the Pacific (SEAPAC), the Multiregion brought its Regional Leadership Team (RLT) together for an in-person gathering in Kuala Lumpur. This meeting embodied the spirit of global cooperation that defines the region.
The RLT held interfaith meetings with the Buddhist Maha Vihara, the Bahá’í community, and St. Thomas Marthoma Church, gaining insights into the diverse faith landscape of Malaysia and the challenges faced by local interfaith practitioners. In collaboration with INSaF CC, the Multiregion co-hosted a public interfaith event that brought together 35 local interfaith activists, representatives of religious institutions, and faith-based organizations to discuss local interfaith challenges and opportunities for collective impact.
During the visit, the RLT engaged in a series of field activities, including visits to local Cooperation Circles, Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship CC and Youth Empowerment Support (YES), where they met with community members and learned about ongoing interfaith and youth initiatives. The team also attended and supported a soccer tournament for refugee youth, an initiative organized to foster inclusion and solidarity through sports.
Across the full visit, the team interacted with and introduced URI to more than 200 individuals, expanding awareness of URI’s global mission and building new relationships for future collaboration. The RLT Gathering in Malaysia successfully combined internal strategic planning with grassroots engagement, leaving a lasting impact on both the Multiregion team and the local partners involved.
Building Future Leaders: The Multiregion Internship Program
Empowering Emerging Peacebuilders (September–December 2025)
The 2025 Multiregion Internship Program nurtured two young leaders through a structured, three-month experience designed to build skills in: interfaith collaboration peacebuilding, and community organizing
Interns supported regional operations, strengthened outreach, and added capacity to core Multiregion initiatives.
This program is becoming a model for other regions, showing how small, well-designed investments in young leaders can scale impact across continents.
Youth Rising on the Global Stage
URI Representation at the G20 Interfaith Youth Forum (Cape Town, 2025)
URI Multiregion youth delegates Sherwin Phillips and Sinelo from the Breaking Walls CC represented the region at this global gathering of young interfaith leaders.
Their reflections capture the transformative power of youth dialogue:
“The 2025 G20 Interfaith Youth Forum was truly an excellent experience for me, one that I will never forget. I got to learn new things, explore new cultures and religions, and meet many different people. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.
It was truly remarkable, especially the message that says ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu,’ which means ‘people helping each other,’ and I love how the Forum promotes love and world peace.”
— Sinelo, Breaking Walls Cooperation Circle
Their participation amplified URI’s global voice and strengthened the pipeline of youth engagement across the Multiregion.
Human Impact: Stories of Transformation
A Turning Point for a Young Peacebuilder: Emma’s Story
In August 2025, Emma Solé, a young peacebuilder from Breaking Walls Cooperation Circle (a newly joined URI Multiregion member), represented URI Multiregion at the URI Europe Youth Camp in Bulgaria. For Emma, the experience became a turning point — transforming her understanding of interfaith work and her sense of belonging to the global URI family.
“At the beginning of August, I had the privilege of participating in the United Religions Initiative (URI) Youth Camp for the European Region in Bulgaria. Before this experience, I knew very little about how this organization worked. Yet, as a representative of Breaking Walls (now a new Cooperation Circle of URI Multiregion), I left deeply inspired by the purpose and dedication of this global network.
Through the camp, I came to understand the profound importance of URI’s mission. Today, our world continues to face conflicts, and sadly, some of them are still fueled by religious differences. This makes URI’s work all the more essential: reminding us that while we may practice different religions and have different beliefs, we are all connected by a shared bond of humanity.
What struck me most was witnessing diverse groups from across Europe coming together with one common goal: to foster peace. Interfaith dialogue, I realized, is not just an abstract idea but a powerful practice. It allows us to look beyond our differences and recognize the universal values that unite us: love, friendship, and faith.
I return from this camp not only with gratitude but also with a renewed commitment to building bridges of understanding in my own community. Reiterating also, how important are the works of organisations like Breaking Walls and URI, which create safe spaces for dialogue and empower youth.”
— Emma Solé, Spain, URI Europe Youth Camp, Bulgaria, 4–8 August 2025
Emma’s story captures the heart of URI’s mission, showing how exposure to interfaith experiences transforms individual awareness into lifelong commitment. Her journey reflects the power of URI’s youth engagement work: connecting young people across regions and equipping them to become facilitators of peace in their own communities.
Expanding Global Partnerships
The Multiregion continues to work closely with URI’s Global Support Office and Cooperation Circles worldwide. While no formal MOUs were signed this year, the region has significantly increased:
· Cross-regional collaborations
· Shared programming with SEAPAC
· Youth engagement across Europe, Africa, and Asia
· Visibility in global interfaith forums
These partnerships remain a cornerstone of the Multiregion’s unique identity and impact.
Key Metrics at a Glance
· 82 Cooperation Circles
· New CCs added: 2
· Over 200 individuals engaged through the Malaysia RLT visit
· Multiregion interns supported core regional programs (3-month cycle)
· Youth representation at global events including the G20 Interfaith Forum
· Stories and testimonies highlighting transformation across the continent
Looking Ahead: A Vision of Global Unity
The URI Multiregion continues to lead by example, showing how interfaith collaboration thrives when people unite not by geography, but by shared purpose.
In 2025, the region deepened its leadership, expanded youth participation, and brought URI’s mission into new global spaces.
In the coming year, the Multiregion will continue to invest in people, nurture cross-regional partnerships, and strengthen a global community committed to peace, justice, and healing.
Across continents and traditions, the Multiregion stands as a living reminder: together, we are stronger.
