I had the opportunity to participate in the 7th session of MED 25. This experience began in the beautiful city of Ravenna in Italy, where I met a wonderful group of young people from different countries across the Mediterranean. It was truly enriching to encounter their cultures, beliefs, and stories.
The heart of this experience was the ten days we spent sailing on the Bel Espoir. It was my first time sailing and living on a boat for so long. This made the journey both exciting and challenging. The constant movement of the waves, the limited space, the climbing up and down, the crowdedness, and the few resources were not easy to deal with. Facing these challenges alone would have been difficult, but together we supported and encouraged one another.
What marked this journey most were the meaningful conversations we shared, both in organised sessions and in simple, one-to-one moments. These discussions opened my eyes to realities I had never encountered before and helped me see a bigger picture than the one I carried or the one often presented in the media.
The personal conversations were a precious space where hearts could meet and share hopes, dreams, desires, and struggles. These moments strengthened our bond and helped us face the challenges and conflicts that naturally arose on the boat.
This strong sense of community became even clearer once we arrived in Bari, where we had the chance to share with others what we had lived, and the joy that the Lord had placed in our hearts.
This experience helped me step out of my comfort zone and open my heart to people from different cultures and beliefs. It taught me that if we want to build peace, we must first build authentic relationships. Peace is formed through friendship, not power. Our differences should not divide us, they give colour to our lives.
James Gafà
