Overview

The Universal Solidarity Movement of Value Education for Peace (USM) was founded by Fr. Varghese Alengaden, as a proactive response to the huge challenges faced by India due to communal politics, religious fundamentalism, ethnic conflicts, discrimination, and rampant corruption, which were destroying the country. Father Varghese had long years of experience of working with the youth, visualized a country which could be rebuilt by the youth. Fully trusting in the providence of God, his strong belief led him to abandon the security of the church campus and move into a small apartment in Indore city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. On 16th July 1993, he launched the movement. His vision of training youth with programmes to take charge of the nation with an inclusive, broad and lasting vision has now been translated into certificate courses that have been provided to over 900 high schools and junior colleges all over India, communicating the message of peace and promoting the values of justice, true democracy and solidarity to teachers, students, parents and other groups. This Movement with its broad, inclusive, and lasting vision of building a civilization of love in a world of hatred and violence promotes a pluralistic spirituality, focusing on acceptance, appreciation and promotion of diversity in all its dimensions. Its core principle ‘transform the world by self-transformation’ is being put into practice through following the ‘Five Paths’ resulting in reducing the distance between what we speak and what we do. 1. Pray daily for peace and forgiveness to be an agent of peace and reconciliation. 2. Skip a meal a week to express solidarity with the hungry and contribute the savings to the poor and the needy. 3. Do a good deed a day without any selfish motive to develop loving concern for the nation. 4. Honour parents, teachers and all human beings 5. Respect the earth and save its resources