The interfaith movement around the world has many different and new faces in the 21st century. The grass roots groups (CC=Cooperation Circle) within the URI (United Religions Initiative - www.uri.org ) are found in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and North Africa, and in the countries of the Pacific.

On this Web site you will find Cooperation Circles with projects that span more than one continent or region of the world. Although these groups seldom meet face to face they are learning to talk and work together through the Internet. Each is a virtual family.

One CC based in Portland, Oregon has formed a mountain climbing team which includes Palestinian Arabs, Israeli Jews, and others from different faith traditions that successfully climbed Mount Everest in spring 2006 as a symbol of interfaith cooperation.

Another CC based in the Netherlands but with members in Asia, Africa and the Pacific works on women's issues, attempting to raise consciousness among followers of religious traditions whose teachings seem to delegate women to an inferior status based on their interpretations of Holy Scriptures.

Still another CC on this site is devoted to support wider participation of youth in interfaith projects at all levels-local, regional and global-and to do so by developing young people's skills and confidence. Over 300 youthful members around the world have joined this CC and are making some of its dreams become realities.

Take a moment right now to look through the pages on this site, where each CC briefly tells you what it is trying to do. If you become interested, either go to the CC's own Web site or write an email to the CC, asking any questions you may have. Perhaps you may want to join a CC. Or you may be motivated to donate some time or money to support one of their projects.

Whatever your reaction, thanks for stopping by our regional Web site today - and please make sure to visit us frequently to see the news updates from our CC's and to see what new CC's have been created and how they are developing.

If you'd prefer to become involved in a CC in your own country or region of the world, please check out www.uri.org to find a CC near to you. We really do feel like we are all part of one big family. And we truly believe that small groups of ten or twenty people acting together at a local level can change the world and make it a better place. Join us whenever you are ready.