US Grand Priory and Legion of Goodwill join hands with Alliance

On March 4, 1949, journalist, radio broadcaster and poet Alziro Zarur (1914-1979) innovated the Brazilian radio broadcasting means with the program Hora da Boa Vontade (Hour of Good Will). At that time, he already defended the Unrestricted Ecumenism and the brotherhood of people, regardless of their beliefs or philosophies.

From the microphones of Rádio Globo, in Rio de Janeiro/RJ (Brazil), comforting messages to the sick of the body and of the Soul, with words of Faith, hope and Solidarity were heard. Listeners were surprised, when turning on the radio, by to listening to Christmas songs in the middle of the year. On the sequence, an explanation was given: the solidary spirit of Christmas must be permanent, for people suffer and feel hungry every day. In this manner, Zarur consolidated one of the tasks that the founder of the first radio broadcasting station in Brazil, Roquete Pinto (1884-1954), envisioned for this new means of communication: a social purpose.

United Nations headquarters
in New York/USA.
Photo by Mark Garten

Under the presidency of the also journalist, radio broadcaster, writer and composer José de Paiva Netto, the LBV was recognized by several Heads of State and officially by the United Nations (UN) in 1999. It also obtained general consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a position which allows the organization to participate actively in this organ of the UN. However, the greatest recognition is, without a doubt, the gratification of the thousands of people assisted daily by the LBV, through its schools of Basic Education; homes for children, adolescents and the elderly; Community and Educational Centers; and the awareness and social mobilization campaigns for life, the environment, the valorization of the Human Being and his eternal spirit, no violence in sports, attention on the road, a Christmas without hunger, among others.

This is expressed through the millions of services rendered to populations in situation of vulnerability or social and/or personal risk, in which, besides offering the necessary food for the survival of these people and giving them opportunities of (re)integration in the labor market, generation of income and strengthening their citizenship, the Organization contributes to the construction of a solid social and auto-sustainable structure.

The recipe of success of the 63 years of work of the Organization is the New Commandment of Jesus — “Love one another as I have loved you. Only by this shall all of you be recognized as my disciples.” (The Gospel of the Christ of God according to John 13:34 and 35) —, which also constitutes the basis of the Good Will Pedagogy. It is comprised of the Pedagogy of Affection (aimed at children up to 10 years of age) and the Ecumenical Citizen Pedagogy (focused on the age group as from 11 years of age).

This educational proposal was created by educator Paiva Netto and is applied in all the socio-educational activities of the Organization which, as he himself asserts, “it prepares the individual to live the Ecumenical Citizenship, based on the complete practice of the human and social Solidarity”, that is, it seeks the awakening of an education open to Peace. By means of this vanguard pedagogy, the LBV promotes the complete development (Biopsychosocial Spirit) of the human being, having as objective to improve relationships based on the ethic, social and spiritual values, that is, supported on the Love and respect for the fellow being – essential principles for the construction of a fair, equal and fraternal world.

Visit  the web page of the Legion of Goodwill on: http://www.legionofgoodwill.org/index.php/lgw-in-the-world-topmenu-28 will underline the statement by the Legion of Goodwill which announces the Order of Saint Lazarus as an official partner in its initiatives, especially in the New York and New Jersey regions.

Category: Charitable Activities, News