Celebration Marks UPF-Argentina’s 20 Years of Service
- khwang562
- Dec 18, 2025
- 3 min read
Buenos Aires, Argentina – To celebrate its 20th anniversary and conclude its 2025 series of activities, UPF-Argentina held an event at Galicia House in Buenos Aires on December 18, 2025. Members of UPF’s governing board and Peace Council, as well as coordinators, representatives and members of various UPF-Argentina teams were present. A number of individuals were recognized for their service and support, and congratulatory messages were shared.
Opening prayers were offered by Father Juan Bosco, from the Mission of Jesus and Mary’s Sacred Hearts Congregation, and Pastor Andrea Fernández Bevans, director of northern Buenos Aires’ Communication Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and by Ms. Esperanza Gómez, president of FFWPU-Argentina.
Congratulatory messages from supporters were shared. “We renew our commitment to walking together and promoting a culture of peace, universal values, strong families, dialogue, solidarity and cooperation, bringing hope and building bridges for a more fair, fraternal and sustainable world,” was one of the messages, sent by Ms. Jackeline Giusti and Mr. Eduardo Borri, Pacis Nuntii coordinators, UPF peace ambassadors, and Universal Peace Flag promoters.
A convivial dinner was followed by a presentation of certificates for “Volunteering and the Common Good,” recognizing the volunteer work of Mr. Osvaldo Coceres and Ms. Mirta Romagnoli, and the NGO La Guarida led by Mr. Miguel Martín Blanco and Mr. Dylan Benítez, “for their social commitment and creativity of transforming obsolete technology in gaming consoles that are donated to children in public hospitals in Buenos Aires and other provinces.”
The Niño Jesús Civil Organization, led by Ms. Isabel De Simone and Mr. Gustavo Litvin, was also recognized “for assisting and supporting mothers of children who suffered social violence and vulnerability…with hospital stays, housing improvement, school support, and food boxes.”
Ms. Amanda Angélica Martín de Rauzi, a long-term community service volunteer at the Lanús’ Rotary Club, was named a UPF Ambassador for Peace. Mr. Juan Gómez received the “We Are Siblings: We Are Family” award, an initiative of the Pacis Nuntii Movement and UPF-Argentina, for his work combining sports and welfare activities for a Guaraní community in Misiones province. Mr. Gómez received the Universal Peace Flag from Peace Ambassador Ms. Cecilia Amarante.
Others recognized as 2025 Peace Ambassadors included Ms. Ailén Marquesano, Mr. Gustavo Navarro, and Ms. Mónica Sudrot, all of whom supported UPF’s work during the year. Mr. Sergio Páez, from Santiago del Estero province, and Mr. Fernando Zunino, from San Luis province, could not attend, but were also named ambassadors for peace.
Mr. Emanuel Sayavedra, secretary general of UPF-Argentina, recalled the occasion on December 11, 2005, when the founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Jan Han launched the Universal Peace Federation in Argentina with the message: “God’s ideal family is the model for world peace,” and reminded everyone, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Mr. Sayavedra called on those present “to revive the light of faith, to revitalize the flame of hope, to strengthen love, solidarity, and fraternity and rebuild bonds, beginning within the family.”
Before cutting the cake together with his wife, Mr. Miguel Werner, president of UPF-Argentina, praised the recognized individuals for their valuable work, and thanked all the peace ambassadors for their cooperation and teamwork.
The atmosphere was uplifted by Ms. Makenna Zambonini, singer, performer, host and producer, and creator of “Music Nights for Peace,” along with singer and guitarist Mr. Tobías Melgarejo. The final performance included the Social Clown Psychologists, who performed the well-known hit “Sueños.”
The meeting included a moment of remembrance for peace ambassadors who passed away in 2025: Mr. Boleslao Mireslao Sawicki (Sabomir), founder of Humanity’s Civic Parliament; Ms. Faiza Yahia, Syrian immigrant whose parents founded the Al Ahman Mosque; and Ms. Irene Ortíz Teixeira, president of Africa House in Argentina.
Donations were also collected for the No Lonely Christmas project organized by Peace Ambassador Ms. Silvia Bojart and her husband Mr. Miguel Basso in Mar del Plata.
