The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (PCAL), the Fe y Vida Institute, together with the Organization of Catholic Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (ODUCAL) and the University Network for the Care of Our Common Home (RUC), are launching Our Roots, a continental initiative and open call for young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are actively involved in universities, parishes, ecclesial movements, organizations, or local communities, and who find in art a language to express faith, memory, and hope.

Through CELAM's Ibero-American Network for Popular Culture (RECUPO), young people are invited to creatively tell stories of experiences that have transformed the lives of their communities: initiatives of solidarity, accompaniment projects, efforts to care for our common home, pastoral experiences, community organizing processes, or any other practice that bears witness to people's capacity to build hope and fraternity while honoring their shared memory.

Participants are encouraged to submit works in music, creative writing, visual arts, photography, audiovisual media, and other artistic expressions that portray stories emerging from everyday community life—stories that often remain unseen beyond their local contexts.

The call for submissions will be open from July 8 through September 30, 2026. Submission guidelines and the application form are available at nuestrashistorias.org, and updates can be found on Instagram at @nuestrasraices_ok.

The initiative is inspired by the conviction that Christian faith is expressed not only through words, but also through concrete actions capable of touching the wounds of our time and promoting a more dignified life for all. In this spirit, the call seeks to recognize experiences in which community becomes a place of encounter, care, and transformation.

More than an artistic initiative, Our Roots seeks to become a space for listening, participation, and creative expression inspired by the Church's Social Doctrine. It is founded on the belief that the stories born within communities can illuminate paths of hope for society as a whole.

The project also aims to strengthen bonds among young people from different countries across the Americas by fostering the exchange of experiences through artistic languages that transcend geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries.

Selected works will be featured in a digital gallery, and their creators will be invited to participate in regional gatherings beginning in November 2026 at university campuses throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. These encounters will contribute to a broader pastoral, cultural, and academic reflection on the challenges and hopes of today's younger generations.

The initiative is supported by ecclesial organizations, university networks, and educational institutions committed to promoting a culture of encounter, dialogue, and peace.