What is One World Week?

We believe that when we understand each other's perspectives, our lives can be transformed and enriched.

One World Week is an annual opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to take action for justice locally and globally, by:

• Working together in caring for the Earth and its resources

• Taking action for justice, equality, peace and fullness of life for all

• Building relationships of mutual respect that cross boundaries

• Running local events that celebrate the diversity of cultures in our communities

Is One World Week for you?

OWW is open to anyone to take part.

Take a look at what we believe and what we want to do; if our aims strike a chord with you, then OWW is for you, whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your affiliations.

If you want to take part in learning together about what people can do to address global issues, then OWW is for you.

If you want to celebrate the diversity of cultures in Britain today, or where ever you are, and enjoy each others company, as you discover shared values and work together on common concerns, then OWW is for you.

You or your organisation can put on a OWW event. You can plan and organise with others to share ideas and values and to spread the learning. This website has resources and links to help you.

Origins of OWW

In 1978, One World Week (OWW) was founded by the World Development Movement out of a desire that, for one week in every year, the churches should draw the attention of their communities to the fact that the world consists of one human race which shares one planet in which all may enjoy fullness of life. 

Growth and Development

Over the years OWW has broadened its approach to include people from all backgrounds. In a series of projects funded by the EU (Voices from the South) and DfID (Reaching Out and Reaching South or ROARS), OWW focused on incorporating the perspectives of people from developing countries though providing mentors (from the diasporas) to local OWW organising committees and involving people from varied ethnic and religious backgrounds in planning and writing resources.

OWW has become known throughout the UK and developed an international reputation for bringing people together to learn about global issues, and to take action locally on things which have an impact on the whole world. One World Week now involves people of many nationalities and has events all the year round, but there is still one week in October (the week containing United Nations Day, 24 October) when the excitement is greater than at any other time.

Thousands of local organisations and schools use OWW as a focus for a range of activities, events and celebrations to raise awareness and take action on issues of global justice. Each year resources (including resources for schools) have been produced, by a small central staff, around a particular theme chosen, by a central management committee in consultation with local organisers, to inspire and assist the local activists. (From 2007, resources including links to those of other organisations, will be available only on the website). OWW is constantly reaching out to new groups from different faiths and cultural backgrounds in the UK and beyond. We now estimate that almost half a million people each year will take some part in One World Week.

Recent changes

OWW became an independent Charitable Company at the beginning of 2006. It is a development education charity; it is non-political and non-sectarian. OWW's Vision, Mission and Aims emphasise the importance of working inclusively with everyone to address global and local challenges to achieve justice, peace and sustainability for all.

Current developments

Britain now has a richly diverse cultural landscape. Most of the major cities in particular now have organisations addressing inter faith issues and racial equality networks. Some local One World Week events already embrace the opportunities this offers for mutual understanding and developing shared values to address the challenges facing us all. Other OWW organisers, who would like to share this experience and develop better links and more inclusive events, by engaging more with people of other faiths and cultures in their communities, are being helped by a OWW training project funded by the government's Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund. This year's resources offer ideas and useful links to other organisations, such as the Inter Faith Network, for those wishing develop in this direction. The project will produce comprehensive guidelines and help for OWW organisers by April 2008.

Not just a week of action…but a lifetime commitment.