On 14 July, 2023, advisors Mr. Conor C. Maenpaa and Ms. Laetitia Schönburg presented the works of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations Interfaith Group ‘the Temple of Understanding’. In their presentation, the advisors outlined general information about the Sovereign Order of Malta, followed by the initiatives the Order has been carrying out throughout the world. As the presentation continued, Ms. Laetitia Schönburg provided insight into her volunteering experience through the Order of Malta’s ‘Caravan’ initiative which is a joint Lebanese / German structure of the Order, where every year, 10 to 12 youth volunteers from different nationalities, over the age of 18, offer 10 months of their lives to serve the disabled community in Lebanon. Following that, Mr. Conor C. Maenpaa gave listeners an idea of the specific works of the Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations’ everyday activities, as he highlighted the Missions’ productivity in recent years.

The Temple of Understanding is an interfaith, non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Their mission is to educate both the youth and adults cross-culturally and inter-religiously about global citizenship, peaceful coexistence, and respect for religious pluralism by the world’s governing bodies, as means to advocate for acceptance and the promotion of justice.

Photographed alongside advisors Mr. Conor C. Maenpaa and Ms. Laetitia Schönburg is Ms. Gladys Dsouza, a current intern of the Temple of Understanding.