HM King Abdullah II of Jordan Prize for World Interfaith Harmony Week 2024

Over 1180 events were held in honour of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2024 and from these 59 reports were submitted for the prizes.. The judges are highly appreciative of all the efforts of all those who held events and applied for the prize. They wish they could reward all who held an event, but are consoled by the fact that good deeds are their own reward so that everyone who held an event—whether they applied for the prize or not—is a true winner.

In judging, the judges took into consideration the excellence of efforts, collaboration and impact of events. They looked carefully at efforts made despite scantiness of resources, unfavourable political and social climates, and also took into consideration consistent efforts made over the years. They further took into consideration whether events were consistent with the text of the UN Resolution establishing the Prize. Accordingly, judges did not reward movements towards religious syncretism but rather rewarded events which respected each religion as it is. Finally, in accordance with the terms of the Prize, judges rewarded events specifically celebrating the World Interfaith Harmony Week rather than good interfaith work in general.

Accordingly, the judges are delighted to announce:

First Prize
Bridges – Eastern European Forum for Dialogue
BULGARIA

Report 24 – Gift of Love: An Interfaith Art Performance Promoting Harmony and Tolerance
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/view-reports/?report=78297

In commemoration of the United Nations’ World Interfaith Harmony Week “Bridges – Eastern European Forum for Dialogue” Association orchestrated a captivating interfaith art performance titled “Gift of LOVE.” This distinguished event unfolded on February 9th within the hallowed halls of Plovdiv’s Bishop’s Cathedral, a site steeped in historical and spiritual significance since Roman antiquity.

Under the esteemed patronage of Her Excellency Ambassador Andrea Ikić-Böhm and the Embassy of the Republic of Austria, this performance served as a conduit for fostering connections among youth from diverse backgrounds.

The event brought together 56 youth participants representing various religious and spiritual expressions, including Armenian, Muslim, Christian Orthodox, Catholic, Buddhist, and pagan traditions, all united under the banner of the “Bridges children” community.

Through a diverse array of artistic mediums—paintings, dances, musical performances, and poetry—participants conveyed messages of love to God, love to “the other”, compassion for fellow beings, and solidarity with individuals across the globe.

Second Prize
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity
USA

Report 55 – “Who Is Your Neighbor?”
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/view-reports/?report=79079

For the third year, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity celebrated the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony. Starting Feb. 1, this weeklong campaign provided opportunities for interfaith engagement, dialogue, and volunteerism. A seven-day Interfaith challenge on our website encouraged participants to learn about the UN initiative, explore how the concept of neighborliness translates across faith traditions, and discover how diverse faith groups can put faith into action by advocating to support affordable housing/homeownership in our local community.

Our celebration of WIHW culminated in “Who Is Your Neighbor? An interfaith dialogue focused on neighborliness and partnering with civic officials to address affordable homeownership” on Sunday, Feb. 4,hosted by Pikes Peak Habitat in collaboration with the Pikes Peak Inter Faith Coalition. The event took place at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and approximately 92 people from diverse faith traditions participated.

We hope that the tenets set forth by WIHW of mutual understanding, respect, and love for God and the good of our neighbors continue to unite our diverse faith groups around the need for affordable homeownership, not in spite of our differences, but because of them.

Third Prize
Journalists and Writers Foundation
USA

Report 13 –  Creating a Safe Space for Interfaith Dialogue: Skills and Reflections
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/view-reports/?report=78095

Report 14 –  Youth Interfaith Digital Storytelling Campaign
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/view-reports/?report=78103

The event focused on the importance of interfaith experiences, knowledge, and skills for fostering interfaith and intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, appreciating similarities, and respecting differences. Speakers discussed key skills necessary for effective interfaith dialogue and offered advice on how individuals can enhance these skills. Additionally, they recommended essential competencies for young people to engage in interfaith dialogue and understanding through interfaith education, to enhance overall dialogue literacy.

The webinar featured experts who explored essential skills, tools, and knowledge needed for meaningful interfaith dialogue. The event was moderated by Nancy Falcon, an Interfaith Dialogue Expert from Argentina/Italy and Dr. Rajendran Govender, a Social Cohesion Advocate from South Africa. Mr. Kilic introduced the moderators who are members of the JWF’s Interfaith Committee and Advisory Board and are close collaborators and friends. The webinar featured two distinguished experts in interreligious and interfaith dialogue: Casey B. Dolan, Africa Coordinator at ISHA Foundation, and Maria Eugenia Crespo, Director of Member Support at United Religion Initiative (URI) in Argentina.

By providing a platform for voices from diverse backgrounds to be heard and shared, the webinar underscored the transformative potential of interfaith dialogue in promoting peace and fostering a deeper sense of interconnectedness among all members of the global community. In essence, it served as a testament to the power of dialogue, empathy, and collective action in building bridges of understanding and cooperation across cultural, religious, and geographical divides.

Click here to watch the webinar : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmk2-jHyLzM&t=191s

 

 

 

Many, many congratulations to the winners and to all those who took part in World Interfaith Harmony Week 2024.

All Praise belongs to God Alone.

The Judges

  • HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad
  • HB Patriarch Theophilus III – Patriarch of the Holy City, Palestine and Jordan
  • HE Sheikh Dr Ali Gomaa – former Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt
  • HE Bishop Munib Yunan – Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and President of the World Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
  • Sheikh Usama al-Sayyid Al-Azhari – Professor at Al-Azhar University
  • Father Nabil Haddad – Founder and Executive Director of the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre
  • Dr Tarek Elgawhary– Director of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought