Introduction The Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA) Lahore, Pakistan is organizing an Interfaith Sports Day 2012 in the Lahore City, with the theme Dialogue and Mutual understanding through interfaith Sports to mark the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 on 5 Feb 2012 at Lahore, Pakistan. The main objectives of the project is to raise awareness and promote peace and respect for other religions by providing a platform to interact, to dialogue and to building relationships among diverse youth, discuss and understand reasons for youth participation in the midst of conflict and underscore measures that can be taken to stop their participation in such conflict. The project seeks to bridge the growing gaps among youth of different religions. By pointing out the commonalities of all faiths and by fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation, the project aims to create an environment where religious factors are set aside and relationship and partnership among youth of diverse backgrounds can develop by full day sports event. Objectives: • To develop interfaith relationships and friendship among youth through powerful attraction of sports • To develop models for living harmoniously together as young people in Pakistan • To build understanding, good will and a sense of inclusive society among youth of different faiths • To empower youth leaders to shape society that is free from discrimination and bias. • To explore the role of diversity in local communities for acceptance and peace building. • To explore and learn about each other and our faith traditions so as to remove misconceptions • To share our knowledge and insights with others Theme: Dialogue and Mutual understanding through interfaith Sports Day 2012 On the Event: International Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 Date: 5 Jan 2012 Place: Lahore. Pakistan Organize By: Interfaith Youth in Action, Pakistan (IYA-PAK)

Lecture by A. Rahman Lee, Ju-Hwa, Korea Muslim Federation, on Understanding of Islam in Grand Buddha Hall, next to the Theravada Medication Center for an hour of sermon followed by a half an hour of Q&A session with the audience.

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, is cordially inviting all members of the United Nations community in New York – including Ambassadors, Missions, the Secretariat, and the New York area NGO and religious communities – to join together for an observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 on February 7th in the General Assembly Hall.

Come and share breakfast with friends of faith anytime between 8am and 10am. Sponsored jointly by the World Congress of Faiths and Faiths Together in Lambeth

The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne has invited over 100 religious, spiritual and community leaders to a morning reception in Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate the second World Interfaith Harmony Week. We will celebrate by gathering together, strengthening our ties, sharing news of our interfaith activities and our future plans, through meeting new friends and creating new partnerships. The Faith Communities Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of Victoria, Religions for Peace Australia, and the Australian Multicultural Foundation are partners in this special event.

The Brahma Kumaris Australia ( Perth )cordially invites you to a special afternoon to... Celebrate Harmony Week The purpose of this event is to help raise awareness of our Universal Family . The Universe is diverse , yet feelings , emotions desires and dreams are quiet similar all over the world . When one learns to see everyone as a brother or sister who feels joy and pain in much the same way as one does , the outer garb -the cloaks of race , religion and colour fade into insignificance. The program include speeches , prayers meditation and music .

Interfaith Partners of South Carolina World Interfaith Harmony Week 2012 Activities (Columbia, SC area) The public is warmly invited by the following communities to attend these events ... to spread “the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship... based on love of God and love of one’s neighbour or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions” (United Nations Resolution creating World Interfaith Harmony Week, November 23, 2010) Sunday, February 5 HINDU COMMUNITY Location: Hindu Temple, 5703 Kiawah Rd., Columbia(803) 772-9650 http://www.hindutemplesc.org/ Program: 2:00 to Worship (including dance and 4:00 pm music), explanation of practices, refreshments Attire: Appropriate for worship Contact: Arunima Sinha 803-781-9054 or 803- 479-9048 Thursday, February 9 WOMEN OF FAITH INTER-RELIGIOUS GROUP To promote interfaith/intercultural understanding and build goodwill. It is not necessary to be a practicing member of a specific religious group or tradition to participate. We value a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives and the opportunity to learn from one another. Monthly meetings (usually in homes) include fellowship, food and discussion of subjects of universal interest.. No donations or fees. Women only please. Location: Greater Columbia Baha’i Center, 2020 Assembly St., Columbia Program: 6:30 pm Fellowship and potluck snacks bringing snacks is optional) 7:00 pm Welcome and introduction to Women of Faith; self-introductions, informal discussion (voluntary participation). Discussion topic: “All About Love – What are different forms of love that you have experienced or witnessed?” Attire: Casual for friendly discussion Directions: Center is on the east side of Assembly Street, three doors south of Elmwood. A median in the road prevents turns across Assembly. If coming on Elmwood, turn south on Main, go to Calhoun, turn right, go to Assembly, turn right and 2020 will beon the right shortly. Parking and entrance in the rear. Contact: Sister Nancy Hendershot [email protected] 803-256-5599, Jane Zenger [email protected] 803-960-2281 Friday, February 10 MUSLIM COMMUNITY Location: Masjid Noor Ul Huda, 517 Winmet Drive, Columbia http://noorulhudamosque.wordpress.com/ Program: 4:00 pm Meet and Greet 4:30 pm Afternoon Prayer (Salat ul Asr) - Guests will observe this prayer service. 4:45 pm Introduction to Islam and Muslim practices with Q & A Session 5:15 - 6:00 Informal Interaction with Imam and community members Snacks will be available during Meet and Greet as well as Informal Interaction period. A mini-exhibition portraying Muslim Heritage will be on display on the Masjid premises. Attire: Both men and women should wear modest clothing and be fully covered. For ladies, while a headscarf will be highly recommended, full sleeves shirts/blouses and full length skirts or trousers will be necessary. Contact: Chaudhry Sadiq, President, PICNA, 803-210-7355 Saturday, February 11 JEWISH COMMUNITY Location: Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5827 N. Trenholm Rd., Columbia http://bethshalomcolumbia.org/ Program: 10:15 am Shabbat service followed by to noon fellowship and refreshments Attire: Regular church/synagogue attire Contact: Rabbi Case [email protected] 782-2500 Sunday, February 12 SIKH COMMUNITY Location: Sikh Temple, 11419 Broad River Road, Chapin, SC http://www.carolinasikhs.org/gurdwara.html Program: 11:15 am Arrival: Refreshments and Tea. (Fellowship) 11:30 pm Religious Hymns 1:00 pm Welcome: Ajit S. Randhawa Remarks by Dr. Carl Evans, IPSC 1:30 pm Closing Services: (The Holy Book Guru Granth is taken to the Retiring Room (to prepare for Lunch) 2:00 pm Community Lunch (Vegetarian): Everyone sits on the carpet, and complimentary lunch is served, a tradition at all Sikh Temples. Attire: Please cover your head (head covering provided) and take off shoes before entering Prayer Hall. Directions to Sikh Temple from Columbia Take I-26 West towards Spartanburg. Take Exit 97 towards Peak (Hwy 176). Go straight for 2 miles. Sikh Temple with gold domes is on your left. Contact: Ajit Randhawa [email protected] 803-808-7525 or 803-996-5656 Sunday, February 12 (cont’d) PAGAN COMMUNITY www.osireion.com No knowledge of New Egyptian Spirituality, Paganism or Osireion is necessary. Every year at this time the ancient Egyptians gathered to celebrate the Feast of Nut, whose vast, blue, star-covered body stretched across the sky above them. Each of us makes our own spiritual journey through the night, seeking spiritual understanding. While we must make a solitary journey, we are not alone. The deep blue body of Nut, the sky mother, embraces and receives us all, and gives rebirth to us with the dawn. Location: Temple Osireion (RSVP for directions to private home near Dutch Square in Columbia) Program: 7:00 pm Lights of Nut Ceremony (approx. 20 minutes) followed by cake and coffee Attire: no special attire Contact: Holli Emore [email protected] or 803-798-8007

Join us for the launch of Women of Spirit and Faith Canada when we will host Kathe Schaaf, one of the original co-founders of Women of Spirit and Faith and co-editor of Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership. Women of Spirit and Faith exists to invite the many brilliant threads of feminine spiritual leadership into relationship and to support emerging patterns for transformation at a pivotal time in history. The Vancouver launch celebrates the release of the Women of Spirit and Faith book, “Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership,” co-authored by speaker, Kathe Schaaf. Schaaf is one of the co-founders of Gather the Women Global Matrix and served as President and administrator of that collaborative global community for five years. She currently anchors numerous ‘collaborative conversations’ connecting women and women’s organizations internationally. Her collaborations have included several international Gather the Women congresses, a series of trans-partisan dialogues for women and Constellations of Hope in November 2008, Which brought together representative of 40 North American women’s organizations.

This is a two-day conference and workshop to bring spiritual leaders and visionaries from four countries to share their different practices, faiths, paths and ideas about human spirituality. There are several movies to facilitate discussion between the leaders and participants in the audience, and a World Interfaith Harmony Breakfast on Sunday morning led by the co-founders of the World Interfaith Harmony Week Breakfast program.

GJU Interfaith Harmony Day aims for keeping the participating groups aware of each other, strengthening and building ties between them and sharing experiences in order to avoid duplicating each others’ efforts. He also emphasized that the club is organizing this event to activate GJU students’ role in reflecting the vision of HM King Abdullah II