"Bridge Building through Interfaith Youth Initiatives” “Engaging Young people for eliminating extremism and conflicts in Pakistan with Interfaith Dialogue, Friendly Relationship and human based Coexistence” Title: Diversity Tour to Worship Places Date: Jan 26, 2013 Places: Lahore, Faisalabad and Nankana Shaib and Sangla Hill. Religious Places: Church, Mosque, Hindu Temple and Gurdawara Marked: Interfaith Harmony Week 2013 Target: 40 Diverse Participants (Lahore, Faisalabad, Sangla Hill and Nankana ) Project Description Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA), a network of diverse faith youth and project of Youth Development Foundation (YDF), is a non-profit and non-government youth led organization in Pakistan. IYA serves as a network of diverse youth to promote pluralism and mutual respect for religious diversity. Our purpose is to provide opportunity and safe spaces for the youth of each faith to come together to build understanding and harmony by social activities, exposures, interfaith celebrations, sports gathering and community service activities. IYA promotes interfaith dialogue and relationships through interaction. Practical activities aiming at peace and harmony help building an inclusive society in the Pakistani context. IYA has been implementing its various peace advocacy projects mainly in Lahore and Faisalabad. The essence of being in solidarity has been one of the focal themes in promoting and advocating peace as a way of life. The main objective of the project is to raise awareness and promote peace and respect for other religions by providing a platform to interact and to build relationships among diverse youth, as well as to discuss and understand the reasons for youth participation in a conflict and underscore measures that can be taken to stop their involvement with them. The project seeks to bridge growing gaps among different religion’s youth. By pointing out the commonalities of all faiths and by fostering interfaith understanding and cooperation, the project aims at creating an environment where religious factors are set aside and relationships and partnerships among diverse youth can develop. To better advocate IYA, it should be strengthened with the active participation of the youth with the supervision and guidance of the community leaders. IYA will launch “Bridge Building through Interfaith Youth Initiatives (BBIYI)” project as a pilot project for diverse young people through interfaith dialogues and the building of relationships by social peace activities. It will be able to connect Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. The project integrates the grassroots’ holistic formation of inter-faith dialogue for peace through diversity exposure tours, faith awareness activities on common grounds and through meeting religious leaders and counterparts. It was primarily designed to transport “Coexistence & Relationship” to the local youth in various forms including include education, operations, awareness, dialogue and solidarity that will eventually shape missions for the community. Goals & Objectives Long term goal: Improve the social coexistence and interfaith relationship for peace and harmony among youth of Muslim majority and religious minorities in Pakistan. Short term goals: To develop a network of diverse faith youth to set an example of interfaith friendship and relationship to promote social humanity based coexistence and interfaith harmony. To initiate dialogue about the need for interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence through exposure and social activities within youth/students of grass-root levels. To attempt to mainstream the efforts in promoting interfaith harmony and peace among religious minorities and Muslims Objectives: To develop inter-religious interaction and friendship among youth To be a model of how different faiths youth can live harmoniously together on common grounds in Pakistan To build understanding, good will and a sense of community service between youth of different faiths To empower youth leaders in shaping the city of our dreams free from discrimination and biases To explore diversity in local communities for acceptance and peace building. To explore and learn about each other and our faith traditions to remove misconceptions To share our knowledge and insights with others To work together to achieve common goals in Pakistan To support each other in times of difficulty To develop and establish a project website to share and make interfaith youth project activities Expected Outputs The project establishes a strong network of youth leaders of diverse faith and backgrounds to interact and build relationships for peace building and to remove misconceptions in the local communities of Pakistan. The project also creates a directory of young peace builders from educational institutions, community’s youth groups, religious and social groups and even individuals with their own respective identity. Awareness training modules, compilation and “Bridge Building through Interfaith Youth Initiatives” documentary will be made at the end of the implementation of the project based on the three major activities mentioned; to build acceptance and relationships among youth through the existing youth networks, social & exposure activities for tolerance, removing misconceptions and peace building in locality. A strengthened partnership from faith based youth groups, diverse youth networks, young peace builders and other stakeholders of the community; Expected Outcomes The project serves as a bridge in linking various community & faith based youth groups of the society capable of providing an environment where religious factors are set aside and relationship & partnership among diverse youth can develop. The project develops a pool of youth leaders with spirit of volunteerism capable of strengthening communities in organizing the affairs and integration of activities, projects and programs to set an example of interfaith relationships and cooperation as message full experience for youth/students, young professionals and other member of the community. The youth leaders serve as the mind and heart of the project in laying out plans to the implementation; it will be an avenue to carry out missions shaping the city to be a city of our dreams-ideal community. Thus, they deepen their commitment for more peace advocacy programs and inter-faith dialogue. The beneficiaries will be responsible to safeguard personal commitment of change and sustainable peace and development. In the long run, a pool of interfaith young peace builders had influence other youth to join the cause of building a network of change. Better appreciation of the differences will create impact and a common ground for reflection and will eventually result in more strategies to handle conflict-laden situations properly. The successful conduct serves as an inspiration for others to do the same. Interfaith dialogue and peace through building relationships and conflict resolution will be treated as a way of life among Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs specifically Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi, the three main cities of Pakistan. Strategies of Implementation The following strategies will be used to effectively bring about peace, interfaith cooperation and friendship among communities. Reorientation about goals of the event and about International Harmony Week 2013. Visits religious, Discussions and Question & Answers about particular faith. Implementation, assessment and evaluation Target Beneficiaries Direct: an estimated 40 members of network, organizations and faith-based groups of Lahore, Faisalabad (Gujra), Rawalpindi and Sangla Hill (All post conflict zones), these include youth/student, youth leaders, young professionals, animators and chaplains Indirect: network of these participants at grassroot, local, district and national level and estimated 1000 youth members of these networks Including: * Students/youth * Youth leaders * Young professionals * Children of political opponents * Women * Refugees * Racial, linguistic and religious minorities * Oppressed castes in societies * Indigenous people * Migrant workers

Launching during World Interfaith Harmony Week, we (FAMA- Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta) are dedicating six programs, ranging in scope, that will build awareness of the week and relationships between people of different faith communities. The events are as follows: * February 6: Partnering with the American Jewish Committee for the Jewish Film Festival. FAMA will observe the week by attending the premiere of a film called Orchestra of Exiles, documenting another response to genocide and issuing a charge for those in attendance to stand up for those who are victimized. * April 3: FAMA will partner with Morehouse College to offer a program on Community Sustained Agriculture. The belief is that we can unite our places of worship and faith communities to support organic and grass-roots farming. * June: Weekend of Worship. Attendees will gather for Jumah services on Friday, Shabbat services on Saturday, and Sabbath services on Sunday. At each point, a member of the clergy will explain the faith's approach to prayer and the choreography associated with that approach. As attendees will be made up of members of those faith communities, each member will be paired with someone of a different faith and special attention will be paid to sharing personal experiences throughout. * September: Volunteer Project at a local Food Bank, interacting with impoverished members of the Atlanta community and lending a hand, across faiths, to ease the burden of others. * October 2: End of Life Issues program. FAMA will host a panel discussion on how various faiths react to end of life issues. Of particular focus will be: ethics of end of life decisions and a discussion about after-life. * December: An Open Program slot that will respond to a current issue. The idea is to provide a faith-based response to a current event. As you can see, we have a grand plan for the year. The overall idea is to build relationships between people of different faiths. A secondary goal is to illustrate how our various faith traditions, when working together, can add much depth and breath to the world around us.

As part of our ongoing lunchtime series, "Table Talk," USM Religious and Spiritual Life hosts an informal discussion of World Interfaith Harmony Week, the United Nations' annual initiative, as well as other interfaith collaborations. locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. USM's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is staffed by diverse Chaplains and Religious Advisors from Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, and Unitarian Universalist traditions, and is guided by three learning goals: - Clarify one's own beliefs and values - Connect one's beliefs and values to one's choices and actions - Understand and respect others whose beliefs and values may differ from one's own.

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is a constant theme in the medium. In this talk Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok, Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales, argues for a two state solution.Drawing on the Jewish ethical tradition he maintains that Jews world wide must now press for the creation of a Palestinian state in the Holy Land and the empowered must empower those who seek nationhood before it is too late. Hosted and chaired by Bishop John Arnold. Arranged by Religions for Peace (UK)(Regd Charity no 1109076) All welcome. If you wish to attend please email us.

This is a unique opportunity for teens, ages 14-18, from different faith backgrounds in the Metro-Atlanta area to come together and achieve a higher level of understanding. We Are the Future! will be three days of breaking down religious barriers and building bridges of understanding and respect. This event focuses on teaching, not preaching. Teens are the next generation of leaders. They are the ones who will make the next big changes in the world. Now is the time to instill a sense of peace and respect amongst these future leaders and that is what this event aims to do. The weekend will include speakers representing different faiths, a question and answer panel featuring faith leaders, interfaith dialogue, and time to look at common social issues and how religious tolerance can affect them. Hands on activities and free time will give plenty of time for fun and bonding. Come join us in building connections and changing the future of our world! Check in is from 5-6 pm on the 8th and the lock in will end at 11 on the 10th. We invite everyone to stay for the Sunday lesson, which will continue the themes from the event.

February 4 – 9, 2013

Exhibition with infomation panels about the great religions of the world and with books. Evening meeting with lectures out of the bible, the Quran, Bahai and Buddhist books. Peace stones for every country of the world and peace prayers.

“… the global socio-economic conditions have forced us to become more resourceful, more resilient, more determined; whilst remaining hopeful, we must work together to challenge and strive for something better – to this end women are crucial for change…” Wahida Shaffi, Women’s Programme Lead ‘Faith, Fear, Friendship: Contextualising Islam and Christianity in the UK’ will be an interactive and thought-provoking extravaganza involving leading Christian and Muslim women in the UK. It takes place in London on 5 February 2013 during Global Interfaith Harmony Week. The event is the next phase of the Christian Muslim Forum’s Women’s Programme (commenced 2011) titled “Come to the Edge” taken from this poem by Christopher Logue: Come to the Edge We Might fall. Come to the edge It’s too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, And we pushed, And they flew. A Rose for Friendship Exhibition will be launched on the day. The Christian Muslim Forum will be giving awards to 12 women across England, recognising their outstanding contribution made in the field of inter faith. Come and enjoy an interactive theatrical performance, feature in a short film and meet inspirational women! Speakers: Revd Dr Catriona Laing, Parish of St Barnabas, Dulwich, London Sughra Ahmed, Policy Research Centre, Islamic Foundation, Leicester This is a Near Neighbours event.

Press Release Press Conference, Thursday, the 17th of January, 2013 To start at 11.30, the Drina Hall of the Holiday Inn International Forum Bosnia's Centre for Interfaith Dialogue is pleased to announce a press conference to be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the 17th of January, 2013, in the Drina Hall of the Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo. The purpose of the press conference is to present the programme for the First Sarajevo UN Interfaith Harmony Week, organized in accordance with the UN General Assembly's decree of the 20th of October, 2010. The programme will include: • “Musica sacra Bosnae”, a musical evening with the Pontanima Choir; • A public discussion on “Intellectual Approaches to Interfaith Relations in the World”; • An exhibition on “Cultural Memory – A Disappearing Treasure: The Sacred Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina ”; • An exhibition on “New Works of Sacred Culture”; • An exhibition on “15 years of the Forum Bosnae Journal”; • A presentation of volume 60 of the Forum Bosnae Journal: the Bosnian Psalter; • A presentation of 8 recent works by Academician Rusmir Mahmut?ehaji?. The programme will be presented by: fra Mile Babi?, Samir Beglerovi?, Nerin Dizdar, Mehmedalija Hadži?, David Kamhi, Rusmir Mahmut?ehaji?, fra Ivo Markovi?, Desmond Maurer, Krsto Mijanovi?, Lejla Nakaš, Izedin Šikalo, Žarko Papi?, Marica Petrovi?, Asim Zub?evi?. Copies of the final programme and supplementary materials for the first SARAJEVO UN WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK will be distributed to members of the press. Asim Zub?evi? Chair IFB Centre for Interfaith Dialogue 061/913-582

We invite two people represent your own faith tradition. Please provide by responding to this e-mail in writing -- in advance of the breakfast -- some offering of prayer, meditation, chant, intentions or music from your own spiritual tradition that we can include in our program. RSVP, please to Letty or Safik by email or phone (numbers below). This breakfast is complimentary for your two representatives, additional people can pay $100 pesos at the door. Donations will be accepted. We will be honored to share with you food, prayer, fellowship and hope for the future. Our hope is that the breakfast will lead to better communications among the faith groups in SMA, and hopefully create a spirit of cooperation and harmony.