ACWAY Youth Forum 2021: Solidarity in Action
Overview
On February 25th 2021, and as part of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, A Common Word Among the Youth (ACWAY) organized the 5th ACWAY Forum (with this being our first virtual forum), under the theme of #SolidarityinAction.
ACWAY is pleased to have participated in the UN WIHW since 2016, delivering local activities around the world under one common theme. Our aim is to promote global collaboration through local action for a more peaceful and harmonious society between people of different faiths.
By organizing this Forum we hoped to continue creating opportunities where we can come together in solidarity. We firmly believe that it’s at times like these that we must rally together to give and to share, and to support and reflect, both in spirit and in action. A pandemic might stop us from coming together physically, but it should not prevent us from building community socially, spiritually and virtually.
The aim of the Virtual Forum was to provide a platform for young people to share ideas, experiences and opportunities to engage in promoting peace, understanding and solidarity among different communities.
Highlights and added value
One of the biggest online events for young people to inspire and talk about action in promoting interfaith harmony. Over 86% of the attendees were young people aged between 18 -35, engaging in intergenerational dialogue and facilitated trainings.
ACWAY is an organization that is led and driven by a team of young volunteers who invested their time to organize the interfaith forum for their peers.
According to testimonials, this Forum was “the best organized online event in the past few months”.
Out of 170 people that joined, over 150 stayed for the full 2.5 hours.
The Forum did not just promote solidarity between representatives of faith/philosophical traditions, but it also brought together in cooperation several interreligious organizations that collaborated in organizing the breakout sessions.
Key takeaway from the Forum (based on testimonials): “Solidarity is Responsibility”. It is in difficult times like this we should stand up in solidarity and do what we can in our respective communities to promote peace and mutual understanding.
Forum in numbers
450 people registered for the event/170 attended
74 countries represented
30 religions/philosophical traditions
Attached PDF File