LEEDS - 11 July 2006 - 450 words

Report shows young people are vital to building multi-faith communities
 
A new report that gives insight into building understanding and respect between young people from different faiths and backgrounds, will be launched in Leeds on 13 July at an event attended by Ted Cantle, John Battle MP, community leaders and young people.
 
Young people are vital to building successful multi-faith communities, but the importance of youth interfaith work is only just gaining recognition. The report analyses the opinions and attitudes of 124 young adults, growing up in multi-faith schools and communities in England. It reveals that they value learning from people with different beliefs and backgrounds, but many feel pessimistic about the future. They worry about escalating religious tensions at a global level and the impact that this can have on local interfaith relations.   The report highlights the need to get young people talking about religion and its role in society.  It recommends that they play a more active role in addressing both local and global issues.
 
The Diversity and Dialogue  project is led by Save the Children in partnership two Christian, two Jewish, two Muslim and two secular organizations. It has been working to increase understanding between young people from different faiths and backgrounds since September 2004. Case studies from the project will be presented at the July 13 event.

Diversity and Dialogue included:

·      Creating an online directory of over 100 existing youth projects, already working to build better understanding between young people with different faiths and backgrounds.
·      Work with local schools and partners to run 16 practical youth interfaith projects in London, Yorkshire, the North West and Birmingham.
 
·      A consultation with 124 young people living in multi-faith environments in London, Manchester, Blackburn, Birmingham and Leeds.
 
·      Seminars and interviews with a wide range of experts and practitioners.
 
Becky Hatch, Diversity and Dialogue Co-ordinator, Save the Children: said: "All young people should have opportunities to meet and to form constructive relationships with people from other faiths and backgrounds. They need support to develop skills to share their own beliefs and values and to understand and respect those of other people. This includes young people living in divided communities or in rural areas with little religious diversity. It includes those who do not consider themselves religious. The Diversity and Dialogue project has focused on the ways to mainstream interfaith dialogue and build better understanding'."
 
A range of educational resources to help teachers, youth workers, young people, faith and interfaith bodies in developing their own projects and discussions has been produced and can be downloaded free of charge from July 13 at www.diversityanddialogue.org.uk.
 
Diversity and Dialogue is a partnership project between: CAFOD, Christian Aid, Citizenship Foundation, Islamic Relief, Jewish Council for Racial Equality, Muslim Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children, World Jewish Aid.

Source: Save the Children

© Independent Catholic News 2006

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