The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Khalili Foundation jointly initiated the Faith in the Commonwealth training workshop on December 14-16, 2017 to promote and develop respect and understanding of different faiths, beliefs and cultures
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Khalili Foundation jointly initiated the Faith in the Commonwealth training workshop on December 14-16, 2017 to promote and develop respect and understanding of different faiths, beliefs and cultures.
The Khalili Foundation was founded by Professor Nasser Khalili, a scholar, collector and philanthropist, to explore and promote interfaith relations through various projects and initiatives.
The workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya and brought together 28 peacebuilders from 16 Kenyan districts, including youth and development workers, university students, musicians, artists, social activists and civil service representatives.
Participants explored ways to support dialogue and facilitate positive change within communities and pledged to lead the way in building positive interfaith and intercultural relations.
They received training in aiding discussion that explores differences while fostering understanding and respect for others’ identities, realities, beliefs and aspirations.
The workshop promoted Cross-cultural dialogue and global citizenship as ways to heal the division left by the recent electioneering period in Kenya.
Project Manager for Faith in the Commonwealth Michelle Callander said that participants could now return to their communities with a project to deliver and a supportive network of practitioners with whom to partner and collaborate.
These projects would draw on the resources and skills learnt in the workshop, along with connections on social media and peer mentoring channels, to co-facilitate further workshops with trainers from neighbouring districts.
Additional Faith in the Commonwealth training workshops will be held in Trinidad and Tobago and Bangladesh.
Callander said: “These young people are joined by their shared passion to make a change in their community, and a commitment to building lasting peace in their country and Africa at large.”
The Head of Social Policy Development, Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Directorate, Layne Robinson, said: “Creating sustainable, local change that’s led by young people is the ultimate goal of the training.
“The Faith in the Commonwealth’s monitoring and evaluation framework connects this new network of young trainers with both the Commonwealth’s existing youth networks and with the Kenyan government’s youth officers.
“This provides ongoing monitoring, mentoring and support to the trainers and creates the best possible opportunity for their training to make a difference at the grassroots.”
