Over 50 YES alumni participated in the Interfaith Harmony Workshop (IHW) in Morocco in March 2016. Almost a year later, many are completing diverse and inspiring follow up interfaith projects in their home communities. Tomorrow marks the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2017, and the YES Alumni Interfaith Harmony Online Workshop (IHOW), so we can expect to hear about more interfaith work throughout the month of February!

In preparation, let's take a look at one such project that IHW participants coordinated between Morocco and India.

By Samia Gouaalla, YES 2013-2014, Morocco, hosted by Ayusa in Salem, MO

Warda Belkass (YES 2009-2010, Morocco, hosted by PIE in Hollywood, FL) and I organized an open English dialogue and Interfaith Workshop. With the help of Somaya Tarahim and Saad Berrada (non YES alumni participants), we held a three hour workshop at Ibn Maja High School on December 23, 2016.

The workshop benefited about 50 high school students. We used activities to help them learn about other faiths and provided a peaceful way of looking at those they already knew about. For instance, the students were divided into two groups and each had to answer as many questions as possible about different religions. We showed a TED video about interfaith to check the answers and determine a winning team.

We also wanted to introduce the students to people of other faiths directly, so we had a skype call with Vyom Raisurana (YES 2010=2011, India, hosted by AFS in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) for a live conversation from India. India is known around the globe for its interfaith diversity and peaceful coexistence. Vyom explained his religion, Jainism, as an ancient Indian belief.

Photos: (left) Vyom skypes in. (Rght) Samia leads a discussion.

Students interacted with Vyom, who also talked about Hinduism, and asked him as many questions as time allowed.

The Interfaith Around the World workshop was very fruitful and had a big impact on the students who attended. It also brought their attention to different beliefs and helped them realize how important it is to coexist peacefully.