The Youth Interfaith Walk was a three-day hybrid event to bring together individuals of different religious orientations and cultures. With the objective of enhancing social cohesion and interactions among youths of different religious communities, Ms. Fatima Jiwani decided to launch this initiative as part of her fellowship with the ‘King Abdullah International Center for Interfaith and Intercultural dialogue’ (KAICIID). KAICIID is a unique intergovernmental organization bringing together followers of different religious traditions, religious leaders, and policymakers to the dialogue table so that they can find common solutions to shared problems.
In addition to being a KAICIID Fellow in the International Cohort for 2021-22, Fatima is also a doctoral candidate researching Interfaith Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and is a recipient of two international interfaith fellowships. She says, “I have taught religious studies for over a decade. Now, after gaining expertise in interfaith theology, I wanted to bring the knowledge of both into practice. In my understanding, communal disharmony is caused when we don’t know each ‘other’. This can lead to the human mind sometimes creating fearful caricatures of someone we have never met. Through interfaith dialogue, I wanted young adults, who are the future decision-makers of our country, to connect and interact in a safe environment. I’m grateful for the KAICIID fellowship that facilitated the opportunity.”
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