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Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance Established
Written by Carolyn Handschin, Coordinator, Geneva Office for UN Relations, UPF
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Vision
To be an innovative international multi-stakeholder initiative bringing interfaith and intercultural dialogue and cooperation to the practical “grassroots” level in order to prevent enmity through understanding, solidarity and trust.
Mission
1) To develop a corps of “GIIA Ambassadors” among both diplomats and local stakeholders through education and training activities and establish a corps of “GIIA Youth Ambassadors” building upon the well-known UPF “Ambassadors for Peace” model.
2) To network interfaith stakeholders: members of the diplomatic community, faith-based /religious bodies, government, civil society, etc., for the practical advancement of interfaith dialogue and cooperation, particularly in the local community.
3) To organize interfaith education and interaction activities particularly for local government, primary faith-based communities (i.e., parishes, congregations, mosques, temples, etc.), immigrant communities, NGOs, and the youth sector.
Projects
1) GIIA Seminar (GIIAS)
The GIIAS is the flagship program of the GIIA. It is a 12-hour/2-day seminar including an overview of the IIF initiative, comparative study of relevant aspects of the world’s faiths, a review of practical problems confronting interfaith cooperation, other relevant topics, and an “immersion” with local faith communities. Speakers and resource persons will include diplomatic, NGO, and interfaith experts. Participants will include a mix of representatives from among the various stakeholders.
Graduates will then be recognized as “GIIA Ambassadors,” linked to the worldwide UPF “Ambassadors for Peace” movement. GIIA will then conduct a program of continuing education and recruitment of peers for subsequent seminars, formulate and execute relevant local projects/activities that promote interfaith cooperation, and present themselves as GIIA resource persons for their local community.
2) GIIA Youth Seminar (GIIAYS)
The GIIAYS is a special version of the GIIAS tailored to the youth sector with an aim to prevent future interreligious, intercultural misunderstandings by building friendship and solidarity. GIIAYS graduates will be recognized as “GIIA Youth Ambassadors”
3) Model UN Youth Interfaith Council (MUNIFC)
The MUNIFC is a student “Model UN” simulation of a diplomatic conference of a hypothetical “Interfaith Council” as a new UN organ or high-level body. It will be held annually in Geneva, possibly on two levels, university and secondary school, and jointly organized by the GIIA/GIIYA and UPF and possibly UN missions. It may also be held in other cities where there is a GIIA Corps.
Organization
Ambassador Makarim Wibisono serves as the Founding President of the GIIA, with the secretariat (including founding members) located in Geneva. A GIIA Convener’s Group will include leading interreligious practitioners and experts. GIIA Corps may be organized in other cities under the umbrella of the Geneva Office.
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