Engaging Children and Youth in Interfaith and Intercultural Activities

Convened by Vesna Hart

Table A 3:00 p.m.

Attendees: Valerie Schwarzenbach, Marta Frederick, Pam Yates, Cheryl Woelk, Peggy Toliver, Gretchen Maust, Lynette Mast, Candace Farthing, Kristee Trumbo, Dany Flemingj, Bekkhah Gelgoer, Erin Gumm, Mike Medley, Bill Ney, Hero Brzw, Katie Sensabaugh, Vesna Hart

Topics of Discussion:

After participants’ introductions and sharing the motivation for joining this discussion group, participants expressed interest in learning about the existing interfaith/intercultural initiatives for children and youth, as well as discussing the ways to capitalize on intercultural learning among children and youth, engaging teachers to be sensitive to intercultural/interfaith issues, and building leadership model for children and adults that includes intercultural sensitivities and skills.
Introduction of existing initiatives.
The Interfaith Peace Camp offers 6-12 years old children a five-day program designed to introduce children to various faiths expressions of peace and practices of peace; as well as to teach children conflict resolution skills. Children can form their faith and cultural identity and appreciate the faith practices and identities of others while building bridges of peace between their own faith communities and the communities of others. Parent involvement is one of the key aspects of the camp.
1. Activities during the camp include:
  1. • Large and small group work
  2. • Visits to places of worship of different faith communities
  3. • Cultural sharing of art, crafts, food & music
  4. • Time for exploration and questions
  5. • Healthy foods and recreational activities
  6. • End of camp family potluck celebration, service project & presentation for campers’ families
2. The camp is organized by community members from The Islamic Association of Shenandoah Valley, Beth El Congregation, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Shalom Mennonite Congregation, Valley Friends Meeting, and Park View Mennonite Church. The camp is also sponsored by Abraham’s Tent: A Center for Interfaith Engagement at Eastern Mennonite University.
Engaging schools in interfaith/intercultural activities.
1. Use parent power to engage school administration to consider change. One example is bringing to HCPS the curriculum Facing History and Ourselves.
2. Afterschool clubs. Ask a teacher to sponsor a dialogue club that would use art as a way of expression of peace and diversity.
3. Bringing interfaith/intercultural activities into school buildings. Some schools provide space to Christian groups to do religious education. Interfaith/intercultural initiatives could do the same.
4. Family Literacy Programs in schools always look for resource people and themes. Interfaith and intercultural activities fit in well.
Engaging faith communities in interfaith/intercultural activities. Interfaith Peace Camp is a great activity. How do we do it more regularly, beyond an intensive week of camp? Ideas:
1. Organize quarterly potluck at different places of worship: sharing food, storytelling and informal conversations to build bridges.
2. Organize youth exchange programs. Youth from different faith communities visit each other. Or, do a tour of different faith communities. Do service projects together and dialogue.
3. Create a piece of art as an expression of peace (possibly during the Interfaith Peace Camp). Work with city to give space for this piece of art to be put at a significant location in the city.
Additional diversity and peace based activities for children.
1. Exploring Identity Through Community summer camp for 7-12 years old children will be happening at the end of June this summer at JMU. More information is available at JMU Outreach Programs web site: http://www.jmu.edu/outreach/identity.shtml
2. Gandhi Center Nonviolence Camp will be happening in August. More information available on Gandhi Center’s web site.
3. More information about Interfaith Peace Camp available at Abraham’s Tent web site: http://www.emu.edu/abraham/interfaith-peace-camp. Also, contact InterfaithPeaceCamp@gmail.com