Imagine a room filled with 20 young leaders from 15 different countries and multiple languages and religions, each one there to share their inspiring service projects and peace initiatives with one another, from an international photo contest focused on social transformation in Jordan to an educational outreach project aimed at combating community tensions in the Balkans, to a peace festival held in Morocco, with the support of the King. This was the scene at the URI Young Leaders Program training in June in Mehdia, Morocco, where interfaith youth came from all over Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for conversations, seminars and workshops to help them hone their skills.
Held prior to the URI-Middle East and North Africa assembly in Rabat, the training program,entitled “The Role of Youth in Social Transformation,” focused on the importance of youth engagement in changing and developing societies. The topic was especially relevant in the wake of the recent “Arab Spring” and the ongoing struggle for social and political change in the region. The participants were encouraged to examine religious perspectives on leadership skills and qualities, with particular emphasis on networking and building relationships in cross-faith communities. The youth also learned about URI’s service model and Cooperation Circles.
The three-day program was groundbreaking in many ways. Five of URI’s 2011 Youth Ambassadors were able to meet and collaborate for the first time. For some participants, it was their first URI gathering; for others, their first encounter with “the other.” One young man shared his experiences working for Al Jazeera, an organization that fearlessly promoted the revolutionary movement in Egypt. Another spoke of his attempt to bring together religious and EU leaders for dialogue across the European continent. Enthusiasm was high for future projects and the work that might be achieved. “You can tell the future of URI will be bright,” said URI Youth Ambassador Morad Jarrah.
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