Espoo
Espoo
Finland
- Religion
To help local religious communities integrate into the civil network of Finnish associations and entities assisting them to obtain local and government symbolic recognition as a means to create a sense of welcoming and reception To collaborate with local government and entities by providing assistance and advice when dealing with local religious communities, ensuring at the same time that minority rights and freedom of religion are respected and, if needed, enforced by public institutions. To create bridges to/between otherwise isolated or semi-isolated communities/individuals promoting the values of citizenship and a culture of peace and coexistence with the other, all of which at times is hindered by the existence of certain stereotypes, prejudices and a lack of knowledge in the part of the indigenous as well as in the part of the immigrant population, leading to suspicion and rejection most often reciprocal.
The workshops, intra/interfaith group meetings, training sessions, round tables, public information campaigns and interrelation in service projects, etc., will be organized and carried out. NGO has already organized open forums for dialogue around interfaith(for example at the Social Forum, World Village Festival and Loviisa Peaceforum.) It supports the process of Global Ethic and The Charter of Compassion in organizing events and making stories/interviewings in media around the issue. It co ordinates The Golden Rule Award committee and the seminar that is built up once a year around the Award that is given on the UN´s International Peace Day Sept. 21st. To create a platform in Finland for sharing good practices and formalising innovative methodologies around interfaith. The Network also raises awareness on opportunities to build social cohesion and living together, based on the religious communities’ spiritual and community resources, while disseminating the work and initiatives of its members. The Network is made up of people, organisations and institutions linked to the practice of interfaith, the cultural and religious diversity management, and the creation of a culture of peace, working with religious communities. To invite specially people on the grassroot and specailly women and youth to be active on interfaith field. To empower them to have the important role on such arena in co operation with religious leaders. To encourage youth from different faiths to learn skills in organizing, problem-solving, consensus-building and decision-making. To organize workshops in conflict resolution to learn skills to think critically, to inquire, to engage in dialogue and listen well.