Interfaith Youth Alliance Gathering

Subang Jaya, 16 May 2024 – INITIATE.MY participated in the first gathering of the Interfaith Youth Alliance (IYA) gathering, themed “Bridging Beliefs: Empowering Youth for Interfaith Dialogue,” which was a one-day event designed to unite around 45 interfaith youth leaders from across Malaysia. The gathering was organised by Architects of Diversity (AOD) and aimed to foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and the development of an active interfaith youth network. The event featured presentation, breakout sessions, and discussions involving policymakers, researchers, and youth leaders to promote a more peaceful, sustainable, and mutually understanding multifaith Malaysia. The event also featured a keynote speech delivered by YB Dr Kelvin Yii, who is an MP of Bandar Kuching.

Participants included representatives from religious organisations such as Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM), and the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM), among others. The event provided a unique opportunity for youth and interfaith leaders to connect, fostering a community for productive discussions on interfaith issues and promoting interfaith harmony in Malaysia.

During the breakout session, INITIATE.MY engaged in the discussion on “Grassroots Action Planning for Youth-led Interfaith Initiatives at the Community Level.” Hisham Muhaimi, the Project Coordinator at INITIATE.MY, shared his experience participating in grassroots interfaith engagements organised by Komuniti Muslim Universal (KMU Malaysia) in 2018. He believed that more ground work and advocacy is needed to educate individuals on the significance of interfaith engagements in building social cohesion in a diverse Malaysian society.

This gathering emphasised the importance of building bridges between groups that typically have a few opportunities to network and understand each other. By empowering youth to engage in interfaith dialogue, the Interfaith Youth Alliance Gathering made significant strides towards creating a more harmonious and understanding multifaith Malaysia.