YIF20 Interfaith Youth Forum,
Cape Town
10-14 August 2025
Leading with Ubuntu: At the heart of Interfaith Action
We are delighted to announce the upcoming Youth Interfaith Forum 2025, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from the 10th to the 14th of August 2025. Organized by A Common Word Among the Youth (ACWAY), in partnership with the G20 Interfaith Forum and supported by our longstanding partner, the Stirling Foundation, and in collaboration with United Religions Initiative, Charter for Compassion, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
This year’s YIF20 theme is “Leading with Ubuntu: At the Heart of Interfaith Action”. Ubuntu is a southern African philosophy that can be translated as ‘I am because we are’, or humanity towards others. Ubuntu centres on interconnectedness, compassion, and shared humanity.
The objectives of the Youth Interfaith Forum are to:
- Expand and strengthen our global network of young interfaith practitioners equipped to deliver multicultural and interfaith activities in their communities.
- Share practical tools, skills, and experiences to advance interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding across diverse contexts of local realities.
- Prepare participants to engage strategically within the G20 Interfaith Forum framework and broader interfaith initiatives.
A Global Platform for Youth Leadership in Interfaith Action
The Youth Interfaith Forum (YIF20) is more than a conference; it is a space for emerging leaders from across the world to unite, share experiences, learn practical tools for peacebuilding, and build a common vision for inclusive, interfaith collaboration.
Why this matters
In 2025, as ACWAY marks its 10-year anniversary, our world remains shaped by urgent global challenges, from rising conflict and displacement to the lagging progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Amid these challenges, young people are not only the most affected, but they are also the most powerful agents of change
Through this Forum, we aim to:
- Strengthen global and grassroots partnerships
- Provide tools and strategies for community-based interfaith work
- Highlight intersectional issues like climate justice, migration, mental health, and identity
- Celebrate and learn from local South African peacebuilding models
- Equip youth with the confidence to lead in interfaith spaces whether in their hometowns to global forums
About ACWAY
A Common Word Among the Youth (ACWAY) is a youth-led global network dedicated to promoting peace, dialogue, and coexistence across cultural and religious divides. With over 200 grassroots initiatives already implemented, ACWAY continues to empower youth to act as ambassadors for peace in their communities and on global stages.
Concept Note
For further information, please refer to our concept note for the Youth Interfaith Forum.
Our Partners
Contact
Please contact liliia@acway.org or izzy@acway.org for any questions or additional information.