IDG Goal: Goal 2 – Peace through Dialogue
At Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, a predominantly Latter-day Saint institution, many students had little to no exposure to other faith traditions, including the small but present Muslim community on campus. To bridge this gap, a series of informal interfaith gatherings was organised, including iftars, dinners, and nature walks, drawing groups of between 4 and 9 participants aged 16 to 24, with 65% female and 35% male, and a mix of Muslim and LDS attendees. Though intentionally small in scale, the activities were high in interpersonal impact, participants who had never encountered Islam before were able to experience it firsthand, share their own beliefs in return, and discover meaningful common ground. The lasting outcome has been not just increased mutual understanding between the two faith communities, but genuine friendships that have endured for years since, demonstrating that deep interfaith connection does not always require large events, sometimes, it simply requires the space for honest conversation.