This youth-led interfaith forum, held on 10 February 2017 in conjunction with UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, brought together young people in Singapore to explore the role of youth in addressing religious and cultural tensions. Co-organised with Harmony Centre Singapore, the session featured a panel of young interfaith practitioners from Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist communities, who shared perspectives on dialogue, coexistence, and social cohesion.
Targeted at youth audiences, the forum created a safe space for open discussion on how interfaith engagement can strengthen understanding and reduce tensions within Singapore’s diverse society. Through dialogue and shared experiences, the event highlighted the critical role young people play in shaping more inclusive and harmonious communities.
Evaluation
The forum went smoothly. We managed to have a crowd of 50 people from various backgrounds and age groups. We also had a delegation of tertiary students from Indonesia attending the forum who gave insights on the interreligious condition in Indonesia, and also compared the situation there with Singapore. The response from the audience during the Q&A session was great and lively. Issues discussed include how religious groups can deal with the rise of unconventional lifestyles in society, as well as how to interact and include the non-religious groups in the interreligious dialogue and interaction.