Just under 400 young people from diverse faith backgrounds met in Sydney for the largest interfaith event for young people in Australia. Youth PoWR (Parliament of the World’s Religions) saw youth vote on and commit to a message of common and critical concern: ‘Towards a More Compassionate & Just Society’.
Youth aged 17-35 from Aboriginal, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and no faiths were represented with high energy on Saturday 3 September at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College in North Sydney. Speakers from these eight religions addressed the parliament, inspiring attendees through religious texts and teachings.
In two sitting sessions, they voted on which social, political and environmental issues they want civic and religious leaders to take concrete action. The top three issues of concern for youth at the event were refugees, racism & discrimination, and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Youth then wrote their own commitments that they themselves were to address. Suggestions included getting involved in community outreach programs, listening and being open to different perspectives and experiences, and encouraging interfaith dialogue by inviting others to come along. As part of the proceedings, all the participants at Youth PoWR paused for one minute of silence, where, amidst all of their differences, united in common devotion, everyone prayed, meditated and reflected together on a shared vision.
A day after Youth PoWR, representatives from Christian, Hindu, Jewish & Muslim faiths went on ABC Radio’s Sunday Nights to discuss the social, environmental and political priorities of Australia’s religious youth - the show has since been aired and podcasted across the world to tens of thousands of listeners. Two weeks later, on Sunday 18 September, representatives from Baha’i, Christian and Muslim faiths shared in a special Q&A event at the Australian Baha’i Temple’s International Day of Peace Service.
Presentations of the Youth PoWR 2016 Message, ‘Towards a More Compassionate & Just Society’ will be made to a range of Australia’s politicians and religious organisations in the coming months. Many also volunteered on the night to coordinate “Youth PoWR Action Groups” to carry out their commitments of interfaith action.
Youth PoWR has not only given young people a platform to address concerns to their civic and religious leaders. By committing to work together across their differences – differences which have, and continue to, divide religious believers across the globe – these youth have also become a living model of interfaith harmony, of paving the way in overcoming old prejudices and building a new world.
Check out the highlights video of Youth PoWR 2016 on our Facebook page!
Check out the full report on Youth PoWR 2016 including proposals to civic & religious leaders and Youth Commitments.
Steff Fenton is the Youth PoWR Event Coordinator at the Columban Mission Institute and the Networking, Media and Projects Officer for the Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, Sydney.
2016 Youth PoWR Report - Bridges October 2016
 |
 |
