Dear Friends,
Greetings of peace, light and blessing. It was indeed a great pleasure to be able to meet you during the Global Council and Staff meeting. Here I would like to share with you the best practices from URI Africa as we did not get much time to share together during the meeting.
The best practices from URI Africa:
1). Work in partnership with different organizations at the national, regional and international levels in addressing common issues.
2). Work closely with different media outlets to bring the visibility of URI in Africa.
3). While making URI widely accessible for all to be a Cooperation Circle (CC) member, reach out in inviting existing and established membership-based organizations to become URI CC members.
4). Encourage URI CCs in the region to translate the charter of URI into their own languages.
5). Promote interfaith harmony, respect and peaceful co-existence through the teaching of The Golden Rule, which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
6). Provide and strengthen cross-sector networks, partnerships and support for URI and its CCs’ work with policy makers by creating opportunities for collaboration and partnership with regional organizations in Africa.
7). Build bridges for URI in Africa and its CC members with the African Council of Religious Leaders, policy makers, religious leaders, NGOs, interfaith organizations, mayors, youth associations, women’s associations, Boy and Girl Scouts, Chambers of Commerce and other community stakeholders.
8). Bring the voice of URI’s CCs to the level of policy makers.
9). Register URI Africa to enable the network to raise funds and have a legal base within Africa to foster more partnerships with funding agencies and other partners.
10). Set up a URI Africa Advisory Council to champion and support the work of URI in Africa in order to bring more visibility and to help with fundraising efforts. The Advisory Council members are experienced opinion leaders with a high degree of integrity with a background in academia, business, public service, philanthropy, the United Nations, the African Union, and peace and non-violence activists.
11). Present every year a URI Africa Peace Award on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Peace. This award is given every year by URI Africa in recognition of an outstanding contribution in promoting a culture of peace, reconciliation, interfaith harmony, human rights, good governance, exemplary leadership or environmental protection.
12). Implement “The URI Africa Best CC of The Year Award” with a Certificate of Appreciation and a small cash award contribution to advance the CC’s work. The jury for the award will be the URI Africa Leadership Team.
13). Establish a URI Africa Youth Network and encourage the involvement and active participation of youth in URI Africa’s CCs. Give recognition to an outstanding youth organization on the occasion of International Youth Day, which is August 12.
14). In partnership with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), promote the campaign of The Green Rule: “DO UNTO THE EARTH AS YOU WOULD HAVE IT DO UNTO YOU,” which was started by URI Africa and the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative, a URI CC in Ethiopia with the UNEP Office for Africa. The Green Rule was developed to highlight the role of religions in environmental protection, address the issue of climate change and open Green Rule clubs in the schools to engage students at a young age in environmental protection by planting trees.
14). Work in close partnership with the Mayors for Peace network to bring mayors in Africa to work with URI and its CC members in promoting a culture of peace, interfaith and inter-cultural harmony, the Golden Rule and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
15). Work in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders who are working on the issue of children -- for example, the Global Network of Religions for Children on the issue of the wellbeing of African children.
16). Teach kids at a very young age – beginning in kindergarten -- about the Golden Rule, peace and respecting different religions and cultures. Encourage URI CC members to celebrate November 20 as the Universal Children's Day.
17). In partnership with UNESCO, promote the consideration of peace education as part of the school curriculum in Africa and open peace clubs in schools and workplaces to promote interfaith and inter-cultural co-existence and to celebrate International Tolerance Day in Africa.
18). Send out press releases on the many activities of URI Africa, such as: the URI Africa Peace Award, the International Day of Peace, Golden Rule Day and the appointment of a Goodwill Ambassador of the Golden Rule. Invite journalists to all activities of URI in Africa and encourage them to write articles. Write letters to the editor on different issues relevant to the work of URI. Do interviews with different media to promote the work of URI. Work closely with journalist associations.
20). Organize in partnership with other organizations and stakeholders in celebrating the International Day of Peace, Golden Rule Day, World Interfaith Harmony Week, International Youth Day, Environment Day, HIV/AIDS Day and World Malaria Day. This will help to enhance team spirit among CCs, establish partnerships with other organizations and bring more visibility for the CCs and URI in the region.
21). Share through the URI contact list and website the highlights of major activities of URI in Africa.
May Peace Prevail on Earth!
In peace and gratitude,
Mussie Hailu
Continental Coordinator for Africa
United Religions Initiative
