Images from Squamish Multifaith Association (Squamish, British Columbia, Canada)
Please give a warm welcome to the latest groups to join the global URI network in November and December 2018. Learn more about these groups, called Cooperation Circles, here.
Inter-Religious Council for Peace Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania)
With members from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian (Pentecostal, Anglican, Catholic), Hindu, and Muslim backgrounds, this Cooperation Circle promotes interfaith relationships, harmony, peaceful coexistence, conflict prevention and development, including environmental protection in Tanzania.
Fundación Femas (Yoloaiquin, El Salvador)
Cooperation Circle members work for the wellbeing of children, especially handicapped children, supporting the family circle, their health, and the environment where they live. Current members include Evangelists, Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses, and they are open to any other belief that wants to join their work.
Reach Unreached Millions Worldwide (URI Multiregion, based in Burundi and Finland)
This Cooperation Circle’s purpose is to help the unreached millions of people physically and spiritually around the world, especially in developing countries. Their work includes Training Seminars, Teaching and Equipping Youth with different skills, and working with Young people, and religious leaders and congregations of different faiths, cultures, traditions, languages, and nations. “We wish to build together a safe world without violence and make poverty history in the future.”
Squamish Multifaith Association (Squamish, British Columbia, Canada)
With members from Anglican, Catholic, Mormon, Baha'I, Sunni; Native American, Sikh, United Church of Canada, and Shaker Church communities, this Cooperation Circle promotes interfaith and multifaith dialogue and understanding. They provide information and resources on world religions to the community, and cooperate with other agencies and organizations to promote initiatives that contribute to the common good; in particular, those that address poverty, peace and care for the environment.
Interfaith Youth for Change (Bujumbura, Burundi)
With 38 members, this group's purpose is to create mutual respect and understanding among religious through learning and understanding about beliefs, customs and practices of faith traditions.
Réseau Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l'Homme (RECODH) / Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organizations (Yaounde, Cameroon)
Organized in regional coordination in the ten regions of Cameroon, RECODH members work for one and the same purpose: the culture of human rights in Cameroon. Its 14 members come from Catholic and Evangelical Christian faiths as well as Islamic and African Traditional faith backgrounds.
Global Village Development Initiative (GLOVID) (Abuja, Nigeria)
With seven Christian, Islamic and Traditionalist members, this group promotes peaceful co-existence through dialogue and understanding through seminars, visits to the needy, and intervention in humanitarian and human rights cases.
Initiative for Development and Environment Awareness (IDEA) Rwanda (Kigali, Rwanda)
The Christian, Muslim, and Pagan members of IDEA-Rwanda, filled with the burning desire of building a better planet for us and for the generations to come, wish to harness their energy and potential today in order to achieve a dream of a peaceful tomorrow.
Smiles4Millions Foundation (Bihar, East India)
This group promotes peace through education with care of the environment. With 100 members from Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh backgrounds, they emphasize education of children living in slums, livelihood training for rural women, and other necessary initiatives.
Karnataka Prajwal Seva Sansthe (Karnatka, Southern India)
Seven members from faiths including Hinduism, Sanathan Dharma, Islam, and Christianity promote inter-religious harmony, youth empowerment, rural development, environmental conservation, and more.
MAMRE Foundation Society (Kadapa, AP, Southern India)
Hindu, Muslim, and Christian members work to facilitate disadvantaged and marginalized communities to expand their own opportunities and choices for the realization of sustainable livelihood and skill development in agriculture, institution and capacity-building.
Mother Theresa Mahila Mandali (Kadapa, AP, Southern India)
Mother Theresa Mahila Mandali is a branch of MAMRE Cooperation Circle (see above) that especially aims to serve women.
Sadhana URI Sindhanur Raichur Karnataka (Karnatka, Southern India)
With 21 Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Jain members, this group aims to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
Instituto Ecumênico Fé e Política do Acre (Ecumenical Institute of Faith and Politics of Acre) (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil)
This group's goal is to broaden the promotion of a culture of peace and respect for diverse religious traditions through monthly meetings open to the community, ecumenical and inter-religious services, graduation ceremonies, funerals, interreligious visits, partnership with the Secretary of State for Education and Communication, and other events.
