Case Study EUSA Edinburgh University Student Union
What was your interfaith project? Our fortnightly group Exploring our Faiths' has acted as the base for the group of students who will take part in activities during our second semester and will culminate in a pilgrimage for peace for one week in June 2013. We plan to expand our ongoing interfaith discussions to include trips into schools where we will engage the students in interfaith activities. The pilgrimage will comprise of a group of 6 students from Edinburgh University and 6 students from the US. It involves walking 100 miles along the ancient pilgrimage route of the Camino del Norte and we hope that the experience of walking, talking and reflecting will help us explore what it means to seek peace in our world and discover sustainable ways to live on the earth. The intention is not to arrive at a destination but to walk alongside each other on the way. We hope that there might be resources to pay for meals at Edinburgh University between those going from Edinburgh plus others who are supporting us and the North American pilgrims. They will share with us in Edinburgh for one night on the way and one night on the way back. We also hope to film the experience. There is an intention to film and record the experience. We hope that this will help our understanding of one another and our faith experience and deepen our relationships with each other. In addition, it allows us to share the experience with people we meet on the journey. Overall, we feel this is an exciting project which will have a lasting impact and will be of benefit to students and the wider community. This is an ambitious project and NUS funding towards this would be gratefully received. How did you ensure students were involved in the development of your project? We invited students from every faith society to come to the group Exploring our Faiths' and they responded very well. Most times we had about seven faiths present. Saul Kohn of the Jewish Society played a role in encouraging them to come. Each faith was invited to present on a different week and over the year we had Jewish, Muslim, Bahai, Hindu,Sikh,Buddhist,Humanist and Christian. The group grew from 7 to a
steady 25 people each time. What impact did this project have on students you work with and within your students union or college? - How did it deliver one of the following outcomes: o Encourage engagement between faith societies o Increase understanding amongst students about different religions and beliefs o Increase dialogue and collaborative action o Encourage engagement between faith societies Ar the group 'Exploring our faiths' we had a process of listening with respect and attention to each other and over the year there was a sense that we would receive from the relationships as well as learn about the different faiths Increase understanding amongst students about different religions and beliefs Each time we met in 'Exploring our faiths' there was something new that was being introduced Our process was one of input from the students then breaking into small groups of different faiths and then coming back together to share so that there was opportunity for meeting and sharing with one another. Increase dialogue and collaborative action We came together before the pilgrimage to raise money for Syria and the one of the 'Exploring our Faith group members from the Islamic Society played a particular role in this in helping draw attendance. The pilgrimage itself will involve dialogue as we walk - Were there any other outcomes from the project? Lasting friendships have been formed amongst the group The 'Exploring our faiths' group will provide the accommodation for 2 nights for the students/young adults coming from North America for the Camino pilgrimage One of the students from 'Exploring our Faiths' went into a school through an interfaith project that connected the community with the Chaplaincy and shared her faith over a number of months in class through sharing drama and meditation with the teenagers A number of the Jewish members of 'Exploring our Faiths' helped with the Holocaust Memorial day event The Green Living festival promoting practices for wellbeing and sustainability was attended and supported by a number in the Exploring Faiths Group The Edinburgh Jewish Society at Edinburgh University was put forward for
good interfaith relations by the national Jewish Chaplaincy body partly due to its promotion and participation of the 'Exploring our Faiths' group The Hindu Society individuals of 'Exploring our Faiths' encouraged all members of the E our F group to invite people to its celebration of Diwali and the Islamic society individuals at 'Exploring our Faiths' encouraged all members to come to its celebration of Eid What lessons did you learn in delivering the project that might be useful to other students unions? We found that when you listen to each other there is common ground found as well as being able to accept and respect differences. Sometimes we have found something fresh in our faith because of the way another viewed our scripture, or spiritual practice from their different faith perspective Do you have any feedback from participants at your event? 'Exploring our faiths' was one of the best things I have done at University and I wish it happened more often' Sikh student Photo/Video evidence of your event: Multi-faith meal preparation:
Holocaust memorial day: Multifaith group evening out:
Green Living festival: Bike powered film at Greenliving festival: