INTERFAITH YOUTH AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
PURPOSE:
The Interfaith Youth Ambassadors Program is an Initiative of URI West Africa, in partnership with the URI Young Leaders Program (YLP) to develop the leadership skills and capacities of young leaders interested in becoming more effective interfaith organizers and peace-builders. The Initiative empowers Young People with skills to build genuine cross-cultural and cross-regional relationships with other motivated young people by becoming a part of a growing group of quality young leaders within URI.
The Interfaith Youth Ambassadors are selected through an application [ads1]process and receive training/capacity building and mentorship. The training provide real global leadership development, through which the Youth leaders become able to engage in interfaith dialogue, plan projects, and build knowledge and skills together.
The Interfaith Youth Ambassador Program offers several opportunities for Young Leaders to be of service. The Program offers multicultural and interfaith safe spaces for youth to grow as leaders and gain training on how to increase their leadership capacity. Over the years we have, through the contributions of members and leaders in the network crafted a core set of training modules aimed at developing the leadership capacity of young people in URI. Since its launch at URI’s Global Assembly in Mayapur, India, in 2008, the Young Leaders Program has worked closely with young individuals who have steadily grown as leaders, serving URI in many ways. They have been Youth Ambassadors, delivering projects in URI’s name that benefit their communities; they have mentored emerging young leaders and helped shape and deliver youth programs; and some of them have stepped up to regional leadership positions, either as team members or by supporting their Regional Coordinators. We want to continue to expand the opportunities for these advanced young leaders to serve URI and that’s why we’re bringing them together to train each other and the Youth Program in our work.
Young people from diverse cultures are finding the skills, space, and support they need to grow as interfaith leaders. Participants work together and learn from each other through training weekends, classroom programs, assemblies and retreats.
BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM:
- Young people receive training to enhance their Interfaith leadership and community building skills
- Join a growing network of young leaders working on exciting and impactful interfaith activities
- Young people have the opportunities to take on significant roles within a large, international organization
- Young people have the chance to build strong and long lasting relationships with people from different backgrounds
DESIRED QUALITIES AND SKILLS
- An interest in interfaith/intercultural dialogue
- Demonstrable commitment to building understanding and cooperation between people from different backgrounds
- Commitment to volunteering and community service
- Communication skills – either confident or willing to develop confidence in writing and speaking/presenting
- Willingness to make the necessary time commitment
- Regular internet access is important
- Willing to balance the role with other commitments you may have
HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, interested young persons aged 18- 35 years should send the following to: eivorgba@uri.org
- A Motivation Letter not more than two (2) pages long
- Resume/CV not more than two (2) pages long
- Recommendation Letters from two reputable community leaders, one of whom must be a CC or Religious Leader
- All applications must be received on or before July 31, 2017.
ABOUT US
United Religions Initiative West Africa (URI West Africa) is the Western Africa chapter of URI, a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. We are dedicated to promoting 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. Our Cooperation Circles (CCs) are transcending religious and cultural divisions to create inclusive, on-the-ground solutions to critical issues facing their communities and regions. Our unique design allows for border-crossing among faith traditions, member organizations and regions; propels rapid, self-replicating growth; and extends our chartered principles into partnerships to transform communities and entire regions.
OUR MISSION
URI is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. We implement our mission through local and global initiatives that build the capacity of our more than 600 member groups and organizations, called Cooperation Circles, to engage in community action such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, environmental sustainability, education, women’s and youth programs, and advocacy for human rights.
