Each year, the King of Jordan on behalf of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week allocates prizes to the most effective event for World Interfaith Harmony Week, the first week of February, every year. This year, for 2018, the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne has won the First Prize.
The judges received 88 applications for the prize from over 1,232 events held in total. The judges are highly appreciative of all the efforts of all those who held events and applied for the prize. They wish they could reward all who held an event, but are consoled by the fact that good deeds are their own reward so that everyone who held an event—whether they applied for the prize or not—is a true winner.
In judging, the judges took into consideration the excellence of efforts, collaboration and impact of events. They looked carefully at efforts made despite scantiness of resources, but also took into consideration consistent efforts made over the years. They further took into consideration whether events were consistent with the text of the UN Resolution establishing the Prize. Accordingly, judges did not reward movements towards religious syncretism but rather rewarded events which respected each religion as it is. Finally, in accordance with the terms of the Prize, judges rewarded events specifically celebrating the World Interfaith Harmony Week rather than good interfaith work in general.
Accordingly, the judges are delighted to announce:
Interfaith Center of Melbourne First Prize Who and Where Are We in a Changing World? Interfaith Center of Melbourne, Australia
Rev. Helen Summers,
Founder and Director
Interfaith Center of Melbourne
The faith leaders were invited to bring community members with them to meet their ‘neighbours’ who come from diverse faiths, philosophies and cultures. Seven religious and spiritual leaders were invited to speak to the topic for twenty minutes from their traditions. Each speaker shared their creation stories from sacred texts or their oral tradition in their individual ways, sharing many commonalities and acknowledging the differences with respect. They wove together strands of religious teachings about creation, the meaning of life, and gave practical ways of how we can care for each other and the earth.
Visit the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne Website
Many, many congratulations to the winners and to all those who took part in World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018.
The prize-giving ceremony will take place in the last week of April, 2018 in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
All Praise belongs to God Alone.
We ask that you continue your endeavours throughout the year. Continue the dialogue with others of different faiths. Continue to organize events and activities with those in your communities. Continue to be a living proof of the power of good that comes from those working with each other to create harmony throughout the world!
Thanks for your time, support, and prayers.
About World Interfaith Harmony Week
World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. Just under a month later, on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February, every year, will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.
For more details see our website
For information about the actual award ceremony, you may read a report on the Jordan Times
Source: Congratulations
