How does Interact address the challenges?

Many young people feel identified by their faith-cultural backgrounds. Having a faith-cultural identity, when motivated positively, can be a powerful force for good. Faith is a highly powerful motivator in many young peoples' lives, and its potential as a tool for social cohesion is not being fulfilled.

Inter-Act's aim is to harness the power of young peoples' faith-cultural identity to present new opportunities for civic engagement.

Increasing opportunities

• Reducing isolation by encouraging existing faith groups to work together in a coherent way to tackle lack of understanding
• Increasing understanding by promoting action and expression between faith-cultural groups
• Building new connections with the wider community through jointly enacted community projects

Increasing Civic engagement

Activities in which people from different backgrounds work together are more effective at reducing problems than dialogue alone. Inter-Act facilitates projects in which young people have the opportunity to learn about each other by working together on real projects in the community.

• Providing the opportunity to gain experience, opening new social horizons, and granting invaluable professional experience through:
  • Producing Interact Magazine

• Reducing isolation and increasing participation by encouraging interfaith volunteering in the community in the following areas:
  • Community environmental projects
  • Community social projects

• Facilitating a fun and exciting way for young people to engage with their peers from across religious or cultural differences
  • Sports and cultural events

These projects aim to engage young people in a variety of areas, to give them the opportunities to reduce isolation and break down the barriers to opportunity, and to engage them in participation with the wider community.

To view our projects in more detail, see our Action pages.

In conclusion

Inter-Act aims to break down the barriers to opportunity and increase civic participation by addressing the roots of the problem. Taking an inter-faith approach, Inter-Act brings together young people from different faith and minority ethnic groups and provides them with opportunities for personal improvement, and the chance to jointly participate in the improvement of their own and each other's communities.

The kinds of opportunities young people need are those that contribute to improving their prospects and realising their potential. The chance to gain valuable work experience will improve their prospects. The opportunity to participate in community projects will realise the ability to make a real difference in the world. By facilitating these projects in an interfaith environment, we are reducing the isolation that completes the vicious circle of under-achievement.

 

  © Copyright 2005 - Interfaith Action. All Rights Reserved.