Jordan Times
Monday, July 18, 2005
YWCA exchange programme focuses on Islam
By Sara Asad and Tala Al-Husry
AMMAN — A youth exchange programme is currently under way in the capital to promote the true message of Islam, but in a spirit of religious tolerance, this programme is run not by Muslims, but by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).
The seminar seeks to clarify the true image of Islam, said the event's coordinator Samah Gsous, adding that this subject was chosen due to it being one of the most “talked about issues of the day.”
The programme, to run until July 22, brings together delegates from ten different countries.
A total of 60 participants from UK, Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Palestine and Jordan will engage in workshops, seminars, and visits to historic sites in an effort to erase boundaries and prejudices, said Gsous.
Outlining the main objectives of the programme, YWCA President Laurice Hlass said: “The main reason Jordan is hosting this exchange programme is due to its strategic location and the fact that Jordan embodies history and religious coexistence.”
She described the event as a forum where “East meets West... a chance to get to know each other's cultures and religions.”
Although this exchange programme is not new to the YWCA, this year's subject matter is.
The organisation says it chose to focus on Islam as a way of proving that all religions can coexist. Open discussion workshops will attempt to counter some of the negative publicity Islam has attracted in the world media as a result of violent acts carried out in its name.
Tarek Salem, 18, a delegate from Egypt, hopes the conference will be the first step in correcting what he sees as Islam's distorted image.
“The image of Islam is almost always negatively portrayed by the foreign media. I am glad to be taking part in an event that will hopefully change the way some people look at our religion.”
A European delegate described her motivation for taking part in the programme.
“I want to overcome my prejudices,” said Valeria Desideri, 21, an Italian delegate, who is already beginning to take on board some of Salem's ideas.
The organisation says it seeks to continue the theme of the Amman Message and promote its central concepts further.
The Amman Message, published in the Holy Month of Ramadan last year, seeks to educate people on Islam's long history of tolerance towards other faiths and its rejection of all forms of extremism.
“Islam's principle provides common ground among different faiths and people... Muslims believe in all messengers of God; denying the message of any of them is a deviation from Islam,” said the message.
The Youth Exchange programme will include trips to historic and religious sites in Jordan like Petra, Mt. Nebo, the Baptism Site and the Dead Sea as well as seminars with Islamic Sheikh Hamdi Murad and Father Ibrahim Daboor.
“You are the future of East and West,” said Hlass, stressing the importance bridging the gap cultures through this conference that aims to promote “peace, tolerance and understanding.”