WHAT:
The Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program builds community capacity for multifaith learning and dialogue with a focus on children and families. We offer a range of locally developed and supported programs and resources to increase awareness and understanding of the religious diversity in our community.
PERSONAL STORY:
“I thought that all [Muslims] were from Iraq and around that area,” wrote one high school student after participating in a hands-on multifaith tour. “Once I saw the children playing hockey, they weren’t one race but multicultural.” In early November, 53 grade 8 students from Queen Elizabeth Secondary school participated in a multifaith tour organized by the Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program. The tour supplemented the “World Religions” component of the Grade Eight Humanities curriculum. The group visited the Surrey Jamea Masjid to learn about Islam. They toured the inside of the building and interacted with people from the local Muslim community.
Kim Haldane, the course instructor, wanted to provide her students with a direct learning experience to challenge some of the students’ stereotypes about different religions in our community. “…This was a positive un-education of the media’s portrayal of Islam,” says Kim, “[it] was definitely a positive and exciting experience for my students.”
LONG-TERM IMPACT:
Surrey is a religiously diverse community that welcomes newcomers from diverse religious traditions. In order to grow as a community, it is important that we provide opportunities for learning about the religious traditions of our friends and neighbours. This is what the Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program offers our community.
David Dalley, Program Coordinator
Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program
davidanderin@dalley.ca
