Winners of the 2022 H.M. King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize Announced
The World Interfaith Harmony Week initiative has announced the winners of the 2022 H.M. King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on UNGA Resolution A/65/PV.34 for a worldwide week of interfaith harmony. It was proposed in 2010 by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan.
Since 2011, thousands of interfaith organizers have joined the global observance of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week on the first week of February and been eligible for the H.M. King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize, established in 2013 to recognize the three best events organized which best promote the goals of the World Interfaith Harmony Week.
According to the official WIHW initiative communication the judges received 85 submitted reports for the prize from hundreds of events held in total. 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, unfavorable political and social climates, and also took into consideration consistent efforts made over the years.
The 2022 H.M. King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize Winners
First Prize – Interfaith Harmony Week 2022
Pastor Yohanna Buru
Kaduna, Nigeria
A team of Nigerian religious leaders and volunteers conducted a series of activities involving thousands promoting peace, tolerance, forgiveness and prayers throughout the week of harmony. Pastor Yohanna Buru led a team of volunteer Imams and pastors who took the campaign to schools, communities and ghettos, in order to dialogue, interact and inter-face with many students, women, and youth to educate them about the importance of interfaith week and harmony. The campaign would also going a long way to help toward reducing the ethno-religious instability in the northern part of the country.
Second Prize (Joint) – Interfaith Harmony Week
Department of Islamic Studies, Ghazi University
Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
The Department of Islamic Studies, Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan celebrated interfaith harmony week from 30-01-2022 to 04-02-2022. It was the first time in the history of the university as well as the city to celebrate the event with true adherence to letter and spirit. Several events were organised to raise awareness and understanding, promote friendship and celebrate love of the neighbour.
Second Prize (Joint) – Wamala Ward Interfaith Prayers
Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation (FOCAGIFO); Community Advocates for Health, Security & Development (CA4HSD) and FOCAGIFO Hope Institute for Transformational Leadership & Development (HI-TLD)
Wamala, Uganda
Religious and community leaders from all faiths used the interfaith harmony week to celebrate community pledges to combat social problems affecting the community. Walking through the town, the youth gathered and met each other to raise awareness of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and how the community has so much in common and must work towards the Higher Good. The band joined the march until they reached their venue. Then there were speeches, songs and performances all aimed at strengthening the community to strengthen its ties and live in harmony and prosperity.
Second Prize (Joint) – Roots of friendship – Mariam meets Maria
URI Austria
Lienz, Austria
A group of likeminded people from different religions have been working for peace and friendship in Lienz / Austria since 1995. For this year’s WIHW they decided to make a strong, meaningful connection to 350 refugees living in a refugee camp in Northern Syria. It is their most wanted aim, that people from Lienz have a direct connection to the people in Camp MARIAM. It is not only about money but also about a lot of love.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions shares its deep-felt congratulations to the prize winners and all organizers of the 2022 observance.
Learn more about the World Interfaith Harmony Week initiative and how you can get involved next year at worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com
