UAE students participate in interfaith fellowship in Jakarta alongside Harvard and Yale counterparts.
Two Emirati students, Naama Bader Alhebsi and Amna AlBastaki, have returned from Jakarta, Indonesia, after completing the prestigious Human Fraternity Fellowship. The fellowship, a joint initiative between the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and Georgetown University, saw the students trained in interfaith dialogue techniques alongside peers from renowned institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown.
Naama Bader Alhebsi, a student at UAE University, and Amna AlBastaki, a graduate of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, were among the 10 students globally selected to represent youth on the global stage. During their week-long stay, they explored Jakarta's 'Tunnel of Friendship', engaged with Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, and participated in dialogue sessions.
The students witnessed significant religious ceremonies during their visit. During Friday prayers at Jakarta's Grand Istiqlal Mosque, Amna AlBastaki was deeply moved, an experience she believes deepened her outlook on global coexistence. Naama Bader Alhebsi also had an intimate meeting with one of Indonesia's most respected Islamic scholars, Prof. Quraish Shihab.
The UAE was described as upholding dignity for all residents and creating sacred spaces, such as the Abrahamic House. Fellows and mentors from diverse backgrounds and faiths gathered together during the visit, fostering a sense of unity and tangible common humanity.
Naama Alhebsi reflected on the diversity of the group, despite sharing the same country and culture. She compared human fraternity to sibling relationships, emphasizing the importance of coexistence on Earth. Amna AlBastaki echoed these sentiments, commenting on the sense of unity and shared humanity experienced during the visit.
Upon their return, both students have challenged young people in the UAE to "step outside their comfort zone and engage with the world." They plan to bring the interfaith dialogue techniques they learned to local interfaith initiatives and youth programs.
Inspired by their experience, the students are eager to implement their dialogue facilitation training in UAE communities. Their Jakarta journey has left them with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to promote understanding and harmony among different faiths and cultures within their own community.
