Each year from February 1-7, the world observes the World Interfaith Harmony Week, a week designated by the United Nations to celebrate cooperation, understanding, and goodwill among people of all faiths and belief systems. Rather than fear and this division, this day calls for mutual peace, tolerance, and harmony based on mutual respect and shared human values as fundamental to peace among communities, leaders, and individuals.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week reflects very simple yet profound truth: relationships grow stronger, and societies become more resilient, when people come together to focus on what unites them rather than what divides them. Interfaith harmony builds bridges of understanding extend beyond religious communities and across families, schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.
This week, the UN encourages activities that foster dialogue, collaborative action, and goodwill among individuals and communities of different faith and traditions. For Global Peace Foundation (GPF), this World InterFaith Harmony Week serves as a powerful reminder on our commitment to ‘One Family Under God’; a philosophy that is at the heart of all our initiatives. Across continents, GPF aims to foster understanding, encourage collaboration, and advance social cohesion. With programs such as Interfaith dialogues and service projects in Nigeria and Interfaith Conclave in India, GPF believes in a world of One Family Under God.
Currently, when almost every part of the world faces conflict with increased polarization and misunderstanding and the “us versus them” dynamics, the World Interfaith Harmony Week offers a timely reminder that peace is only possible when each of us recognize our differences and respect them. It is only when we can recognize our common humanity and engage in dialogues to understand one another with compassion and humility, that we can build true genuine connections over time. When we decide we are all members of one single human family, we take a powerful step towards peace that is lasting, inclusive and grounded in dignity.
As we celebrate this week, GPF calls to action from community leaders, faith leaders, educators, youths and everyone to join hands together carrying forward the spirit of interfaith cooperation starting each day in their daily lives. GPF reaffirms its commitment towards better engagement and initiatives that fosters meaningful discourse, interfaith community peacebuilding and shared commitment for the well-being of all.
Donate to GPF and support us in our journey to build bridges and foster peace.
