The 2024 KAICIID Global Dialogue Forum convened a distinguished assembly of religious, political, and NGO leaders to explore critical themes in Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, such as peacebuilding, sacred ecology, and fostering inclusive cities. Esteemed participants included Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Shaikh Salih bin Abdullah al-Humaid, Graça Machel, and former heads of state like Heinz Fischer, François Hollande, and Matteo Renzi. Among these luminaries were nine KAICIID Fellows, recognized for their significant contributions to global dialogue and peacebuilding.
Azmaira Alibhai (Kenya), a 2013 Fellow and Faith & Ecosystems Coordinator for the United Nations Environment Programme, provided insights into her journey as an Ismaili Muslim navigating multicultural environments, with a focus on sacred ecology.
Alissa Wahid (Indonesia), a 2017 Fellow and the eldest daughter of former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, leads the Gusdurian Network Indonesia. She engaged in a thematic dialogue on peacebuilding, contrasting the successes and challenges in Nigeria and Indonesia alongside Archbishop Okoh.
Venerable Napan Thawornbanjob (Thailand), a 2018 Fellow and Assistant Abbot of the Golden Mount Temple in Bangkok, shared his experiences as a Buddhist monk promoting interfaith understanding in the "Human Library" session. Swami Yudhistir Govinda Das (India), a 2019 Fellow and National Director of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in India, underscored the spiritual significance of nature in a plenary panel on sacred ecology.
Rif’at Fachir (Indonesia), a 2022 Fellow and Communications Officer for the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, and Stephen Shashua (Canada/Portugal), a 2017 Fellow and Director of the Caravanserai Collective, were also prominent participants. Aleksandra Djuric Milovanovic (Serbia), a 2018 Fellow and KAICIID consultant, skillfully served as Master of Ceremonies.
KAICIID Fellows continue their relationship with the International Dialogue Centre well beyond their one-year Fellowship, furthering their commitment to global dialogue and peacebuilding. As we approach the 10th Anniversary of the Fellowship Programme in 2025, the network of nearly 550 Fellows from 92 countries and 14 religions exemplifies the programme's expanding impact.
Bridging Cultures: KAICIID Fellows Engage in Transformative Training in Bangkok and São Paulo
In June 2024, twenty-nine KAICIID Fellows from across the globe convened for their second round of training, marking the midpoint of their Fellowship year. The Latin American Cohort, comprising thirteen Fellows, met in São Paulo, Brazil, with support from Religions for Peace Latin America. Sixteen Fellows of the international cohort gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, in collaboration with the Wat Saket Temple and the Institute of Buddhist Management for Happiness and Peace.
This intensive training module included three days of advanced formation in intercultural communication, intersectional theories of interreligious identity and dialogue, and practical training in dialogue facilitation. Fellows also participated in two days of religious site visits, designed as pedagogical tools for interreligious dialogue and cultural education. In Bangkok, guided by former Fellow Venerable Napan and volunteers, Fellows visited the Bang Luang Mosque, Wat Kanlayanamit Woramahawiharn, Kien Un Keng Shrine, Santa Cruz Church, and the Baan Kidichin Museum. The second day included visits to the Samaj Temple and Wat Saket "the Golden Mount."
In São Paulo, under the guidance of Elias Szczytnicki and Religions for Peace Latin America, Fellows explored the Catedral da Sé, Casa da Reconciliação, Mesquita Brasil, Catedral Metropolitana Ortodoxa, Sinagoga Beth-El, Museu Judaico, Terreiro Axé Ilê Obá, and Templo Zu Lai.
These immersive experiences, combined with ongoing capacity building, are integral to the KAICIID International Fellowship. As we prepare for the 10th Anniversary of the Fellowship Programme in 2025, we are recruiting a special cohort of individuals engaged in international organizations that work with religions and interreligious dialogue, peace-making, freedom of religion or belief, countering religious bigotry and hate speech, and human rights education. Applications are open until the end of July. https://www.kaiciid.org/what-we-do/we-build-capacity/kaiciid-fellows-programme
