In the wake of the successful Human Fraternity Dialogues, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, in collaboration with the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity and the Muslim Council of Elders, has launched the 2023-2024 Human Fraternity Fellows Program. The Human Fraternity Fellows Program will enable a select group of talented students who participated in our Human Fraternity Dialogues to engage deeper online and to convene for a study tour and in-person dialogue in Abu Dhabi from February 2 through 8, 2024.
The fellowship program is a natural extension of the Human Fraternity Dialogues, which convened 109 students from 65 universities in 28 countries. These dialogues centered around the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity, a groundbreaking declaration signed in 2019 by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, which advocates mutual respect and understanding among different religions and cultures as a cornerstone for world peace. The discussions during the dialogues, which focused on applying the document's principles to foster interreligious solidarity in university settings, gave students a platform to engage in constructive dialogue across various lines of difference. Students also underscored the need for a more structured approach to transform these ideas into practical strategies.
The fellowship program has selected a diverse cohort of students from countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Italy, the United States, Zimbabwe, India, and East Timor, ensuring a rich diversity of cultural and religious insights. Participants come from prestigious universities including Bamberg University, Mohammed V University in Rabat, the University of Edinburgh, Yale Divinity School, Georgetown University, the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, and Harvard Divinity School.
From October 2023 to January 2024, the fellows are meeting monthly online, focusing on diagnosing obstacles to religious solidarity in university communities and developing solutions for campus solidarity. These collaborative efforts are crucial in their journey leading up to the study tour and in-person dialogue in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.
More than an academic endeavor, the Human Fraternity Fellows Program is a timely response to the current global landscape marked by polarization, conflict, and disconnection. In a world where divisions often overshadow our common humanity, there is a pressing need to foster interreligious solidarity, particularly in academic settings. The program recognizes that universities, as microcosms of larger societies, can be fertile grounds for nurturing mutual understanding and respect across different faiths. By empowering these fellows to create more inclusive and connected campus communities, the program contributes to countering global trends of division and building a foundation for lasting peace and understanding.
In essence, the Human Fraternity Fellows Program is a testament to the enduring impact of the Document on Human Fraternity. It honors the vision of Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar and paves the way for a future where diverse cultures and faiths coexist in mutual respect and harmony.
The Human Fraternity Dialogues and Fellows Program are made possible through the generosity of the GHR Foundation, which supports the Berkley Center’s Culture of Encounter Project.