Learning to be a Peacemaker

Wednesday, 21. October 2020 - 17:00 to Wednesday, 23. December 2020 - 18:30

Free Course! Donations according to means welcome!

Application deadline 20 October (midnight GMT)

Duration

The online course in 10 x 1½ hour modules will be delivered by Imam Ajmal Masroor on Wednesday evenings October-December:

October 21 at 17.00 GMT+1

October 28; November 4, 11, 18, 25; December 2, 9, 16, 23 at 17.00 GMT

Young European Muslims were either born or brought up here. Their parents straddle ethnic and European cultures and often have an expectation that their children will be culturally more ethnic. However, many young Muslims are more comfortable with European culture, and Europe is ‘home’. This experience of young Muslims is not only limited to young European Muslims, but is experienced across the globe.

This programme defuses that tension and helps make young Muslims’ local and Islamic identities symbiotic. In the current environment of increasing hostility towards Islam, it is imperative that young Muslims form a confident identity to be at peace with themselves and others in an increasingly turbulent world.

Learning to be a Peacemaker (LPM) is a course on Islamic approaches to peacemaking for young Muslims and their non-Muslim peers aged 18-30. Designed and delivered by Imam and broadcaster, Ajmal Masroor, in association with Initiatives of Change International, this 10 week course aims to offer:

• Knowledge – providing factual information about the peacemaking culture in Islam and the wider context
• Connection – offering relationship-building opportunities between young European Muslims and their counterparts in wider society
• Dialogue – empowering young European Muslims and their peers of other beliefs to hold honest conversations
• Networking – connecting young people across Europe who may find shared inspiration to take initiatives for peacemaking and building trust across divides

LPM Team

Ajmal Masroor is one of the Imams at four London mosques, leading Friday prayers (Jummah) on a monthly rota. Through the Barefoot Institute, he provides counselling for relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings and relatives. He is known nationally and internationally as a speaker and author on marriage and relationship issues, and is frequently invited by mainline media to comment on political, social and community affairs.

Peter Riddell has spent many years with IofC organising trust-building programmes between people of different faiths based on shared moral and spiritual values. He is Convenor of IofC UK’s Agenda for Reconciliation programme and is currently delivering an online course Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers.

Omayma Soltani is a Pharmacy student, living in Paris and whose parents were originally from Tunisia. She took part in the LPM programme in 2018 and says: ‘I learnt a tremendous amount during the programme, which happened when I was starting to consider my role as a citizen, how my cultural background fits into that, and what strengths it gives me. To be a Muslim, hijabi, Tunisian woman in France is not easy…this programme does a brilliant job at helping us, individually as well as collectively, find out how we can all change to bring these positive changes in our countries.

Course Overview

The 90-minute sessions each week will be delivered by Zoom, and the training style is interactive, with introductions to the subject-matter by Imam Ajmal, followed by Q&A and small-group discussions. At the end of the course, participants will plan a practical project to undertake at home to demonstrate learning and commitment to peacemaking.

How to Apply

This programme believes that learning to be a peacemaker is key to developing a confident global Muslim identity and contributing towards global change. Begin your peacemaking journey in two steps:

1. Email your CV to lpm@iofc.org
2. Fill out application form here

Contact Peter Riddell, Coordinator.

View the Programme Flyer!