Canberra Interfaith Forum Youth

Lots of insights and meaningful outcomes from the CIF Youth World Cafe held recently. A big thank you to the Baha'i Centre for hosting us and to the ACT Government for their support.

Keep an eye out for the next event if you're keen to hear all about it!

Calling all young greenies! Working bee this Saturday 1:30-4pm at the Environment Meditation and Healing Garden. Send us a message if you'd like to attend!

Join Religions for Peace tomorrow night to pray for the floods in Australia, Pakistan and beyond.

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErceqqqD4rEtTk1D-mRU49PjSIq9qOT_xe

Congratulations to all those that attended CIF’s Youth Forum on “Interfaith and care of the environment” and made it a special night.

It was inspiring and enlightening to hear from Dr Pal Dhall and the six young panelists representing Baha’i, Catholic Christian, Tibetan Buddhism, Sai Organisation, Sikh & Sukyo Mahikari.

A special shout out also to Peter Cain MLA - Liberal for Ginninderra for joining us.

Special thanks also to the Baha’i Centre for your kind hospitality!

We look forward to seeing you all at the next youth forum!

Ready to make a change and make more sustainable choices?

Hear from Anushka at CIF’s Youth Forum tomorrow night.

Anushka is a member of the Sai Organisation who loves spending time outdoors. She studied marine science and natural resource management at university and one of her fondest memories is of the time when she spent 2 weeks at One Tree Island (on the Great Barrier Reef) doing research on corals and reef fishes.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/interfaith-and-care-of-the-environment-tickets-469756483287

Interfaith and care of the Environment The discussion session will be held by the youth from different faith groups Followed by a Q&A session

Are you passionate about climate change?

Come and meet Tenzin Dalha

Tenzin just graduated from and will be pursuing actuarial studies at university. He is a devout Tibetan Buddhist born in the Himalayas of India and moved to Australia when he was five.

During he college, he completed the prestigious ANU extension programme on biology, biodiversity. He is passionate activist of climate change but his other passions include his home my country Tibet, Buddhism, wildlife conservation and fighting against the harsh effects of global warming.

Meet him in person at the Youth Forum on 1st December at the Baha’i centre.

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/interfaith-and-care-of-the-environment-tickets-469756483287

Interfaith and care of the Environment The discussion session will be held by the youth from different faith groups Followed by a Q&A session

Meet Luke Bartolomei.

Growing up in Sukyo Mahikari and on a Yoko farm, Luke developed a deep love for growing food and being in nature. He is loving his current work with refugee and migrant kids at Dickson College where (amongst other things) he has the opportunity to facilitate gardening activities with the students. He has built straw bale houses, worked on worm farms, taught English in Japan, been a youth worker on remote indigenous communities, worked as a musician and for many years as a shiatsu massage therapist. He is looking forward to continuing his studies in education next year with the goal of becoming a spirit-centred educator. For a few years, his family had a plot at the wonderful Canberra City Farm. He is passionate about regenerative agriculture and deeply inspired by its champions. Luke’s dream job is to share universal principles and the wonders of great nature with children and young people through education. He also loves compost and can be found talking to the tiger worms and micro-organisms in his backyard.

Today we introduce Avneet Kaur. Avneet is from the Sikh faith, a lawyer by trade and someone who loves spending her weekends and free time outdoors, in the environment. Avneet has been a part of various tree planting, weeding and conservation projects including the Environment, Meditation and Healing Garden and Molonglo Conservation Group. Avneet will be speaking about what inspires her to be more environmentally conscious.

Today we introduce Ariana, another youth panelists who will be speaking at the CIF Youth Forum on ” Interfaith and care of the environment” on 1st December.

Ariana Strmota is a young Catholic Christian woman with a deep passion and calling towards the care of people and the planet.She has a background in working with children and youth and has recently changed her path to be focused on Conservation. Her faith has played a huge part in this change of life, calling her to take care of this gift that we have all been given. She believes that coming together, no matter your faith, is the best way forward for humanity to really care for the planet that has cared for us in so many ways.

On 24th November, some CIF committee members attended the ACU’s Federal Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast at the National Press Club in Canberra.

The breakfast was addressed by:
🎤Professor Stan Grant, journalist and academic
🎤The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Leader of the Opposition
🎤The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General

as well as readings of prayers by selected faith leaders

It was an uplifting event promoting interfaith dialogue and friendship.

Ok 9th July, members and volunteers of CIF rolled up their sleeves to help with the distribution of food hampers to those in need.

The Canberra Interfaith Forum (CIF) was established to support interfaith activities in Canberra, ACT and to promote spiritual and multicultural harmony in the national capital within a formal group setting. CIF represents faith groups from a variety of different spiritual and cultural backgrounds. CIF works for interreligious peace and harmony and for social cohesion in Canberra as well as upholding the universal principles of spirituality.

Come and join us to pray for the well-being of humanity🙏☮️🌏
Tuesday 5th April 6:30-7:30pm

🍽Vegetarian dinner included.

📩RSVP by Thursday 31st March to [email protected] 😀

Happy Harmony Week! Harmony Week began on Monday 21st March and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

CIF joined with Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) and Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin to celebrate Harmony Day and the ringing of the Peace Bell in Canberra Nara Park.

Regular Peace Poles feature four languages all bearing the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. Peace Pole 100 of 100 is an octagonal pole and features 15 languages with this same message in each of the languages.

To celebrate Harmony Day, seven languages with the same message have been added to the Peace Pole 100 of 100 bearing the same language in each of the languages to mark the cerebration on 20 March 2022.

If you happen to be in the area, be sure to check it out!

2022 World Interfiath Harmony Week Lecture by Professor Douglas Ezzy, PhD, Lecturer, University of Tasmania

Topic: Religious freedom, discrimination, and living well together

Date: Tuesday 1st February 7pm AEDT

Book via https://www.trybooking.com/BWMAB

Canberra Interfaith Forum is holding an online session to mark the International Human Rights Day.

Topic: Interfaith Dialogue to Nurture Human Rights
Keynote Speaker:
Dr Helen Watchirs
President & Human Rights Commissioner
ACT Human rights Commission

Date: Sunday 12 th December 2021
Time: 2.00 – 3.00pm

Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/yckzrkma
Zoom Meeting ID: 895 5174 6093
Zoom Passcode: HR1995

A few of us volunteered at the Interfaith Garden to spread woodchips to keep the plants moist and happy 🌿😀☀️
Watch this space for future volunteer activities at the garden!

(If you ever need a quiet space to chill, have a picnic, meditate or just enjoy the garden, head over here! Located at Menindee Drive in Barton)

More info about the garden here: http://www.canberrainterfaith.org.au/thegarden.html

Thank you to Jane Boardman and all the attendees for an inspiring discussion on wellbeing, resilience and hope.
Particularly in these times, connection to those around us (even virtually) and sharing our values and faith can be so uplifting.
“There is a higher being looking out for you”
😊✨🌈🙌❤️

Feel free to share how you’re going with your new practice!

CIF special event with guest speakers Elizabeth Kikkert MLA and Dr Pharam Pal Dhall will present on the topic "The common basis of all faiths and their relevance to current global challenges"

Wednesday 23rd June, 6pm for a 6:30pm start

Free vegetarian meal provided. Please register by June 16 at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-common-basis-of-all-faiths-tickets-157561170703

See you there!

Happy 10th anniversary to the CIF Meditation Garden. The occasion was marked by clear blue skies, music and performances from the interfaith community and speeches by Ms Giulia Jones MLA, Dr Marisa Paterson MLA & Mr Andrew Braddock MLA. Special mention to the late Dr Vernon Bailey for his pioneering efforts in establishing the garden.

10th anniversary of the CIF Environment Meditation and Healing Garden on 18th April 2 - 3:30pm See you there!😀🌿✨

Thank you for coming out and helping to collect so much rubbish! Such a bright group of people all with the noble goal of protecting the environment and promoting interfaith harmony 💚💚💚

Tune in tonight from 8pm on FM98.3 to hear about the recent CIF Youth Gathering😊✌️🎉

CIF Event at Multicultural Festival - See details below