Updates from Euphrates Chapters around the world
Flint, Michigan
Powers Catholic High School Chapter Leader, Jaz Martus, has been selected as one of three members in the United Religions Initiative to travel to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week in February. He will have special opportunities to meet with UN representatives as an ambassador for Euphrates.
Faisalabad, Pakistan
Our Chapter Leader in Faisalabad, Mirza Mueen, recently launched HOPE Pakistan, an organization dedicated to peace development and empowerment of youth in Pakistan. Their vision is to create a Pakistan full of potential youth where everyone is considered and treated equally; where everyone understands and knows his/her rights and duties; and where everyone regardless of religion, sect, caste, language, and colour will work to make Pakistan greater.
St. Lawrence University, NY
In November, 14 students from the St. Lawrence University Chapter attended the Harvard Arab Conference, which is the largest pan-Arab conference in North America, bringing together 1,300 students and professionals to discuss key issues with the region’s most prominent politicians, business people, and civil society leaders. This spring, the Chapter is organizing a hijab awareness day on campus and planning a benefit gala event for the second year in a row.
Khartoum, Sudan
Chapter Leader, Abdul Ismail, recently published a series of articles on “The Three Beautiful Religions” in both English and Arabic for the Sudan Vision Daily newspaper. He is deeply committed to being a voice for peace in his community through his writings on interfaith topics. It takes incredible courage for Abdul to print pieces on Euphrates and its Founder in a country that does not generally tolerate the West.
Seattle, WA
The Seattle Chapter has been active and engaged in a number of local events this month. Members supported a Martin Luther King Jr. youth advocacy workshop addressing issues of discrimination organized by Kids4Peace, volunteered with World Relief in their refugee community garden, and attended a “Meet a Muslim” event hosted by the Muslim Association of Puget Sound.
Kolkata, India
Euphrates Kolkata was nominated by the Centre for Peace and Spirituality International to attend and participate in the 15th International Conference on Alternative Perspectives and Global Concerns at O.P. Jindal Global University in January. They sent two delegates from their Chapter, Sohini and Arkamitra, to represent Euphrates and meet with scholars and practitioners in the field of peacebuilding and personal transformation from around the world. It proved to be an enriching and enlightening experience for both participants!
Accra, Ghana
On Christmas Eve, the Accra Chapter traveled to the Cape Coast village to distribute gifts to the elderly. They spent the day selflessly caring for and spending quality time with people who might not otherwise have had visitors over the holidays.