MEDIA RELEASE: Wellington Interfaith Council wins global harmony prize
For immediate use
Members of the Wellington Interfaith Council are delighted to have their work acknowledged globally. The council's launch event in February was selected for the global King Abdullah II UN WIHW 2021 Prize, and won first place, from 133 applications for the 1,020 events held around the world.
Manjit Grewal, current chair of the Wellington Interfaith Council says, "We are energised to received this global prize. This acknowledgement marks the great work all faiths in this region do, as we work together to promote peace and harmony."
The launch event saw the Wellington Interfaith Council fed over 200 people free lunch at the Wellington Cenotaph, metres from Parliament. Faiths represented at the events shared a prayer or message based on the theme of the week. Anusha Guler, Executive Director from the Office of Ethnic Communities was also invited to address the crowd.
Educational literature and holy texts of diverse religious faiths were displayed during lunch, with many members available to ask questions about different faiths in the city. Wellingtonians has a great chance to get better informed about different faiths and practices.
The Wellington Interfaith Council also partnered with the Mayor of Wellington on a second event in February, which saw a range of faith leaders and religious clergy hosted for morning tea at the end of the week.
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said the Global Harmony Prize is a wonderful recognition of the Wellington Interfaith Council’s work in promoting harmony, inclusivity, understanding and diversity.
“It is a wonderful thing to have leaders from every faith coming together in friendship, working to deepen understanding, appreciation and aroha between the many faiths in our community. That message that we are one is so important especially after the terrible attack on the Christchurch mosques two years ago.”
“The interfaith message of harmony between all people and the celebration of diversity of culture and faith speaks to the very heart of our city, and I hope the wider World can learn from it. Following my meeting the Interfaith Council late last year members now already help open two regular prominent events in the city, the Wellington City Council monthly meetings and our Citizenship Ceremonies. We are also looking at establishing an interfaith space in our new Central library.”
The Interfaith Council's first prize is USD$5,000, a gold plaque and certificate, all making their way to Wellington, to be presented to the Wellington Interfaith membership in the next few weeks.
The Wellington Interfaith Council was the first interfaith council established in Aotearoa New Zealand, in 2010. Its membership is open to all faiths from across the wider Wellington region. They meet monthly on the third Monday of the month in a central Wellington location. To connect with the WIFC, email wtginterfaithcouncil@gmail.com
World Interfaith Harmony Week is celebrated globally on the first week of February annually, and is based on United National General Assembly Resolution A/65/PV.34 for a worldwide week of interfaith harmony. It was proposed in 2010 by HM King Abdullah II and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan. The week aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
