Interfaith dialogue days are events where young people from different faiths
and backgrounds can come together and talk. They are opportunities for young
people to discuss a range of issues from a values or religious perspective.
They aim to increase understanding between young people from different faiths
and to help them develop confidence and skills in sharing their own beliefs.

Anyone can organise a dialogue day, but they are particularly useful in the
following situations:

• In schools: Dialogue days can be an innovative way to engage students in Religious Education and Citizenship, particularly for those not taking these as exam subjects. A growing number of schools are developing these events.
  • Case study: Swanshurst School
• Linking schools: Dialogue days can be even more successful in building understanding if they bring together students from more than one school. Some schools are working in partnership to bring their students together for a dialogue event again, as part of Religious Education or Citizenship.
  • Case study: Let's Talk: The Dialogue Project
  • Case study: Women in Religion Youth Conference
• Interfaith youth events:
  Local interfaith groups are organising an increasing number of dialogue days for young people in different areas of the country. These can be a great way to celebrate diversity in a local area and to build support for future interfaith work. Other organisations, including museums and local youth councils, are also starting to organise similar events.
  • Case study: Living in a multi-faith London event
    
  • Case study: 'Our faith, our city' Youth Interfaith Conference

Dialogue days, or off-timetable conferences, have traditionally focused on sharing beliefs or addressed moral or ethical issues. These topics can all provoke excellent discussions. However, a wider range of issues can be discussed from a values perspective trade justice, conflict or education, for example. We also recommend asking your students to decide on the topic themselves and plan their own discussions.

Below we offer some suggested topics. Each contains a sample agenda and an attachment with details of activities, discussion questions and tips for speakers.

These events would all work well in a situation where not all of the young people know each other: ie, in an out-of-school setting or as a partnership between different schools in a local area. In their current form they are timed to fit into a school day timetable and would be most appropriate for young people aged 14-19.

Agendas

• Religion and charity
• Religion and conflict
• Religion and dialogue
• Religion and education
• Religion and justice

After the event

We particularly recommend dialogue days as a starting point for more sustained work to build understanding between young people. These events can be an excellent way to gain young people's interest and to kick-start an interfaith or school-linking project. At the end of the event, take advantage of participants' enthusiasm and ask them to sign up if they are interested in being involved in a longer-term project. You can then call an initial meeting and work with them to plan the next steps. This could be the beginning of a local interfaith youth forum or school partnership project.

For tips on continuing dialogue, see Starting an interfaith youth project.