Living Together, On And Off The Road
This July, a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian and an atheist will take off on a year-long journey around the world, the second CoexisterInterFaith Tour.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Frenchman Samuel Grybowski founded Coexister ("Living Together") in 2009 at age 16 after the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians started to heat up again.
Since then, the group has conducted cultural exchange events and community projects. Its biggest undertaking has been its InterFaith Tour, a journey to discover how organisations in other countries promote positive relations between religious communities, and to establish connections between them. (Support comes from the French government and various organisations, including Sparknews.)
The first tour took place in 2013, visiting 48 countries in ten months and meeting 435 organisations. Initiatives that stood out included a Berlin-based event called the Long Night of Religions, with places of worship opening their doors; an Indian sports tournament called "Cricket for Peace" to strengthen Muslim-Hindu relations; and a bicycling route for religious discovery in Buenos Aires.
Now Samir Akacha, LéaFrydman, ArianeJulien and Lucie Neumann will follow in their predecessor's footsteps as InterFaith Tour Team 2.
Akacha expects that interactions with other religions will help him develop a better understanding of his own faith. "I would not be the same Muslim if I was just in my community, if I was not meeting Jews and Christians, going to Christian gatherings or synagogue events."
Victor Grezes, one of the members of the original tour, agreed. "Instead of saying despite our differences, we say it's thanks to our differences that we are stronger," he said.
For more information
Website:http://www.interfaithtour.com/
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