Educating young leaders was the focus of a Leadership Diversity Day held in Auckland last week.
The Auckland Interfaith Council, in association with Unitec Chaplaincy and Multi-Faith Team, organised a day of learning and interaction with young minds of different faiths at the Unitec Campus held on August 10.
The day focused on educating Year 12 students from different participating schools to understand world religions and its values.
Student representative Gurnoor Kaur at the event (Photo: IWK)
Student representatives from different faiths came forward to discuss what their religion stood for, and what values were imparted by their respective faiths, and how one could grow peacefully together in the multicultural society of New Zealand.
The country hosts a huge spectrum of religions of which 59.6% are believers or followers of a religion.
Another important discussion on the table was the hot topic of controlling climate change and how a school-level student could contribute in educating and bringing a constructive change in the environment.
The presentations after a brief breakfast were done by Neeson Naidoo from a Hindu perspective.
Samanah Hussein addressing the audience (Photo:IWK)
Samaah Hussein presented from a Muslim perspective and Gurnoor Kaur from a Sikh point of view. The discussion on world religions and climate change was continued post-lunch from Jewish, Buddhist, and Christian perspectives.
The presentations at the Unitec Marae Hall gave an opportunity to the students of different schools and faiths to sit in groups of eight, discuss the idea and put their thoughts on to a worksheet.
The aim of the event was to educate young minds to live peacefully in the multicultural society and cherish the rich flora of Aotearoa New Zealand as they are the leaders of tomorrow and carriers of the baton of multiculturalism.