Contacts and Links
ANIMATE
Unit T2
Dungannon Business Park
2 Coalisland Road
Dungannon
BT71 6JT
Tel: 028 8772 9439
Fax: 028 8772 2869
Email: info@animate-ccd.net
Web: www.animate-ccd.net
Concordia
c/o Countryside Services Ltd
97 Moy Road
Dungannon
Co Tyrone
BT71 7DX
Tel: 028 8778 8242
Fax: 028 8778 8240
Email: info@concordiapartnership.org
Web: www.concordiapartnership.org
Rural Community Network
38a Oldtown Street
Cookstown
Co Tyrone
BT80 8EF
Tel: 028 8676 6670
Email: info@ruralcommunitynetwork.org
Web: www.ruralcommunitynetwork.org
St Vincent de Paul Society
EIA House
196-200 Antrim Road
Belfast
BT15 2AJ
Tel: 028 9035 1561
Web: www.svp-ni.org
STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment programme)
Unit T7
Dungannon Business Park
2 Coalisland Rd
Dungannon
Co. Tyrone
BT71 6JT
Tel: 028 8772 9002
Fax: 028 8772 9008
Email: info@stepni.org
Web: www.stepni.org
The Welcome Centre
65 St Peter’s Square North
Belfast
BT12 4DH
Tel: 028 9023 4387
Northern Ireland Links
- Amnesty International (Northern Ireland)
- Barnardo’s
- Diversiton
- Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
- Law Centre (Northern Ireland)
- Multi-cultural Resource Centre Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Assembly
- Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
- Centre for Global Education
Republic of Ireland Links
- Amnesty International (Ireland Section)
- Children’s Rights Alliance
- Comhairle
Click on the “Oasis” section and enter Refugee into the search box - Comhlámh
- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
- Development Studies Centre
- Equality Authority
- Integrating Ireland
- Irish Centre for Migration Studies
(This contains a detailed digest of press cuttings on immigration matters.) - Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL)
- Irish Haven
- Irish Red Cross
- Irish Refugee Council
- Limerick Network Against Racism
- Metro Eireann
- Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
- NASC (Cork)
- Public Service Information.
- National Committee for Development Education (NCDE)
- National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI)/
- National Youth Council of Ireland
- The Refugee Information Service
UK Links
- Asylum Support - Immigration Index
- British Refugee Council
- Enabling Christians in Serving Refugees
- Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate
- Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA)
- Institute for Race Relations
- National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns
- Refugee Studies Centre
- Scottish Refugee Council
- STAR (Student Action for Refugees)
European Links
- Danish Refugee Council
- Dutch Refugee Council
- European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
- European Court of Human Rights
- European Union
- Norwegian Refugee Council
International Links
- Amnesty International
- Electronic Immigration Network
- Human Rights Watch
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
- UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- United Nations
- US State Department
Other useful sites
The term ‘inter-faith’ is sometimes used to refer to inter-denominational relationships within Christianity but here we focus on relationships between Christians and members of other world faiths.
Christians vary in their attitudes to inter-faith engagement, depending on their own belief systems. Some feel that there are many ways to the one Divine Centre; some that other religions may contain truth but there is no salvation, except through Christ; still more see Christianity as the only true religion.
These differing approaches are reflected in the degrees to which Christians are prepared to come together with others, and the boundaries they place on engagement. However, in a world of growing secularism, poverty, oppression, violence, mistrust and fear, many people welcome greater opportunities for encouraging mutual understanding and a possible common approach to some moral and social issues.
In a local context there are increasing numbers of people here who are from cultural and religious backgrounds that are new to us. If we want to promote a more harmonious society it is helpful if we can at least learn a little more about each other. This page points to sources of information for the official stances on inter-faith contact of some Christian churches, contact details for members of world faiths here, and other useful sources of information.
The separation in the world is increasingly not between faiths and subdivisions of faith but between faith and the lack of it. How to respond to rapid social change while staying faithful to tradition is a challenge for all faiths.
Francis Campbell, Ambassador to the Vatican
LOCAL RESOURCES
Diversiton
The Diversiton website offers training and resources on religious and cultural diversity.
Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum
The forum provides a safe place for members of different faiths to meet. A downloadable summary of the Forum’s purpose and activities, and some interfaith contacts is available here.
For more information contact: Edwin Graham, Secretary, at ni.interfaith@gmail.com
The Catholic Church in Ireland
Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, gave an overview of his Church’s role in inter-faith dialogue at the Greenhills Ecumenical Conference, 22 January 2007. [Greenhills Ecumenical Conference Press release.pdf]
The People Seeking Asylum/Refugee Information Pack (sheet 10) [pdf] produced by the Refugee and Migrant Project of the Irish Bishop’s Conference also gives advice on encountering people from other religions and the conditions for honest dialogue.
The Church of Ireland
In 2007 the Committee for Christian Unity and the Bishops of the Church of Ireland published a pamphlet, Guidelines for Interfaith Events and Dialogue, written by Canon Patrick Comerford, which they hope will be helpful in situations where people of different faiths encounter one another.
NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI)
The CTBI website contains much material on inter-faith dialogue, including resources
Porvoo Consultation on Interfaith Relations 2003
The Porvoo Communion is a communion of churches including Anglicans and Lutherans, mostly in Northern Europe, that have signed an agreement to ’share a common life in mission and service’. They issued guidelines on interfaith encounter in 2003.
The Anglican Communion Network for Inter Faith Concerns (NIFCON)
In 2008 NIFCON published Generous Love [pdf]: the truth of the Gospel and the call to Dialogue ISBN: 978-0-9558261-0-8. This is subtitled ‘An Anglican theology of inter faith relations’ but it also builds on similar work in other Christian traditions.
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES AND RESOURCES
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Interfaith dialogue and the churches
Conference of European Churches - Islam in Europe Committee
NI Religious Education Curriculum for Schools Resource materials
Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue
Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity. Commission of the Holy See for Religious Relations with the Jews.
Shap Calendar of Religious Festivals
World Council of Churches Inter-religious Relations & Dialogue
DOWNLOADS
Building Good Relations with People of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Prepared by the Interfaith Network for the UK. Also available in hard copy from their site.
The Local Inter Faith Guide
Prepared by the Interfaith Network for the UK, also available in booklet form. Full list of interfaith publications at http://www.interfaith.org.uk/publications/index.htm
Multi-Faith Holy Days Calendar
Check Up! : A Guide to the special healthcare needs of ethnic-religious minority communities.This is helpful in describing religious and cultural practice.
BOOKS
A Handbook of Faiths, edited by Norman Richardson, Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum, 2002
Distinctly Welcoming, Christian presence in a multifaith society
Written by Richard Sudworth and published in 2007 by Scripture Union, this book is available to borrow from the EMBRACE Resource Library.
![Boys[1]1.jpg](http://www.embraceni.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/Boys[1]1.thumbnail.jpg)
The following resources can be used with children and young people to raise awareness and initiate discussion on matters relating to migration, asylum, race, ethnicity, nationality, faith and Christian response.
Drawing by Yvonne Naylor www.puppetwoman.org
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
The following resources were written and piloted locally by Yvonne Naylor during her time on the staff of the Irish School of Ecumenics.
Moving Beyond Sectarianism
A helpful resource for teachers, youth leaders and young people aged 14 - 18. For more information and downloads click here
Who We Are - Dealing With Difference
This resource examines issues of identity, diversity and inclusion and is suitable for use by teachers, youth leaders and children aged 9 -14. For more information and downloads click here
Stepping Out
A resource for teachers, youth leaders and children aged 5 - 9, which considers themes of identity, diversity and inclusion. For more information and downloads click here
Other downloads:
Exploring Cultural Diversity
Activity ideas from Equality NI, prepared for use by primary school children.
Living Together
Materials prepared under 5 themes by the British Council for use by teachers and youth leaders working with young people aged 11-18. The themes are Migration, Integration, Tensions, Whose Values Should Dominate and Participation in Public Life.
Racial Equality in Education
A good practice guide for teachers and youth leaders.
Raising Awareness - Diversity and Racism
An activity pack prepared by Equality NI for schools and youth workers
Struggle for Justice
Five modules suitable for Citizenship classes at Key Stages 3 and 4. The resource aims to show young people that it is possible to make their voices heard and effect change in society. The five modules are: Community and Identity; Community Safety; Media and Racism; Racial Discrimination, and Youth and Protest.
Think of Me Think of You
An anti-discrimination resource from Save The Children, which was prepared by young people for young people.
BOOKS
There are many books available which raise issues in the context of a story. The book lists below highlight a selection of titles. If you have a favourite which is not included, please tell us about it and we’ll add it to the list.
Reading List - Identity, Difference & Race.pdf
Reading List - International conflicts.pdf (includes issues relating to asylum)
Non-Fiction
Count Me In A collection of experiences and views from young people from minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland. For more details click here
Celebrating Diversity: Some Biblical Perspectives A booklet for youth workers, prepared by and available from Youthlink. For more details click here
Connect: Different Faiths Shared Values An inter faith action and resource guide for young people aged 16 - 25. For more details click here.
DVDs
Islamophobia and a Safe Place
This double DVD set and education pack from Show Racism the Red Card aims to tackle racism towards asylum seekers and refugees and combat the recent growth in Islamophobia. It is suitable for Key Stages 2 and above, as well as adults. It costs £30; further details are available at www.theredcard.org.
WEBSITES
Artsekta
Based in Belfast, this group seeks to build relationships and understanding between cultures through the arts. Visit their ‘events & festivals’ pages for details of upcoming youth events.
BBC Northern Ireland Schools Citizenship Course
An interactive website which supports the KS 3 and KS 4 Citizenship course, exploring topics such as diversity and exclusion in Northern Ireland.
Britkid
An interactive website about race, racism and life as seen through the eyes of British young people.
The Big Pic
A website for young people living in Northern Ireland which supports the KS 3 and KS 4 Citizenship course.
The Centre for Global Education
Information on Global Education in Schools NI project.
Church of Ireland Youth Department
Department of Youth & Children’s Work (Methodist Church)
The Horizon Project
A project which seeks to promote cultural understanding among 11 - 18 year olds throughout Ireland.
Lift Off
Lift Off is a cross-border primary human rights education initiative in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It provides materials and activities to introduce children to the concept of human rights and help develop respect and responsibility to underpin these rights.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland Youth Office
UNICEF
The UNICEF website contains information and resources for teachers and students on topics including citizenship, diversity and rights.
Who Is My Public Servant?
A website with a local focus for young people. It highlights issues and raises awareness of their representation in local government.
Youth In Motion
A program which brings together young people from different community backgrounds in Northern Ireland to create original music.
About
EMBRACE is a group of Christians working together to promote a positive response to people seeking asylum, refugees, migrant workers and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland.
