Participants in the leadership program with Professor Jude Butcher, Imam Afroz Ali and ACU Gallery Coordinator Lachlan Warner. The group is standing beside the graffiti artwork which was presented to the University.

Building bridges for dialogue

Young people from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Melbourne visited the University’s Strathfield Campus (Mount Saint Mary) last week as part of an eight-week leadership training program for young Muslims.

The 24 youths visited Sydney as part of a three-city study tour, and were hosted by the University’s Institute for Advancing Community Engagement (IACE). The Institute arranged home-stays for the visitors, as well as a program of talks and activities on faith and leadership.

Presenters included Bishop of Parramatta, Most Reverend Kevin Manning, human rights lawyer and activist Chris Sidoti, Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Association Maha Abdo and a number of ACU staff. Leadership formation was enhanced by encounters with Indigenous people sharing their stories, culture and spirituality.

As a gesture of interfaith friendship Sydney’s Al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development presented the University with a graffiti artwork of Sydney Harbour featuring the word ‘eternity’ in English and Arabic.

Al-Ghazzali Centre Director and Founder, Imam Afroz Ali, said he was pleased to present the artwork on behalf of the Centre.

“I personally could not think of a better place from day one than Australian Catholic University because of its engagement with Muslims in the most positive and constructive way,” he said.

“I hope that this great friendship continues, and extends to our children, our friends and beyond.”

In accepting the gift, IACE Director Professor Jude Butcher reflected on the significance of the painting.

“By working together we can bridge cultures, faiths and traditions,” he said.

“Today we celebrate this gesture of goodwill and faithful friendship.”

The leadership training program, run by La Trobe University’s Centre for Dialogue with support from the Victorian State Government and the Islamic Council of Victoria, runs over eight weeks in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney and aims to empower young Muslims to reach their potential as citizens and future leaders.