On Sunday 14th September, Turquoise Harmony Institute invited young women members of CTII to participate in an afternoon of dialogue and connection with a visiting group of young women from Johannesburg. The afternoon provided a unique opportunity for participants to deepen conversation about their experiences and perspectives of how dialogue happens and where it’s most needed in the world right now.
Ana van Straten, a facilitator of the CTII schools programme shared her reflections:
“As I walked into the Turquoise Harmony Institute on Sunday, I felt a sense of anticipation. Women from different faith backgrounds had gathered, each with their own lived experiences to share. I took in new names and faces, hoping to remember them all.
As we went around the circle, sharing a bit about ourselves, I was struck by the common threads connecting us: compassion, laughter and the desire to learn.
We split up into smaller groups and received prompts that had been thoughtfully prepared by our facilitators. In the safety of our small groups we discussed our worldviews, spoke wholeheartedly and expressed shared joys and frustrations.
As the afternoon drew to a close, I felt grateful for this experience. I left with a renewed appreciation for the power of dialogue and the beauty of interfaith spaces. I felt a deep sense of connection to the women around me, and I knew that our shared humanity would stay with me long after we had all returned to our daily lives and communities.”
