On Monday the 11th of August, the CTII Schools visited the Darus Salaam Masjied in Mitchells Plain. They were hosted by Imam Kashief and Imam Abrahams.
Pippa Jones was out of town, and between the teachers, local imams and our youth leadership the event went very well.
Continue reading “Schools Program 8 (Gr 10) – Islam”
On Monday, July 28th, CTII’s School’s Program began by meeting at the Slave Lodge, one of the oldest standing buildings in Cape Town. Students had the opportunity to tour the museum with guided question sheets to encourage reflection. As we walked around, I heard students relating to the content through the lens of their own experiences and education around slavery. It was encouraging to see students thoughtfully engaging with the content, asking profound questions, and attempting to locate the legacy of slavery in their contemporary context.
Continue reading “Schools visit Slave Lodge and Groote Kerk”
On Monday 23rd June, our Youth Interfaith Intercultural Program offered an inaugural session to the Grade 10 learners titled “Indigeneity and Identity” – an extension of the deep and essential conversations we had during last year’s Camp.
Continue reading “Schools Program: Indigeneity and Identity”
Monday 19th May was the Youth Programme’s fifth session for the Grade 10s. We
were warmly welcomed by the custodian of the Obs Mowbray Shul, Marc Turok, who
brought the space alive to the learners, sharing stories of the local Orthodox
community and of the Shul itself, which has been in existence since 1927.
Marc’s passion and devotion were palpable and contagious. He masterfully drew a personal and complex picture of the many facets of Jewish tradition and worship. For several of the 40 learners who come from such diverse religions, traditions and backgrounds, this was their first time of being inside a Jewish holy space. And the questions kept coming! They were eager to know more about the symbols, the Hebrew writing, the rituals, and the tenets of Judaism.
Continue reading “The Schools at the Shul”Date: 8 May 2025
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: THI Offices
The second session of the Grade 11 program brought together faith, action, and dialogue under the theme Compassionate Service & Interfaith Solidarity. We were honoured to be joined online by three inspiring guest speakers from across the globe: Anum Mulla, Global Youth Strategist at the Charter for Compassion (India); Samira Baručija, Program Coordinator at United Religions Initiative (Bosnia and Herzegovina); and Kaluki Paul Mutuku, environmental scientist and activist (Kenya). Each brought powerful personal stories of navigating faith, activism, and ethical decision-making in their respective contexts.
This session also marked a special moment for the team as we welcomed Imaad Abrahams to the facilitation team. Imaad is an alumnus of the program and is currently completing his degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Cape Town. We are fortunate to have Imaad join us — his lived experience in the program, deep commitment to his faith, and academic grounding bring a richness that will greatly support this year’s Grade 11 cohort.
Following the speaker panel, learners engaged in a short debrief, exploring what compassion and peacebuilding mean in practice. Students shared that peace “cannot be built alone,” and that compassion requires us to “see the humanity in others,” especially when working across difference. The conversation highlighted how faith and dialogue serve as anchors in this work — offering both guidance and a sense of belonging.
Although time only allowed for one scenario per group, learners participated in the Compassion Labyrinth — a gamified experience designed to explore ethical dilemmas through different societal roles. This activity prompted students to think critically about moral tensions, social responsibility, and the everyday choices that reflect (or challenge) compassion.
During the closing circle, learners reflected on the value of interfaith spaces and the shared struggles and hopes they saw mirrored in other communities. One student noted, “More compassion could help us solve the bigger problems,” while another remarked, “Compassion is not real until you do it.” These reflections captured the spirit of the day — a growing awareness that compassion is not only about helping others, but also about sustaining ourselves and making intentional choices, as young people, to serve with integrity and care.
