Hindu Council of Australia has joined seven other religious groups under the auspicious of Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim relations to conduct Youth Parliament of World’s Religions (PoWR). This will be the fourth year for Youth PoWR. The event is funded by the Columban Centre and may also be assisted by Multicultural NSW.

Youth PoWR is by youth, for youth, with youth. It is planned by a team of young people from various state and national peak religious bodies (the “Cabinet”) who met every month to arrange venue, speakers, process, catering and promotion; they do all the preparatory work and run the event. The speakers and the performers are all youth. The audience participants (the “Members of Parliament”) are all youth.

The youth meet in August/September which is called Youth Parliament and pass resolutions about religious harmony. Accordingly, seven young people from seven different religions addressed the Message to Civic and Religious Leaders. 

Here is some of what they had to say:

• The leaders of our faith must foster cooperation and commitment on an ongoing basis, and lead us towards the common good in a world where the good is not always common. (Daniel Ang)

• I call on the civic leaders present to inspire us with their dialogue and unify us with just policies. Policies which support the weakest and most vulnerable of society. Which embrace freedom of speech but protect an individual’s right to adhere to his or her faith. I call on civic leaders to resist a climate of fear-mongering and uncertainty. To remind us of the successes we are capable of achieving collectively. (Fay Muhieddine)

• Leaders play a key role to educate the hearts of the youth to be open to all, embrace differences and respect one another, to learn how to live and breathe in harmony. You are the key to building a diverse and harmonious society of which we are all a part. (Su Sian Teh)

With ringing endorsements from the speakers, the message was then voted on and approved unanimously.

Ms Vincy Jain, our youth leader will be a part of the “Cabinet” which will make the event happen. During the planning of the event more youth will be involved. A large gathering of Hindu youth will be mobilized for the main event.