Mr Johan Arief Jaafar, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Malaysia in Beirut, Lebanon, participated in the “Children as Ambassadors of Peace Between Religions – From Lebanon to the World” International Children’s Festival. The event was organised by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), in collaboration with the Arab Organisation for Building Citizens and Nations, as well as Annas Linas Association.
The festival served as a platform to underscore the significance of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence within diverse societies. Central to the discussions was the recognition of children as active agents in peacebuilding, with emphasis placed on their potential role in fostering mutual understanding, tolerance, and social cohesion across religious and cultural boundaries.
The event brought together a range of distinguished participants and stakeholders in the field of interreligious engagement and peace education. Among them were Sheikh Samer Ghenwi, Sheikh Eyad Abdullah, Member of the Spiritual Gathering and Representative of the GNRC Organisation, and Dr Iyad Sukarie, PhD in Political Science at the Lebanese University and Lecturer at the Staff College of the Lebanese Army.
Overall, the programme reflected a collective commitment among participating organisations and individuals towards advancing harmony, mutual respect, and sustainable peaceful coexistence. It further highlighted the importance of nurturing values of dialogue and understanding among younger generations as a foundational element for long-term peacebuilding efforts within Lebanon and beyond.
