Arigatou International and its Global Network of Religions for Children, together with several faith-based and interfaith organizations, will host a Live Interfaith Prayer with Children this Wednesday at 08.00 EST/14.00 CET. The Prayer will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
This Interfaith Prayer will bring together children from different countries who represent diverse faith traditions including the Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and the Sikh Faith.
“Now, more than ever, we must promote the solidarity of the one human community and act together and listen to children: they are part of the solution to promote global solidarity”, recalls Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, President of Arigatou International.
Children will join hands to pray and will offer a message of hope and solidarity with people and children all around the world. Accompanying the children in the Prayer will be senior religious leaders from their respective faith communities.
The Interfaith Prayer is organized in collaboration with the Bahá’í International Community, the Centre for Sustainable Conflict Resolution, the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, Islamic Relief worldwide, the International Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (KAICIID), the New York Board of Rabbis, Pastoral da Criança, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Shanti Ashram, and United Religions Initiative.
The Interfaith Prayer is part of the “Faith in Action for Children” Global Campaign launched by Arigatou International to call on religious leaders and religious communities to prioritize the well-being of children as they respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign builds on the important role that faith plays in emergency situations to strengthen resilience in children, and the crucial contributions of religious leaders to positively influence their millions of followers to help protect children from violence.
Violence against children and women increasing
Many children and their families are in lock-down in their homes, and according to Arigatou International, around 90 percent of the world’s school children are not attending school at present. According to numerous recent reports, violence against women and children is increasing as an indirect effect of the pandemic.
Please join the Interfaith Prayer here or through YouTube and Facebook.