WWIFG – SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS

We will welcome any suggestions from students/staff for events in 2008 that will bring young people from diverse cultures and faiths together and help build understanding and friendship.

Contact Farzana (Sakerf@aol.com or 01225 868042) or Michael (mcadavies@uwclub.net or 01225 863626) with your suggestions.

The West Wiltshire Interfaith Group can organize speakers from different faiths to visit schools.

We can organise talks for the whole class or a combined assembly.

Speakers can be asked to answer questions, or to give a talk on their respective faiths followed by questions.

Since we has not been able to secure long term funding we ask schools to pay the travel expenses of our speakers.

Date of Visit	School	Topic
02/02/2010	St Augustine's Catholic School and Technology College	Hindusm
03/02/2010	St Augustine's Catholic School and Technology College	Judaism
08/03/2010	St Augustine's Catholic School and Technology College	Buddhism
23/03/2010	St Augustine's Catholic School and Technology College	Islam
01/03/2010	Corsham Primary School	Combined assembly 'Love your neighbour'

Report of visit to St Laurence School, Bradford-on-Avon

The group was requested to send a Muslim speaker to answer questions from students of year 8 class who had studied Islam in the previous term. We were able to arrange for our Muslim speaker to visit St Laurence School on 5^th November 2007. The visit by a Muslim speaker was an opportunity for the children to ask burning questions. It was also an opportunity for them to distinguish between culture and the Muslim Faith Islam.

There were questions around “Arranged Marriages”. The students learnt how 2 people are brought together by family and friends and marriage only takes place with the consent of the individuals concerned. If it can be proved that a couple are in a “Forced Marriage”, that would be deemed illegal. “Arranged Marriages” are about introducing single people and provided two individuals agree and like one another then organising a wedding.

There were interesting questions around prejudices/racism. In an answer to one question Farzana was able to inform the class that racism is not unique to the UK. Tribal prejudices exist in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. What is good about the UK is that there are laws in place to control prejudices. Farzana admitted culturally women are often treated very badly in Muslims country that is contrary to the teaching of Islam.

One of the teachers made a comment ‘I know the students gained an awful lot from your visit and it made the subject more real for them. I would like to repeat the visit next year’

Report of Visit to Warminster Sambourne Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School on 15^th May 2008.

Farzana spoke to Year 3 & Year 4 children about Islam and Muslim. People who believe in Islam who are called Muslims. As in all societies there are good and bad people as are also found in Muslim societies and countries. Bad people are misguided or have had unfortunate experiences in life that fills them with anger and hatred.

Farzana was very impressed by the children. Children in Year3 and Year4 knew the fundamentals of Islam. They knew more than some Muslim children would know at this age. It is a credit to the school that they inform their children of different faiths & cultures to build better understanding.

The children at reception knew of Islam. They were more interested in how people different to them live. Questions such as where Farzana lived as a child and what the house was built from were asked. Such questions from Reception class has been asked in the past but a strange feeling overwhelmed her on this occasion. Farzana wondered if these questions will continue to be asked in 10 to 20 years time. Farzana’s niece and her niece’s son of 18 months accompanied Farzana to the school. Farzana was trying to visualize how little Isa will answer such questions in 20 years time if asked. His experiences will not be any different than the majority community having lived in the country he was born & brought up in-England.

At a personal level Farzana admitted she liked to be asked about her childhood place. She enjoys telling children of difficult & good times she had in Pakistan. However, when she looks at little Isa she want to visualize a society in UK where his colour and faith doesn’t alienate him in any way from the rest of the society.