At the end of October London Youth shared its expertise and experience of working with young people to promote community cohesion at an influential international youth work conference in Chicago. The Inter Faith Youth Core invited and funded John Anderson, London Youth’s Youth Action Manager, to deliver a session at their sixth annual conference. 

The IFYC first heard of London Youth through the success of their Discussing Diversity project and their methodologies and principles are a key element of Inter-Action; London Youth’s latest innovative project which will train a network of youth workers to promote community cohesion across London. As part of a VRQ Level 2 in Youth Work, the youth workers will design and deliver projects which bring young people from different communities together to work and learn. 

The IFYC is an influential organisation that seeks to build mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions by empowering them to work together to serve others. It creates relationships across the world by inspiring, networking, and resourcing young people, who are the leaders the movement. As part of this work it has collaborated closely with Tony Blair on his Faiths Act Fellowship initiative.   

The organisation also provides young people and the institutions that support them with leadership training, project resources and a connection to a broader movement. It’s work has been recognised by the Obama administration which has appointed Eboo Patel, Executive Director of the IFYC, as a member of the White House Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  

Commenting John Anderson, London Youth’s Youth Action Manager, said –  

“The Inter-Action project has utilised and developed techniques pioneered by the Interfaith Youth Core. 

“I’m therefore delighted to be able to share London Youth’s community cohesion experience at this event.  

“The Inter-Action group are an inspiring team of young people who are going to make a real difference to London.”