Many Faiths Living Better Together
This exciting partnership between DEED, Dorset Race Equality Council and 5 Community Leaders representing 5 world faiths and movements including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Humanism helped students from local schools connect with different faiths and cultures.
We discussed controversial global and moral issues with students, helping to reduce fear and prejudice against those of another faith or cultural background. We thank Allenbourn Middle, Budmouth Academy, Ferndown Middle, Ferndown Upper and St Aldhelm’s Academy for welcoming us into their schools.
Although this project is now finished, as a team we are still very keen to continue and find new funding for this invaluable work.
Allenbourn Middle School pupils listened to a first-person account of following a religion or faith
Exploring world faiths
During the day, the Wimborne Academy Trust school held workshops to explore a diverse range of world faiths and beliefs with their visitors – Lynda Ford-Horne, representing the Jewish faith, Salimata Knight (Buddhism), Rev James Sharp (Christianity), Sister Tama (Islam) and David Warden (Humanism). The speakers were able to share their experiences and engage with the pupils in an open-minded and inquisitive setting.
Budmouth Academy in Weymouth ran a Development Day and their Year 8s thoroughly enjoyed meeting the visitors of different faiths and asking them questions about their religion, faith and culture.
“I believe it is important to give students the opportunity to put forward deep questions of their own in RE. This day enabled them to discuss different faiths and beliefs and to see how these impact upon day-to-day lives and the community as a whole. It was a fantastic way of enabling students to have a voice and to interact with our DEED visitors representing the different faiths we have in our country.”
– Jane Jackson, Head of RE, Allenbourn Middle School
“You can gain knowledge from textbooks, the classroom and Google, but it’s people that help bring learning to life. This was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to gain a much deeper understanding and appreciation for the faiths they are learning about in RE. We are very grateful to the DEED visitors who gave up their time to help the children not only learn more about individual faiths but also open their eyes to the multi-cultural society they are growing up in.”
– Liz West, CEO of Wimborne Academy Trust
“It was a fantastic session with a class of students that engaged, respected the visitors but also took on a great deal about embracing others no matter what their religion, faith or culture. This could only be achieved, I feel, because the visitors were absolutely amazing and knowledgeable about their particular faith.”
– Julie Walsh, Budmouth Academy