The growing religious intolerance among youth in the communities and learning institutions across PROCMURA’s constituencies, coupled with the vulnerability of the youth to radicalisation and violent extremism, continues to inform PROCMURA’s quest to come up with innovative and effective mechanisms of addressing this phenomenon.

Our concern is to enhance mutual religious tolerance among Christian and Muslim youth and explore the role that the young people’s religious beliefs and perceptions of religion can play in contributing to peace.

PROCMURA implemented its inaugural youth camp on religious tolerance in Kenya from 9th to 13th December 2020 at the PEC Nature Camp, bringing together 75 youth leaders drawn from various church denominations, mosques, ecumenical partners and faith-based organizations.

Religion has been cited as one of the major sources of conflicts in a number of countries in Africa. It is against this backdrop that PROCMURA, in its new strategic plan focuses on Youth and Religious Tolerance to explore the perceptions of young people on positive and negative influences of religion, the use of religion to promote tolerance and build peace and diffuse fear and insecurity among people of different religious beliefs in Africa.

While officially opening the camp and introducing PROCMURA to the participants, the General Adviser, Rev. Dr. ADRAKE Komi, stated that the purpose of the camp was to build the capacity of youth and assist them to cultivate a positive attitude towards the religious other particularly in enhancing the relationship between the two main religions in Africa of Christianity and Islam. He asked the young people to ensure that they used the opportunity given to them as participants to learn about different faiths, religious beliefs and practices and to also create networks to continue learning from one another.

A Christian participant from the Anglican Church, Ms. Felister, who wore the Muslim attire for the first time in her life couldn’t hide her joy. “See, I’m a Christian in a Muslim attire. It feels good. I’ve never interacted closely with Muslims this much, but this camp has allowed me to learn a lot about their faith and the commonalities that we share – both Christians and Muslims” she said while speaking to PROCMURA’s media team after one of the workshop sessions.

Sheikh Musa Mwale, who facilitated sessions on ‘Youth and Religious Tolerance for Peace and Development” and “Building Relationships with the Religious Other”, encouraged the young people not to believe or be swayed by misconceptions about the religious other but, instead, endeavour to build good relationships with those of other faiths and be agents of change as far as religious intolerance is concerned.

In a different session, PROCMURA’s Programme Officer, Rev. Dr. Salli Effungani, made a presentation on the concept of religious tolerance which enabled the youth to understand tolerance emphasizing that tolerance is not about compromising one’s religious position nor to convert anyone, but it’s about understanding and accepting to work together with each other despite our religious differences.

Apart from the interactive workshop sessions, the youth engaged in exciting outdoor team building activities that were all geared towards enhancing the spirit of team work and jogging their minds in handling various life challenges.

‘The bonfire experience’ in particular, which was preceded by a cultural night in which the youth showcased different cultures, talents and religious identities through songs and dances, provided a platform for them to discuss pertinent and issues of common concern that affect young people in the community in their day-to-day lives including religious intolerance, teenage pregnancies, unemployment among others.

‘The bonfire’ discussions were followed by a session on Challenges faced by youth in today’s world that was facilitated by PROCMURA Team Leader, Finance and Administration, Ms. Joy Wandabwa, who responded to a myriad number of questions from the youth seeking to understand how to tackle the challenges with some sharing personal experiences and sought for advice. Ms. Joy challenged the youth to see opportunities in every situation that they face in life. She also called on the young people to remain tolerant to persons of other faiths and be responsible citizens.

At the end of the three-days youth camp, the youth leaders pledged to take the gospel of religious tolerance back in their communities and places of worship.