Leaders & Mentors
Shahid Rehmat
Founder & Director
Interfaith Youth in Action
Youth Development Foundation (YDF)
[email protected]
[email protected]
2012 State Alumni
2012 ELP Fellow, Program of Atlantic Council , South Asian Center
2013 Fellow of Acumen Pakistan Fellowship Program
Shahid Rehmat Ghouri was born in a Catholic family in Lahore. He is now a masters student of MSc Social Work, to do the advocacy at government level with political leaders and policy makers for the minority rights & religious freedom. After the Gojra and Kasur incidents in 2009, he founded Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA) as youth-led network for peace and interfaith harmony with the support from diverse faiths friends to promote diversity and interfaith dialogue through actions. IYA, provides safe spaces, opportunities, and platforms for interfaith action through common values to serve the community. In 2010 IYA-PK became Chapter of World Faith, joining interfaith global service network.
Because of his continue struggle for youth empowerment and interfaith movement building, he awarded by 2012 Emerging Leader of Pakistan fellowship organized by Atlantic Council, South Asian Center and 2013 Acumen Fund Pakistan Fellowship Program. Since last 8 years he is voluntarily involve in the youth empowerment and their capacity & skills building process by serving several organization like Catholic Youth Commission of Pakistan, National Commission for inter-religious Dialogues and Ecumenism(NCIDE), National Commission for Justice and Peace(NCJP), Ecumenical Youth Parliament(EYP), World Faith, Religious for Peace USA, Pax Roman IMCS and ICMICA, Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA) and Youth Development Foundation through capacity building programs, interfaith dialogues, workshop, training, seminars, social media campaign, communication and community service activities to make myself and my fellows youngsters as responsible citizen, to contribute in the sustain peace & development of Pakistan and to impacts on the wider society as young faithful.
Through my short but meaningful journey I learned from the actual new generation of Pakistan about their realities and to analysis their challenges that Pakistani young generation and specially minority youth confronting today. I also learned from their faith expression, aspirations and their commitment as socially sensitized faithful and citizens of our Pakistan for my personal and profession growth and development. Last but not the least it’s helped me to recognize my social responsibilities as responsible citizen and enhance my skills for building broken Pakistan and world, bridging them and going beyond limits.
Founder & Director
Interfaith Youth in Action
Youth Development Foundation (YDF)
[email protected]
[email protected]
2012 State Alumni
2012 ELP Fellow, Program of Atlantic Council , South Asian Center
2013 Fellow of Acumen Pakistan Fellowship Program
Shahid Rehmat Ghouri was born in a Catholic family in Lahore. He is now a masters student of MSc Social Work, to do the advocacy at government level with political leaders and policy makers for the minority rights & religious freedom. After the Gojra and Kasur incidents in 2009, he founded Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA) as youth-led network for peace and interfaith harmony with the support from diverse faiths friends to promote diversity and interfaith dialogue through actions. IYA, provides safe spaces, opportunities, and platforms for interfaith action through common values to serve the community. In 2010 IYA-PK became Chapter of World Faith, joining interfaith global service network.
Because of his continue struggle for youth empowerment and interfaith movement building, he awarded by 2012 Emerging Leader of Pakistan fellowship organized by Atlantic Council, South Asian Center and 2013 Acumen Fund Pakistan Fellowship Program. Since last 8 years he is voluntarily involve in the youth empowerment and their capacity & skills building process by serving several organization like Catholic Youth Commission of Pakistan, National Commission for inter-religious Dialogues and Ecumenism(NCIDE), National Commission for Justice and Peace(NCJP), Ecumenical Youth Parliament(EYP), World Faith, Religious for Peace USA, Pax Roman IMCS and ICMICA, Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA) and Youth Development Foundation through capacity building programs, interfaith dialogues, workshop, training, seminars, social media campaign, communication and community service activities to make myself and my fellows youngsters as responsible citizen, to contribute in the sustain peace & development of Pakistan and to impacts on the wider society as young faithful.
Through my short but meaningful journey I learned from the actual new generation of Pakistan about their realities and to analysis their challenges that Pakistani young generation and specially minority youth confronting today. I also learned from their faith expression, aspirations and their commitment as socially sensitized faithful and citizens of our Pakistan for my personal and profession growth and development. Last but not the least it’s helped me to recognize my social responsibilities as responsible citizen and enhance my skills for building broken Pakistan and world, bridging them and going beyond limits.
Fr. Herman Roborgh S.J.
Message from IYA Mentor
I lived in Lahore, Pakistan, for ten years between 1993 and 2003. Now I have returned to my home in Sydney, Australia. During my years in Pakistan, I used to notice how deep the sense of God was among the people of Pakistan. I still think that this sensitivity to God is a special quality of people living in Pakistan.
Interfaith Youth in Action is a group of young people who respect all religious convictions and values that people have, whatever the religion to which they belong. Through the activities of Interfaith Youth in Action, people from different religious traditions come together as friends. People who otherwise may not meet or speak to one another now have the opportunity to pass through the artificial walls that separate them. Bridges are being built and lines of communication are being opened up so that people can share what they really believe without hesitation.
All of us belong to the one family of God and each of us has special gifts and talents to share with the other. Interfaith Youth in Action is a wonderful forum for sharing these gifts and talents across religious boundaries. This is why I think that Interfaith Youth in Action is making a very important contribution to society in Pakistan.
But not only in Pakistan! There is a real need for harmony between believing people throughout the whole world. Everywhere, in Africa, Europe, America, Asia and Australia, people are looking for models of interfaith harmony and cooperation. My hope is that Pakistan will make a contribution to the international community by exploring new ways of communication and new ways of coming together as brothers and sisters of different faith communities. This is a felt need in the world and Interfaith Youth in Action has the potential to lead the way!
Dear friends, I shall visit you regularly to learn from your many and important interfaith experiences.
Fr. Herman Roborgh S.J.
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action,
18 Dudley Street,
Mount Druitt,
N.S.W. 2770,
Australia.
[email protected]
I lived in Lahore, Pakistan, for ten years between 1993 and 2003. Now I have returned to my home in Sydney, Australia. During my years in Pakistan, I used to notice how deep the sense of God was among the people of Pakistan. I still think that this sensitivity to God is a special quality of people living in Pakistan.
Interfaith Youth in Action is a group of young people who respect all religious convictions and values that people have, whatever the religion to which they belong. Through the activities of Interfaith Youth in Action, people from different religious traditions come together as friends. People who otherwise may not meet or speak to one another now have the opportunity to pass through the artificial walls that separate them. Bridges are being built and lines of communication are being opened up so that people can share what they really believe without hesitation.
All of us belong to the one family of God and each of us has special gifts and talents to share with the other. Interfaith Youth in Action is a wonderful forum for sharing these gifts and talents across religious boundaries. This is why I think that Interfaith Youth in Action is making a very important contribution to society in Pakistan.
But not only in Pakistan! There is a real need for harmony between believing people throughout the whole world. Everywhere, in Africa, Europe, America, Asia and Australia, people are looking for models of interfaith harmony and cooperation. My hope is that Pakistan will make a contribution to the international community by exploring new ways of communication and new ways of coming together as brothers and sisters of different faith communities. This is a felt need in the world and Interfaith Youth in Action has the potential to lead the way!
Dear friends, I shall visit you regularly to learn from your many and important interfaith experiences.
Fr. Herman Roborgh S.J.
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action,
18 Dudley Street,
Mount Druitt,
N.S.W. 2770,
Australia.
[email protected]
Dr. Christina Amjad Ali
I am director of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The CSC has been working in the area of Christian-Muslim relations, interreligious dialogue and interfaith harmony since 1969. The need for developing inter-communal relations and deepening interfaith understanding in Pakistan is, if anything, more urgent now than ever and I am really pleased, therefore to support the work of Interfaith Youth in Action (IYA). Over 50% of the population in Pakistan is under the age of 25 so IYA’s focus on youth is vital to build a more pluralistic and tolerant society. The fact that it is an organisation run by young people for young people is a real sign of hope and encouragement. Their diversity tours bring young people from different communities together, breaks down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding and helps people to relate to each other as fellow human beings. Their panel discussions provide much-needed forums where difficult questions can be explored safely and openly. Their creativity, commitment and enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air – long may it continue!
Dr. Christine Amjad-Ali
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action,
Director
Christian Study Centre
529 Murree Road
Rawalpindi Cantt, Paksitan
[email protected]
Dr. Christine Amjad-Ali
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action,
Director
Christian Study Centre
529 Murree Road
Rawalpindi Cantt, Paksitan
[email protected]
Mr. Zeeshan Suhail
Zeeshan Suhail is an international development professional with several years of experience within the UN and World Bank (at HQ and in country offices). He is a Board Member for the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Informed Democracy and the New York City-based World Faith. His articles on international development and Western-Muslim world relations have been featured in media outlets internationally. Zeeshan has advanced leadership certifications from the Institute of Student Leadership at Paper Clip Communications as well as the National Conference on Student Leadership. He has been selected as a Carnegie New Leader by the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs and a Muslim Leader of Tomorrow by the Cordoba Initiative.
Zeeshan holds an undergraduate degree in International Business from Queens College-CUNY (where he was also the first Muslim Vice President of student government in the college's then 35 years of student govt. history) and a graduate degree in International Relations from the Graduate Center-CUNY. Zeeshan is fluent in Urdu, and proficient in other South Asian languages and enjoys independent cinema, old South Asian film songs and traveling. Specialties:Communications, Public Relations, Partnership-building, External Relations, Logistics Management, Event Coordination.
Mr. Zeeshan Suhail
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action/ World Faith Pakistan
Manager, Public Affairs at Nestlé Pakistan
[email protected]
Zeeshan holds an undergraduate degree in International Business from Queens College-CUNY (where he was also the first Muslim Vice President of student government in the college's then 35 years of student govt. history) and a graduate degree in International Relations from the Graduate Center-CUNY. Zeeshan is fluent in Urdu, and proficient in other South Asian languages and enjoys independent cinema, old South Asian film songs and traveling. Specialties:Communications, Public Relations, Partnership-building, External Relations, Logistics Management, Event Coordination.
Mr. Zeeshan Suhail
Mentor, Interfaith Youth in Action/ World Faith Pakistan
Manager, Public Affairs at Nestlé Pakistan
[email protected]
