Connecting Actions

Since 2015, Connecting Actions has convened a number of organisations working for Interfaith, Interconvictional and Intercultural Dialogue to launch a Coalition meant to reinforce this field in Europe and increase our impact. This Coalition was created in Paris in June 2018 under the name European Institute For Dialogue.

Steering committee

Organisations directing Connecting Actions Paris 2016

ABOUT CONNECTING ACTIONS

Connecting Actions is an international initiative to convene citizen, intercultural, interfaith and intercommunal dialogue organisations and experts

Connecting Actions is an international initiative to convene citizen, intercultural, interfaith and intercommunal dialogue organisations and experts to share best practices and reinforce this essential field for a better coexistence.

The initiative received its name based on a global network that its initiator, the Muslim Jewish Conference, created in response to the refugee crisis in 2015. The group mobilized a few hundred young Muslims and Jews around Europe to help assist the refugees by providing food and clothing for them upon their arrival in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. From this initiative, the scope of Connecting Actions expanded to help build bridges between the bridge builders.

The first symposiums, hosted by The Muslim Jewish Conference (MJC) in collaboration with Coexister, Three Faith Forum, Faith Matters, and the European Union of Jewish Students, served to bring citizen, intercultural, and interreligious dialogue groups from around Europe to share their experience. They also paved the way for building the Coalition that was created in June 2018.

Connecting Actions, now an independant non profit organisation registered in France, in the backdrop of mounting religious, ethnic and political tensions in Europe, will address pressing questions around the concept of active coexistence, methods and objectives of dialogue, challenges, combating radicalism, resources, social messages and media coverage through intense rounds of discussions.

Since June 2018, Connecting Actions is leading the newly formed European Institute For Dialogue, gathering a dozen European NGOs working in this field, to reinforce our action and multiply our impact.

Who we are

This is the team behind organizing Connection Actions

Sound bites

Connecting Actions is an effort to finally gather organizations implementing citizen, intercultural and interreligious dialogue programs to strengthen this field and give it more visibility and impact. Dialogue is a serious business and if society was paying more attention to those initiatives, the whole issue of radicalism and violence would be tackled very differently and much more effectively.
The coalitions that this movement will allow are the best prevention tools for the multiple clashes that riddle our social fabric. It’s time to show what we can do, collectively.

Rafael Tyszblat

Accepting each others differences, whilst finding common ground for dialogue is a mission that we perceive as more relevant than ever. The polarisation of our societies and the role that hate has taken within public discourse, underline that the activists we are trying to reach deserve more support and attention. Overcoming superficiality is the aim; not putting pressure or claiming precise outcomes a rule.

Benjamin Fischer

This is a gathering of the most pro-active leading young minds in Europe who are meeting and it is an honour to be with and engaging with new and fresh ideas. The work that Ilja and his team do set the bar high and they are leaders who deserve all the support that organisations like Faith Matters can provide. We are here to support this great, timely and energetic conference.

Fiyaz Mughal

This initiative is important because it proposes to take active steps towards living together in a diverse world which I think is the only viable future for the world. Recent events make it obvious that not everyone agrees with this concept.
So I’m very honored to participate in this initiative.

Linda Vignac, Sietar France

For decades now, forces who divide us along the lines of nationality, religious belief and cultural identity have organized and exchanged knowledge and experience. It is time to do the same. Connecting Actions is a vital step in building innovative networks of cooperation among useful and much needed national and international initiatives. After 7 years of activity within and among grassroots activists, the MJC has taken the lead in convening more than 30 experts, practitioners and entrepreneurs to the first ever Connecting Actions symposium. We are finally cultivating and creating the space to exchange vital experiences and best practice among those who try to make a difference.

Ilja Sichrovsky

Supporters
Connecting Actions is grateful for the support received by:

ODIHR

The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is a fervent advocate of coalition building among Civil Society Organisations working for tolerance and coexistence through dialogue. Since 2016, ODHIR has enabled Connecting Actions to take off.

NATAN FUND

Natan Fund has selected Connecting Actions as a grantee for the 2017-2018 in order to carry out its mission to build a living coalition of European organisations fostering intercultural, interreligious and citizen dialogue

SUPPORTING THE FIELD OF INTERCULTURAL, INTERRELIGIOUS AND INTERCOMMUNAL DIALOGUE

Steering committee

Muslim Jewish Conference

Three Faiths Forum

Coexister

European Union of Jewish Students

ABOUT CONNECTING ACTIONS

Who we are

Rafael Tyszblat

Emmanuel Michel

Ilja Sichrovsky

Jane Braden-Golay

Meytal Rosenthal

Alexander Hohenecker

Sound bites

ODIHR

NATAN FUND

Resources

The Tolerance Conference – Interfaith Testimonies from MJC Alumni

Press Release: Launch of European Institute For Dialogue (EIFD)