Experience sharing

Western Uganda FBOs Network organizes conferences and other events and encourages mutual learning and exchanges. This galvanizes dialogue among faith organizations, decision-makers and other development stakeholders. It increases exposure to different interpretations, methodologies and approaches. Ultimately, we want to increase consensus and ownership. We recognize that faith organization’s need a joint space to discuss common values and areas of consensus. As a platform for inter- and intra-faith dialogue, Western Uganda FBOs Network has proven capacity to facilitate such exchanges. These events blend the following methodological elements:

Western Uganda FBOs Network offers safe spaces for intra- and inter-faith dialogue processes between faith leaders and representatives of faith organizations on different topics. Dialogues are facilitated by eminent theologians from respected faith authorities. Faith leaders are exposed to trends and evidence and learn about religious interpretations and practices within their faith thus reducing misconceptions. This gradually builds consensus and ownership on different issues, ultimately sparking greater commitment and constructive action.

Learning and innovation: Often interesting, sometimes inspiring interfaith engagement in local communities is rarely documented and shared, so that it does not appear to be building towards common approaches.  Western Uganda FBOs Network events allow identifying learning’s and providing access to experiences through resources and tools, drawn from the experience of conference participants.

Exposure: Without much exposure to other contexts and beliefs, faith leaders and representatives of faith organizations lack understanding of alternative contexts and viewpoints. With their own culture as unique reference point, they often cannot discern whether a standpoint is grounded in culture or in religion. Western Uganda FBOs Network events take participants out of their own context, and expose them to other cultures, opinions and approaches. This is likely to promote empathy for the feelings and needs of people with differing opinions, and prompt reflexions on their personal faith, for example on family health and wellbeing, gender equality and women’s rights and pluralism.

Networking: Several researches points on inter-faith work notes that “many organizations and approaches overlap, interlock, and blend. However, a more common feature is separate, largely uncoordinated action.” Western Uganda FBOs Network events offer faith actors a platform for collaboration. It creates opportunities to engage in policy discussions, and effectively nurtures dialogues between religious and non-religious organizations.