In a world often defined by growing divisions and suspicion across religious lines, young people are stepping forward with bold, grassroots solutions that heal, unite, and inspire. The Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) Ambassadors Programme, now entering its third cohort, is one such example of youth-led impact, where dialogue is not just spoken, but lived.

This week in Helsinki, from 26–29 May 2025, a vibrant constellation of Muslim and Jewish young leaders from across Europe will converge for the Graduation of the 2024 MJLC Ambassadors Cohort and the Launch of the 2025 Cohort, hosted in partnership with the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID. The event, strategically timed to align with Finland’s OSCE Chairmanship, underscores a growing international momentum to harness youth leadership in peacebuilding.

From Dialogue to Delivery: Real Impact in Local Communities

Three pairs of young Ambassadors representing Vienna, Milan, and Sarajevo will graduate after delivering community-based projects that serve as tangible evidence of the programme’s growing footprint. These initiatives did not just promote interreligious understanding; they embedded it into public consciousness, local institutions, and social frameworks.

In Vienna, Ambassadors Hind Hafuda and Eidel Malowicki curated a groundbreaking interfaith walking tour titled Yalla City Walks, Talks, and Sports, charting the intertwined Muslim and Jewish heritage of the city. Their work expanded into public speaking at the Srebrenica Peace March, a bike tour to Bratislava, and interfaith workshops showcased at major cultural events like the European Day of Jewish Culture and the Festival of Religious Minorities. Their forthcoming booklet, “What Jews and Muslims Should Know About Each Other,” will serve as a sustainable resource for years to come.

In Milan, medical students and Ambassadors Amina Croce and David Fiorentini developed and delivered intercultural competence seminars for medical professionals at the University of Ferrara and Humanitas University. With over 94% of participants having had no prior exposure to interfaith learning, the seminars filled a vital educational gap, laying the groundwork for culturally sensitive healthcare.

Meanwhile in Sarajevo, Ambassadors Eldar Šabić and Vladimir Andrle used cultural memory and artistic expression to build unity. Educational trips, exhibitions, and a powerful interfaith concert showcased Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rich history of coexistence and demonstrated how shared heritage can serve as a foundation for collective healing and future collaboration.

“When we come together, we create a space that transcends religious boundaries — a space of love, peace, and shared humanity,” said Vienna Ambassador Hind Hafuda.

Expanding the Movement: The 2025 Cohort Steps Forward

The Helsinki launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for MJLC, expanding the initiative to four new cities: Brussels, Lisbon, Strasbourg, and Helsinki. Eight young Ambassadors, mentored by senior Jewish and Muslim religious leaders, will receive intensive training focused on religious literacy, interfaith project design, and navigating the external and internal tensions of dialogue work. They will also engage in strategic project management workshops, and visit local sites of religious significance to ground their learning in local context before they head back to their cities to implement dialogue initiatives in their own localities.

One of the central moments of the week will be the Public Graduation and Launch Event, taking place on 28 May in Helsinki. Featuring a high-level roundtable with city officials, faith leaders, and OSCE representatives, the event will both celebrate past achievements and chart a vision for the road ahead. Notably, it also includes the official launch of the MJLC Ambassadors Alumni Network, formalizing a support and collaboration hub for youth leaders across Europe.

KAICIID’s Role: Sustaining Safe Spaces for Dialogue

Since its inception, KAICIID has provided critical institutional support to MJLC, recognizing the initiative as a strategic response to rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred across Europe. With its unique dual governance model, bridging state and religious leadership, KAICIID plays a convening role that ensures credibility, neutrality, and visibility for interreligious dialogue at the local and international levels. This collaboration is part of KAICIID’s broader commitment to mobilizing national and sub-national actors in fostering inclusive societies.

Looking Forward

More than just a graduation or a training, the Helsinki event symbolizes the next wave of peacebuilding leadership, one that is youthful, authentic, and grounded in community experience. It affirms the simple yet profound truth that when young people are equipped with tools, trust, and mentorship, they can transform cities, shift narratives, and rebuild relationships once considered irreparably broken.

“Interfaith dialogue is not only about tolerance—it’s about building a shared future,” said Sarajevo Ambassador Vladimir Andrle. “And that future starts now, with us.”