Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP).

After witnessing discrimination and violence in the name of religion, a group of peace activists and social workers founded Inter-faith League Against Poverty (I-LAP) in 2005 to promote inter-faith dialogue. I-LAP aims to promote inter-faith harmony through the ideas of civic participation, freedom of religion and diversity. To achieve its desired objectives, I-LAP works with people right across society – children and teachers in schools, women, labour movements, social workers at the community level, clergies of different faiths, policy makers, journalists, lawyers, and political leaders – giving them the ability to implement projects at the grassroots level.

I-LAP’s project on inter-faith harmony seeks to create a new generation of peace makers who can work towards catalysing positive changes in their communities through conflict transformation and conflict resolution. The programme has components of peace education, human rights awareness and civic education, and the projects are implemented through seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings and media campaigns. In August 2009, I-LAP organised a Minority Day Picture Exhibition which was inaugurated by the Federal Minister for Minority Rights, Mr Shahbaz Bhatti. Prior to that in June 2009, the organisation marked 22 June as World Inter-faith Day by organising an Inter-faith Day picture exhibition. The organisation has been active in organising community level trainings on peacebuilding and conflict management. I-LAP has also established peace groups with teachers and students to sensitise students on peace-related issues and ensure their healthy contribution in the promotion of peace in their communities.