I M PA C T R E P O R T L E A D E R S H I P,
L I T E R A C Y
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L I V E S
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F R O M
T H E
C H I E F
E X E C U T I V E
We are delighted to present our first Impact Report on the work of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in 2012. Being able to demonstrate the impact of our programmes is what drives us to strengthen them, to widen them and to deepen them. Whether the focus is on heightening the public debate around the role of faith and globalisation, improving the religious literacy of students around the world, or motivating religious leaders and their congregations to join in the struggle against malaria, we have one fundamental aim: To encourage society to support religion’s ability to promote respect, justice and compassion, and reject those who seek to propagate religious extremism, division and conflict. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation was established with the firm belief that, to understand the modern world, you have to understand religion. Religion matters. It matters because in this world, religious faith, crucial to so many people’s culture and identity, can play a positive or negative role. Those promoting a negative, often divisive view of religion are well funded and well organised and as yet, there is little in the way of a constructive alternative. Understanding religion is the premise of our work but at TBFF, we also focus heavily on the practical. We identified from our inception that there was a lack of knowledge surrounding the role of religion; that there needed to be greater religious literacy amongst the younger generation; that different faiths needed to work together to overcome difference and build peace. But identifying the problem was not enough. The real challenge was to devise programmes which would turn commentary and observations into action; programmes that could be used as catalysts and whose legacy would be genuine attitudinal and behavioural change. Our Impact Report highlights how we have started to tackle this challenge. It brings to life the practical ways in which people can learn from and connect with those of other faiths and work together on common challenges and conflicts, in the pursuit of sustainable peace. We hope you enjoy reading it.
Charlotte Keenan Acting Chief Executive, Tony Blair Faith Foundation
Photo: Students in the Philippines take part in a videoconference
From the Chief Executive
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F O O T P R I N T G L O B A L O U R
19
countries participate in Face to Faith
1million
lives reached through malaria prevention
21
Over
countries have supported Faiths Act
18
member universities have joined our Faith and Globalisation Initiative, across 13 countries and regions and five continents
Our Global Footprint
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D E M O N S T R AT I N G T H E P O S I T I V E WA Y S F A I T H L E A D E R S A N D THEIR COMMUNITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER AROUND A COMMON CHALLENGE, OVERCOME DIFFERENCE AND BUILD PEACE.
Faiths Act Sierra Leone THE REACH, TRUST AND LEGITIMACY OF RELIGIOUS LEADE R S O N T H E G R O U N D T O H E L P S AV E L I V E S .
In Sierra Leone, malaria is the biggest killer of children under five. And there is only one government doctor per 56,000 people. But local churches and mosques have a physical presence in almost every town and village as places of worship, and hospitals and dispensaries. Equally, the influence and reach of their communities, networks and leaders is tremendous. Faiths Act in Sierra Leone works by motivating religious leaders to train people in their local communities about malaria prevention. Once trained, these trusted leaders go from household to household to educate people about malaria prevention. Since the programme’s inception we have empowered faith networks throughout Sierra Leone to reach over one million members of the population with key anti-malaria health messages. In a country with a population of just under six million, nearly one sixth of the entire population has heard these life saving messages.
Evaluation A survey of our work conducted by Ipsos MORI*, an independent polling organisation, in 2012 found: •
The proportion of people using bed nets has risen by 11%
•
A proportion of children experiencing symptoms of malaria has dropped by 8%
•
Over 80% of those sampled agreed that these visits by faith volunteers helped to educate people
W HAT
people A R E
saying
on malaria prevention and treatment
Total Reach C U M U L AT I V E P O P U L AT I O N R E AC H E D T H O U G H H O U S E H O L D V I S I T S I N 2 0 1 2
1,000,000
800,000
“We are now witnessing that the number of patients being admitted due to both simple and complicated malaria has started to decrease because of the Faiths Act project here in Makeni. Of course other factors may contribute to this decline but there is no doubt that the strategy to take malaria prevention messages to families in their homes by faith leaders and the volunteers trained by the Faiths Act project has played a significant role.” Dr Patrick Turay, Medical Director of Holy Spirit Clinic
600,000
400,000
200,000
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
2012
2012 2012 2012
2012
2012
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
2012
* The first wave of fieldwork by Ipsos MORI was conducted between 28th September and 7th October 2011 with 504 adults aged 18 and over, and the second wave of fieldwork was conducted between 28th May and 8th June 2012 with 1008 adults aged 18 and over. For more details on the survey please contact our office at: info@tonyblairfaithfoundation.org Photo: Congregation members in Sierra Leone participate in malaria prevention training
“What faith communities have working in their favour are networks, infrastructure, and influential leaders to deliver health messages. Now is no time for indifference. Much significant progress has already been made; now we must consolidate our gains. Remember that malaria is a natural disaster that is devastating communities every second of every day. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes can never be stopped. Malaria can be.” Ray Chambers, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria
Faiths Act
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Where’s the net? ENGAGING THE GLOBAL COMMUNIT Y TO ACT
Where’s the Net?, a global interfaith initiative, was aimed at raising awareness of malaria across the world. Faiths Act, sent five symbolic anti-malaria nets in five months to 21 countries across the world including Tanzania, Gambia, Mexico and Australia. The net passed through the hands of Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Baha’i supporters, raising awareness about the disease at each destination as it travelled. The relay represented global connectivity and demonstrated the power of faith communities to work together around a common cause. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
•
Over 10,000 people took part in the campaign worldwide and through social media
•
1,500 bed nets were donated to Malaria No More UK by Sumitomo Chemical to support the campaign and distributed to those in need both in Ghana and Tanzania
•
Nearly 8,000 messages of interfaith commitment were written on tags and attached to the bed net from members of the public through to Tony Blair and Ray Chambers, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria
•
The bed net travelled more than 200,000 miles
CASE
study In April 2012, as part of the Where’s the Net campaign, the Foundation partnered with the Hard Rock Café, New Delhi, for a month long campaign to raise awareness of the health and sanitation issues in Savda Ghevra, a slum resettlement colony in Delhi. Activities included a fashion show for World Malaria Day organised at the Café in collaboration with designers from a local fashion college in Delhi. The garments were constructed from blue and white anti-malaria bednets, highlighting the presence of mosquito-borne disease in the area.
P h o t o : S t u d e n t s i n I n d i a t a k e p a r t i n W h e r e’s t h e N e t ?
CASE
study
Faiths Act Fellowship A M U LT I - FA I T H G L O B A L M O V E M E N T W H I C H I N S P I R E S A N D M O B I L I S E S P E O P L E O F F A I T H T O T A K E A C T I O N T O WA R D S T H E MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
Sana Rahim, a 22 year old Muslim and Clint Fluker, a 26 year old Christian,
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation decided to tackle this challenge by organising its second, year-long Fellowship bringing together young people of different faiths to work towards enhanced and effective interfaith action in the UK, US, India and Sierra Leone. The Foundation selected 33 outstanding future leaders, who between July 2011 and June 2012, worked in interfaith pairs, in local communities around the world. They increased understanding between different religious communities by mobilising them around the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and in particular around our work on malaria prevention in Sierra Leone.
hosted by MedShare, Atlanta, gathered together nearly 300 people to view and purchase art work that was submitted from across the city. The auction was focused on malaria and interfaith cooperation, and many art pieces were made from expired medical supplies. The event raised funds for a container carrying critical medical supplies to Sierra Leone. The container carried key medical supplies including: syringes, bandages, gowns, surgical gloves and masks, an X-ray view box and insecticide treated bed nets, to help in the fight against malaria.
This year alone, our Faiths Act Fellows : •
Engaged over 1000 faith communities in their work
•
Raised almost a £100,000 for malaria or closely related health care issues
•
Engaged nearly 30,000 individuals to take part, with half new to interfaith work
•
Collectively spent over 17,000 hours on multi-faith activity
Faiths Act Fellows F E L L O W S B Y FA I T H D I S T R I B U T I O N OTHER
MUSLIM
SIKH
B A H A’ I
BUDDHIST HINDU
JEWISH CHRISTIAN
Faiths Act
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Research I N F O R M I N G P O L I C Y A N D U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H E C O N T R I B U T I O N O F FA I T H C O M M U N I T I E S .
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation and its partners, including the World
W HAT
people A R E
saying
Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD), Notre Dame University and the International Religious Health Assets Program (IRHAP) have collaborated on a series of research projects to comprehend the role of religion in the wider world. This year, the Foundation, together with WFDD and in collaboration with the Berkeley Center at Georgetown University in Washington DC, produced the “Global Health and Africa report” - a report on faith communities’ work in the healthcare world. The Foundation is dedicated to furthering this research and facilitating
“Faith is central to people’s everyday lives and societal order. Faith communities should not be at the periphery of health development policy. They need to be at the centre if we are to make real progress in this area.” Ivan Lewis, MP, UK Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
and initiating events, both in academic and government arenas, to tackle these issues. Some of the events in 2012 where the Foundation has presented our work: •
Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) in December, organised by GBCHealth
•
The Road to Malaria Elimination 2020 Conference in October in
“The lack of transparency on the amount of aid being delivered and mediated through religious institutions and actors only serves to highlight the problem of religious illiteracy in the social sciences. Only now, in the last decade or so, have policy makers and scholars realised the central and often critical role religious actors have played.” Monica Duffy Toft, Professor of Government and Public Policy at the University of Oxford
Johannesburg The Foundation also facilitated a cross-party parliamentary-style debate on the contribution of faith communities to global health, at the House of Commons in 2012. Ivan Lewis, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Jeremy Lefroy, Conservative Member of the International Development Select Committee, and leading global health experts and religious leaders, led a frank and open discussion looking at the challenges to faith communities and how they can work together with the UK government on development issues.
Photo: Religious leaders take part in malaria prevention training
Faiths Act
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A N I N N O VA T I V E S C H O O L S P R O G R A M M E , T HAT I M P R O V E S R E L I G I O U S L I T E R A C Y, B Y BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FA I T H S A N D B A C K G R O U N D S .
Expansion Since its inception, Face to Faith has brought together students from all over
In 2012, over 500 video conferences connected hundreds of students in a similar
the world to expand and enhance their religious literacy. The programme
way; giving them direct exposure to different cultures and faiths. Almost 20,000
trains teachers and gives them the tools needed to educate their students about
students have taken the Face to Faith programme since its launch. In 2012 alone,
world religions. From Manila to Mumbai to Manchester, students talk directly
70% of those students who participated in the programme then went on to become
to one another about global issues from a variety of faith perspectives. The
members of our online community, enabling them to continue the conversations
Faith Foundation helps teachers and students to break down existing barriers,
in the classroom in an online forum.
provides them with the knowledge, negotiation skills, critical thinking and
70% of those students who have participated in the programme then went on to become members of our online community.
resilience to resist extremist voices and ideology. We often say that the programme is designed to be an inoculation for young people against the possibilities of future extremist influence. This was demonstrated in November 2012 when Tony Blair, alongside Bishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury designate and HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, launched a major new programme of Faith Foundation led work in Nigeria to encourage reconciliation between Christian and Muslim communities. By
The programme has been accredited for use in the International GCSE, recognised
talking directly to one another, the aim is to break down existing barriers. and
by the International Baccalaureate and has been independently evaluated by
equip students with the skills to navigate a society rife with tension. We are
Warwick University, in order to further refine and improve the programme in
looking forward to expanding our work in Nigeria next year.
future years. Photo: Students in India take par t in Peace One Day
FROM
learning T O
action
Peace One Day This year, Face to Faith students have moved from dialogue to joint action to tackle key global challenges. Starting in February with special videoconferences that brought together students in countries such as the USA, UAE, Australia and Pakistan, Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day, set Face to Faith students a challenge to take action for peace in
IMAGE Peace One Day
their own communities. In September, 57 Face to Faith schools from 13 countries around the world mobilised their local communities around UN Peace Day. Their goal was to achieve the largest ever gathering of individuals and reduction of violence in the name of peace – through their activities, 100,000 people came together to stand up for peace.
“After 30 years of engaging in religious education with the goal of promoting interfaith dialogue using different religious traditions, I have finally glimpsed a way forward without parallel. This is clearly a brilliant idea whose time has come.” Harry Stout, Professor of American Christianity, Yale University
Face to Faith
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This year Face to Faith has connected students from across the world in 19 countries both through video conferences and on our secure website. This map highlights some of the exciting cross world links made this year on videoconferences.
“The impact has been powerful. We consider ‘Face to Faith’ not just as an additional tool to enhance our curriculum and learning process but as our significant partners in education who have helped us create ‘ global citizens’ of tomorrow.” Anjali Mittal, Teacher, DLF Public School, New Delhi, India
Face to Faith
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FROM
learning T O
action
UN Human Rights Day and UN Solidarity Day In December, Face to Faith teachers and students kicked off a monthlong series of events marking both UN Human Rights Day and UN Solidarity Day. To launch all of the activities, Face to Faith held four special video conferences on the issue of human rights in countries from India to Indonesia, Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Palestinian schools invited guest speakers to talk about human rights. In the UK, a school held a Solidari-tunes event in which the library was opened at lunch time for students and teachers to hear more about human rights and to listen to inspirational music. Schools around the world also held “SolidariTEA” events—a simple act of people coming together to share a cup of tea, effectively giving people of different faith an opportunity to have meaningful discussions with one another.
Photo: Students take part in UN Solidarity Day in the UK
Working with Governments Increasingly, governments are recognising that Face to Faith helps equip their younger citizens with skills to communicate in a progressively global society. Four countries have already recognised the innovative education programme and have begun to use it in their schools: Philippines, Italy, Kosovo and the government of the Palestinian Authority. More countries are due to sign agreements in the coming years.
IMAGE Classroom
“What the children discussed captured exactly what we are trying to do. We need to understand one another. We need education to know what our religions teach us. We need to love one another like we love ourselves.” Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto “We thank the Tony Blair Faith Foundation for the opportunity for peace to take root in hearts and minds...by developing their skills at peace-building and engagement across different faiths. Many social, ethnic and cultural conflicts are borne out of mistrust which is fuelled by wrong or incomplete information or outright falsehood against a certain race, faith or ethnicity.” Brother Armin Luistro, Secretary of Education, Government of the Philippines
Photo: Students in the UK videoconference with students in Nigeria
Face to Faith
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F I L L I N G T H E VA C U U M O F KNOWLEDGE SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN THE MODERN WORLD.
Network Expansion
Student Growth REGISTERED TO FGI COURSE BY YEAR
Our global network of universities is resolute in its determination to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge needed to better understand the impact of religion in the modern world. This
1000
year alone, the network has expanded by 33%, and now comprises
800
12 partner universities and six associate universities across thirteen
600
countries and regions. We are privileged to be working with the most prestigious universities in some of the most challenging areas of the
400
world. Their role is to teach and research faith and globalisation,
200
deliver detailed analysis and inform and engage with policy makers. In 2012 alone, we are hugely encouraged that the number of students studying this new, innovative discipline has doubled.
0
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
“ An opportunity like this course enables us to create an academic space where a plurality of ‘global’ voices can contribute, where students can learn from one another—both in class and outside—and where ideas are enfleshed and explored in truly international community.” Professor Ellen Aitken, Dean of Faculty of Religious Studies , McGill University
P h o t o : Fa i t h & G l o b a l i s at i o n s t u d e nt s at Mc G i l l Un i v e r s i t y, C a n a d a
Examining the theory and practice A significantly expanded programme has allowed us to increase dialogue and share knowledge amongst some of our most insightful students across the network. Last summer, in partnership with McGill University, 19 students from the network went to Montreal for an intensive two week course on human rights and religious minorities, studying both the theory and specific case studies to determine cause and effect. They were exposed to experts from around the world, including Pakistan, the US and China, who were able to share their thinking on related themes, including sociological, economic and behavioural forces on the ground.
Developing New Approaches We know from our work and discussions with governments around the world that there is demand for a similar course for their diplomatic communities. Ambassadors and high ranking civil servants are required constantly to navigate the complex ways that faith underpins and influences the countries and regions in which they operate. FGI provides the ideal intersection between academic study and practical implementation of the findings, and we are delighted to be providing a summer course for diplomatic communities in the summer of 2013 to underpin their vital work.
Faith & Globalisation Initiative
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“The key forces that are driving things nowadays are not simply sterile battles for power; they are a representation of the whole subset of values and beliefs and faith and we’re going to have to figure out how to navigate through that.” John Kerry, United States Secretary of State
Informing policy and engaging the public
Other events included:
Enhancing the intellectual underpinning of faith and globalisation
Hong Kong University: The Faith and Globalisation Initiative Launch
goes to the heart of our programme, but we see the imparting of
at Hong Kong University
this knowledge to policy makers around the world as the measure of our success. Last year, the Foundation heightened the public
Technologico de Monterrey: Global Forum on Citizenship
debate around faith and globalisation in the public sphere with a series of high profile events and lectures which included thousands
Kosovo: The Faith and Globalisation Initiative Launch at the University
of participants.
of Pristina and the American University of Kosovo
We were particularly pleased to host a panel discussion on Religion
India: Religious Pluralism in India’s Secular Democracy which
and Foreign Policy with the Council on Foreign Relations, whose
included participation from over 20 universities throughout India
reach into the foreign policy arena is immense. This panel took place at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion
United Kingdom: Tony Blair in discussion with the Archbishop of
in November. Panellists included leading academic experts from
Canterbury and Charles Moore
Oxford University and from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
P h o t o : T o n y B l a i r s p e a k s a t Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y
Faith & Globalisation Initiative
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Faith Shorts: tackling stereotypes through film Film is a powerful medium to help shape opinions and present different perspectives to the world. The Foundation’s global film competition, Faith Shorts, harnesses the power of film, asking young people to make a three minute film to show how their faith inspires them in their own words. The competition aims to provide young people with an international platform to share their views with the world, counter prejudices by building understanding about different faith perspectives and create a living archive for future generations. In order to ensure the competition is accessible, the Foundation runs a pitch competition, where those without access to film-making equipment can submit a film pitch. Those judged to be the best are sent flip-cams in order that they can make their film. In this way, we aim to reach all those who wish to enter. This year, entries flooded in from around the world including Pakistan, the Philippines, Israel, India, Norway, Sierra Leone and Australia. They made thought-provoking and insightful films, on themes of conflict, secularism and identity to hope, adversity and loss. These were judged by a global panel of judges including: Tony Blair, Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman, Oscar winning producer Lord David Puttnam, actress Dawn French, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor. Not only were the winning films premiered at 195 Piccadilly, the home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, international media coverage of the competition and awards ceremony ensured a truly global stage for the young filmmakers. Subsequently, they have even been entered into other international film competitions, including those in the UK, Italy and Israel. “I don’t have a problem with religion; I have a problem with religious extremists. That’s why it is good the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is being a bridge between different religions and communities. Being that bridge is important. There is tolerance everywhere and we must show the different sides of faith through a new medium, like film.” Liat Har-Gil, Faith Shorts 2012 Overall Winner
Help us to continue this important work… Engage us If you’re interested in supporting or replicating TBFF’s work or want to discuss our work, we want to hear from you: info@tonyblairfaithfoundation.org
Support us Our work is dependent on the continued generous support of our funders. If you are interested in donating contact: donations@tonyblairfaithfoundation.org
Thank you We are grateful to the funding partners and donors past and present whose generosity has made our work possible.
T ONYBL AIR _TBFF
P h o t o : F a i t h S h o r t s w i n n e r L i a t H a r - G i l w i t h To n y B l a i r
T ONY B L A IR FA IT H F OU NDAT ION
W W W. T ON YB L AIRFAITHFOUN DATION . ORG
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The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, and managed day to day by our Chief Executive. The Rt Hon Tony Blair is the Founder and Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, and assists in our development and achievements. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales with the number 1123243. We are a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 06198959. Our registered office is 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation US has been determined by the IRS to be a publicly-supported 501 (c) 3 organisation which can receive tax-deductible contributions from US donors. As an independent US tax-exempt organisation, TBFF US shares the goals of, and provides support to, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation based in London.