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Jewish and Muslim UEL students work together with interfaith initiatives

Monday 14 March 2011

Amal Ahmed Ali and Elie Gottlieb

Jewish and Muslim UEL students joined forces with interfaith group, the Coexistence Trust, to promote volunteering and interfaith relations, on the Docklands Campus on Thursday (10th March).

Elie Gottlieb, a Jewish second year psychology student, helped to set up a multicoloured 'crystal' dome in University square on the Docklands campus before encouraging passersby to sign up for volunteering projects.

The Coexistence Trust, which works with students of different faiths across the country, believes such initiatives will help students of different faiths to develop a better understanding of each other.

Gottlieb, who was recently chosen as one of 20 'campus ambassadors' across Britain, said that Jewish and Muslim students had more in common than many of them realised.

He added: "I have personally welcomed the opportunity to meet and work with students from other faith backgrounds and I think that by volunteering together in the community, many other students will get the opportunity to make new friendships from different faiths."

Amal Ahmed Ali, who is Muslim and also asecond yearpsychology student, is the other 'campus ambassador' at UEL and hopes to work withGottlieb to organise further such events. She said: "I believe that whatever differences we have, we also have much in common. Initiatives like this can help pave the way for more dialogue and understanding among different faiths."

The Coexistence Trust are carrying out a range of volunteering projects which include helping out in a Manor Park Islamic supplementary school and a Jewish old people's home in north London. They are also signing students up to take part in tree planting and painting walls to improve the local environment in neighbourhoods close to their campuses.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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