Near Neighbours are arranging for some young people (18 -  35) to attend a Muslim – Christian weekend in Taize, France, August 21st (Wednesday) – August 25 th (Sunday) 2019.  This is the home of a Christian community of brothers who each week in the summer welcome thousands of young people from all over the world to join them. Accommodation is basic and you need to help with chores, but everything you need is provided. For more information about the weekend see here.

Last year Samra attended, who said: “We have been asked by Brother Paolo to bring some Christian and Muslim young people from the UK to take part in their Christian Muslim friendship weekend. In 2018 when I attended the community, they had over 3000 young people there from across the world, many different languages were spoken and prayers and teachings were also in these different languages.

The Christian Muslim weekend was from Thursday evening to Saturday, it consisted of observing prayer, traditional dishes and workshops delivered by faith leaders and representatives. The living space is either camping or dormitories, we stayed in dormitories. The group have a shared one and the supervisor shares with other supervisors that come. just like you see in American movies and the summer camps! Everyone chips in with running of the space, for example the cooking, cleaning, litter picking, making wooden benches etc., these are jobs you sign up to on your first day there.

I would highly recommend it, its defo an experience being around people of different ethnicities and faiths from over 150 different countries!”

This weekend has been arranged by Taize and last year we were able to send a dozen graduates of our Catalyst young leaders programme to attend, including Samra.

Again we have received some generous funding which would enable ten young people  - who can be of any faith/background - to attend. We are sending Beth Henwood to lead the trip, along with one of the organisers the Rev’d Guy Wilkinson.

We will pay for train fares from London and accommodation in Taize and food at Taize.

The weekend focuses on Christian/Muslim relations, with Muslim and Christian speakers, but you can apply whatever your faith and background and gender. Simply complete our short application form. We will sift through to find a good mix of people to send.

We are sending this email to Catalyst participants , friends of Near Neighbours, and young people associated with our partners Nisa Nashim, the Council of Christians and Jews , and the Christian Muslim Forum.

You need a valid passport and to be over 18, and to be interested in engaging with people of different backgrounds, and to be able to attend this weekend.

This year the Christian Muslim friendship weekend will be  22nd August till 25th August 2019. You need to be able to be in London on Wednesday 21st August to catch the train at 11.31am from St Pancras station, arriving at Macon near Taize at 17.28pm that day. We will return on Sunday 25th. The train leaves Macon at 14.36 and arrives back in London on Sunday 25th at 19.39 pm.

Please complete the application form via this link by August 5th and we will let you know if you have been successful by August 10th.

If you have any specific request about the trip or the application process, please feel free to contact Florence Akuffo via email at Florence.Akuffo@nearneighbours.org.uk