Tapestry of Faith: A Chorus of Faiths: A Program That Builds Interfaith Youth Leaders

Alternate Activity 2: Faith Heroes

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Leader Resource 1, Faith Heroes
  • Newsprint, markers, and tape

Preparation for Activity

  • Print out Leader Resource 1 and post the four biographies in separate places around the room.
  • Next to each biography, post a sheet of newsprint and set markers nearby.

Description of Activity

Participants are exposed to four different faith heroes of the 20th century, and consider how they might emulate these individuals’ ability to lead and to work together across with others of different faiths.

Form four groups, and assign each group to one of the biographies. Tell the participants:

Read the biography together with your small group. Then identify two leadership qualities you admire about the person. Write the qualities on the newsprint next to the biography. When you are done, move to the next biography and do the same thing. Do not write any leadership quality that has already been written.

Remind the groups every few minutes to try and move on; aim to complete this part of the activity in about ten minutes. When all groups have finished, invite everyone to sit down. Lead a discussion with these questions:

  • What were some leadership qualities all these people shared?
  • What else did you notice about them? What were some of the connections between them?
  • When did these individual begin their work? (Elicit: when they were young, Gandhi at 19 and 26, etc.)
  • Do you think you have any of these leadership qualities? Are there any you would like to develop? How will you go about developing these qualities?
  • Did you know that people of different faiths had worked together so closely in the Indian independence, civil rights, and anti-apartheid movements? How does that make you feel? Can you name any other historical examples of interfaith cooperation?

Including All Participants

Make sure to set the biographies, newsprint and markers where all participants can read and reach them. Clear pathways among the display areas to ensure all participants’ access.