About Us
The Interfaith Cooperation Forum is a project of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs. It values the significance of interreligious understanding and unity.
Our objectives
ICF offers opportunities for study and appreciation of the different perspectives of religions on peace, and discern the role of religion in peacebuilding. Yet, considering that unpeace is brought about by many factors, including the onslaught of neoliberal economic globalization, more people experience poverty, internally displaced people are increasing as communities are destroyed, native wisdom and values are overrun by Western and consumerist outlooks, patriarchy and racism persists, and climate change is now felt as the destruction of the Planet Earth seems unabated.
Peace is celebrated as a gift from the Divine, yet, we, the earthlings have the responsibility to make peace a reality. Although its contribution may just be like a drop of water into the lake, ICF seeks to equip young people of different religious traditions, especially from the marginalized communities of Asia and Pacific, to make waves of peacebuilding actions.
Movement Building
The empowered ICF alumni apply their deep understanding of peaceable interfaith values and demonstrate spirituality, a culture of peace, gender justice, and skills in peacebuilding.
Advocacy
The ICF Alumni forums and clusters actively demonstrate the capacity to initiate and facilitate peace education, advocacy, and networking activities for the youth in their respective communities.
Our Alumni
Our Alumni come from 14 different countries Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
History of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum
The ICF has two main objectives, undertaking varied activities to achieve its objectives and, thereby, its overall goal of equipping youth to become peacebuilders.
2005
Our launch date
The Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF) was officially born as a joint project from the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY).
2006 - 2010
First School of Peace (SoP)
The first ever School of Peace (SoP) took place in India. An ICF Working Committee Meeting was established to meet annually to discuss the programs and activities. ICF expanded its programs and activities beyond the SoP. ICF also went through its first external evaluation.
2010 - 2014
“Our Stories, Our Challenges”
ICF Published a book in cooperation with the Center for Justpeace in Asia entitled, “Our Stories, Our Challenges – The Search for a Justpeace in Asia Today.” ICF continued its activities and programs in the Region.
2017
Founding Co-ordinator Resigns
ICF continued to implement its programs and activities. In 2017 ICF activities were reviewed exploring the possibilities to expand and deepen the scope of work of the Interfaith-Cooperation Forum. A new project proposal based on the outcome of the review was developed.
2018 - 2020
New Coordinator Appointed
ICF bid farewell to Max Ediger, the Coordinator of Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF) as he retired from the services at the end of February 2018. In mid-2018, Dr. Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro came in as the new coordinator of ICF. Just before, APAY became the sole project owner of ICF, parting from the shared custody of APAY and CCA. Baidido Saganding, an Alumna from the ICF School of Peace in 2018, joined as a Project Officer in 2019. In 2020, Annika Denkmann joined as a seconded personnel from Bread for the World.
2021
COVID-19 Virtual Offering
During the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020, ICF continued holding thematic workshops virtually. The alumni have conducted doable projects, alumni follow-ups, local peace education, advocacy, and networking activities in their respective communities.
2022
Relaunching Peace Institute as a Training of Trainers
In 2022, as the cases of COVID went down and travel restrictions eased in some Asian countries, ICF held in-person Peace Institutes Training of Trainers, formerly "mini-SoP", for the first time after two years of lockdowns and travel bans.
2023
First Peace Conference
40 participants from 14 countries around Asia joined the Interfaith Cooperation Forum’s 1st Peace Conference on September 27–30, 2023, at the YMCA International Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Meet our team
Program Committee
Alternate Committee
Latest updates
