King Hamad Coexistence Programme Begins Second Edition

Youth leadership initiative aims to promote peace and tolerance

TDT | Manama

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The second edition of the King Hamad Programme for Leadership in Coexistence has officially commenced, reinforcing Bahrain's commitment to empowering young leaders to promote peace, dialogue and mutual understanding.

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, said Bahrain has established itself as a leading model for respecting religious and cultural diversity while empowering young people to play a vital role in advancing the values of peace, coexistence and dialogue among civilizations.

He said the initiative reflects the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to strengthen the principles of coexistence, tolerance and mutual respect among cultures and religions.

The programme is being organised in partnership with the Faith in Leadership Foundation and the 1928 Institute at the University of Oxford. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla expressed pride in the participation of a distinguished group of young people and professionals, noting that the academic programme is helping prepare a new generation of leaders capable of translating the values of coexistence and tolerance into practical initiatives that foster stronger, more stable and peaceful communities.

He highlighted the involvement of graduates from the programme's first edition, who completed a "Training of Trainers" track and are now leading several training sessions. He said their participation demonstrates the programme's success in building sustainable leadership capacity and transferring knowledge and expertise to future generations.

The programme includes interactive workshops and practical training in dialogue management, effective communication, pluralism, countering hate speech and developing community initiatives that strengthen social cohesion while promoting coexistence and mutual respect at both regional and international levels.

Dr. Shaikh Abdulla reaffirmed the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence's commitment to advancing a culture of peace, dialogue and mutual respect by investing in youth and equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to embed these values in institutions and communities through sustainable policies and practices.