GLOBAL YOUTH VOICES:
Digital Interfaith Storytelling Campaign 2026
(February 1-22, 2026)
The Global Youth Voices campaign invited young people from diverse background to share personal stories of interfaith and intercultural experiences through digital platforms. This year, 29 participants submitted their video messages and participated in this international call for action with their 2-minute videos that highlighted how interfaith and intercultural dialogue inspired understanding, unity, and collaboration in their communities.
In 2026, a total of 29 inspiring videos were submitted by young people from 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and United States. Young people shared youth perspectives with 2-minute videos on building peaceful and inclusive societies through dialogue, action, and change.
The Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) Board Members and Advisory Board Members acknowledged 6 videos that created vibrant, inclusive, and youth-driven narratives celebrating the power of interfaith dialogue and fostering a sense of unity and harmony among the global community.
The following 6 winners will receive a $100 prize along with recognition.
Sunnatullo Rakhmonov (Uzbekistan)
Injila Qureshi (India)
Fazilet Kazkondu (USA)
Divya Dwi Retno Aryani (Indonesia)
Omer Demir (USA)
Nargis Qorbani (Afghanistan)
THEME 1: MIGRATION, DIVERSITY, AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
Global young peacemakers and advocates from around the world participated in our call for video remarks on the themes of Migration, Diversity, and Social Inclusion, in celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week. This call for action was a timely opportunity for youth voices to share their perspectives, stories, and messages promoting understanding, unity, and cooperation among different communities and faiths. Young participants showcased their creativity and insights, highlighting the importance of embracing diversity and fostering inclusive societies. Youth video messages contributed to inspiring positive change and building bridges of harmony across cultures and beliefs.
Migration, Diversity, and Social Inclusion
Sunnatullo Rakhmonov (Uzbekistan)
Nargis Qorbani (Afghanistan)
Sayed (Afghanistan)
David Migabo (Uganda)
Fazilet Kazkondu (USA)
Fatih Kurt (USA)
Fikri Abdillah (Indonesia-Brazil)
Refia Caliskan (USA)
Adil Colak (USA)
Hilary Wafula Munyole (Kenya
Tugba Kurkluoglu (USA)
Joseph Vitus (Nigeria)
Khozhiakbar Khudoiarov (Kyrgyzstan)
Abhishek Panwar (India)
Maksatbek Yrysbaev (Kyrgyzstan)
Mujtaba Aftab (Pakistan)
Yilmaz Durak (USA)
THEME 2: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE
The United Nations announced 2026 as the International Volunteer Year. Volunteerism is robust form of leading impactful sustainable development and humanitarian actions. Through this international call, the JWF wanted to highlight the essential role that youth volunteers play in their communities for the implementation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Young people took this opportunity to share your inspiring video about their volunteering experience that promoted peace, unity, and understanding across diverse faiths and communities. Youth voice contributed to global peace and harmony and demonstrated the powerful role young people play in building a more peaceful and inclusive world.
Volunteering
Lerato Maris (South Africa)
Fatih Tahran (USA)
Nourhan Essam Saad Abbas (Egypt)
Yunus Kilinc (USA)
Omer Demir (USA)
Ridvan Demirbas (USA)
THEME 3: VIRTUAL TOUR OF FAITHS
The Virtual Tour of Faiths aimed to celebrate the rich tapestry of religious diversity and foster mutual understanding among different faith communities. Young people shared amazing videos that showcase their places of worship, rituals, sacred texts, and the essence of their faith traditions. These visual narratives provided wonderful insight into the spiritual, cultural, and historical significance of each faith, allowing viewers to experience the beauty and teachings of different religions from around the world.
Virtual Tour of Faiths
Divya Dwi Retno Aryani (Indonesia)
Khanak Upadhyay (India)
Injila Qureshi (India)
Suleiman Haruna Saleh (Nigeria)
Zura Paul (India)
Puja Moulik (India)
Campaign Details:
- Target Audience
- The campaign focused young people (ages 18-32) from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Young people collaborated with youth-led organizations, educational institutions, and influencers to expand reach.
- Submission Guidelines
- The main criteria for participation, is a 2-minute video limit and the use of mobile devices for recording.
- Participants were encouraged to share genuine, personal stories that highlight positive interfaith experiences.
- Submission Deadline
- The submission deadline was Sunday, 22 February 2026.
- Click here to submit your video to the JWF`s WIHW Global Youth Voices Campaign.
- Digital Library on YouTube and recognition
- A dedicated section on the JWF YouTube channel was established to serve as a digital library for the campaign.
- Selected video stories were uploaded creating a lasting resource for continued inspiration and education.
- Selected stories were highlighted on JWF’s website and social media, acknowledging the storytellers’ contributions.
- Promotion and Outreach
- The video campaign was submitted to the World Interfaith Harmony Week’s official website for H.E. King Abdullah II World Interfaith Harmony Week Prize.
- Social media platforms and partner organizations were utilized to promote the campaign globally.
Young people joined in making a meaningful impact through their voices and vision!
About Us
The Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) is an international civil society organization dedicated to the culture of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The JWF promotes diversity and inclusion by creating forums for intellectual and social engagement, generates and shares knowledge with stakeholders, builds partnerships worldwide and develops policy recommendations for positive social change.
This program is prepared and lead by Dr. Rajendran Govender, Ms. Nancy Falcon, and Prof. Dr. Joan Hernandez Serret who serve as JWF’s Interfaith Committee Members and Advisory Board Members at the Journalists and Writers Foundation.
Journalists and Writers Foundation
4 West 43rd Street 4th Floor (Suite 419) New York, NY 10036
www.jwf.org | [email protected]
* JWF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in New York State.
* JWF is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications