I’m Italian. That means I talk with my hands, trust pasta more than most politicians, and bring Baci Perugina to the office. Not just because they’re chocolate – though that would be reason enough – but because each one hides a small message, a few quiet words of wisdom wrapped in silver foil.
The last one I opened read:
"To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys... But if you tame me, then we shall need each other..."
It’s from Chapter 21 of The Little Prince, a beloved children’s story about a young boy who travels from planet to planet, discovering that what matters most in life is invisible to the eye – like relationships and connection and responsibility to one another. I ate the chocolate. Slowly. Let the words sink in.
It made me think about how we’re all strangers to each other, really. At least at first. A room full of diplomats, faith leaders, academics with different backgrounds, different gods and different lunch habits. But something happens when we start to listen. To look twice.
To stay a little longer in each other’s silences. The distance narrows. One step. Then another. That’s taming, I think. Not control. Not conquest. But the slow, deliberate choice to say: I see you. I need you. You are no longer one among a hundred thousand.
At KAICIID, this is what we do. Dialogue not as a theory but a gesture. One person moving closer to another. Until we’re not just voices in a room, but companions: unique and irreplaceable.
And yes, before you ask, being Italian also means I sometimes get emotional over chocolate wrappers. Well…nobody’s perfect. (Some Like It Hot, 1959. Look it up. It’s worth it!)
Teresa Albano, Senior Programme Manager, Europe Region Programme, KAICIID
We Can’t Wait to Meet You!
We are getting ready for the 6th edition of the European Policy Dialogue Forum and can’t wait to meet those of you who will be joining us. While we wish we could invite all of our partners, friends and counterparts from across Europe and beyond, our resources (as always!) remind us to be selective. But this space is our way of bringing you along for the journey, whether or not you are physically in the room with us in Geneva.
The 6th EPDF will focus on: “Social Cohesion in Changing Climates: Fostering Inclusive Paths Towards Equity in Europe.” At the heart of it, we will be exploring how interreligious and intercultural dialogue can help build inclusive, fair and peaceful societies in times of great environmental and social change.
In an increasingly multireligious and multicultural Europe, the voices of those left behind by economic transitions that generate wealth for a few – without ensuring broad-based socioeconomic inclusion – echo the cry of the Earth, wounded in its fragile ecosystems. Amid the growing exclusion of minorities (including migrants and refugees) and the rapid environmental degradation that disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, the EPDF aims to provide a space to reimagine how interreligious and intercultural dialogue can help foster common engagement and a much-needed shift. Guided by core values shared across human rights-based commitments, and religious and belief traditions such as human dignity, equity, fraternity, care for one another and care for the planet, the EPDF invites reflection and dialogue on how to foster a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future for all.
At the EPDF, we explore big ideas like equity, climate justice, human rights and more. We recognise that these words can mean different things to different people. That’s why we created the EPDF Annotated Glossary: a shared, evolving space to try unpacking these terms, building mutual understanding and inspiring joint action.
Social Cohesion
Despite the lack of a common definition, the concept of social cohesion as outlined by major international organizations (UNDP, UNDESA, World Bank) is based on the idea of creating conditions that allow a sense of belonging, legitimacy, recognition and participation within multicultural and multireligious communities. Particularly relevant for cohesive societies.
1. A horizontal dimension: recognition and respect for diversity, bridging ethnic and
religious divisions as well as fighting discrimination while promoting equal opportunities;
2. A vertical dimension: transparency and accountability of public authorities, civil society
organizations, the private sector, as well as market institutions that work for the well-
being of all the members of the community, tackling inequalities and enabling upward
social mobility, particularly of the most fragile and excluded.
Social development and social cohesion are intrinsically linked, both aiming to foster inclusive, equitable, and peaceful societies where all individuals can thrive. As defined in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, social development is "the process of promoting people's well-being in harmony with economic and social progress." It emphasises the eradication of poverty, full employment, and social integration as its three core pillars. Within this framework, social cohesion emerges not only as a goal but as a necessary condition for achieving sustainable social progress, ensuring that communities remain united in diversity, and that all individuals feel included, valued, and able to participate meaningfully in society.
Just ahead of the European Policy Dialogue Forum in Geneva, the upcoming World Summit for Social Development+30, in Doha (early November 2025) will provide a critical opportunity to revisit and renew the global commitments first set out in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration.
Both the Doha Summit and the 6th EPDF share a common focus on social cohesion and social development, rooted in principles of equity, dignity and inclusive governance. The Doha agenda’s emphasis on participatory approaches, strong social protection systems, and dialogue-based solutions directly resonates with the EPDF’s mission to foster cohesive, resilient and sustainable societies through interreligious and intercultural engagement. Together, these two platforms underscore the urgency of building ethical, values-driven partnerships that bridge divides and strengthen the social fabric in a rapidly changing world.
For Further Reflection…
Listen to reflections on social cohesion by Dr. Amjad Saleem (International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies), which he shared during our preparatory online consultation ahead of the EPDF…
June in Helsinki means long days and cool skies. But this year there was a unique warmth in the atmosphere: Jewish and Muslim youth coming together to build peace – not as a headline, but as a habit.
At the heart of it all is the Muslim Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC), which just celebrated the graduation of its second cohort and the launch of its third. Young leaders, mentors, religious actors and policymakers gathered to mark the moment with more than diplomas. They also brought stories, laughter, honest dialogue, and a fierce belief that solidarity and friendship can withstand even the harshest moments – if we choose to lead.
According to Hind Hafuda, MJLC Ambassador: “When we come together, we create a space that transcends religious boundaries – a space of love, peace, and shared humanity.”
That’s exactly what the MJLC ambassadors have achieved.
The MJLC Ambassadors Programme is a year-long initiative designed to support young
Muslim and Jewish leaders across Europe in becoming confident voices for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. Alongside their existing studies or careers, with the support of KAICIID, participants develop key skills to challenge prejudice, confront hate speech and promote social cohesion through grassroots projects in their cities. The programme supports them to build solidarity and dispel harmful stereotypes, offering a powerful model of coexistence at a time of growing division.
In Vienna, they kicked off a women-led Jewish-Muslim sports initiative.
In Bosnia, they traced the roots of shared heritage with care and curiosity.
In Milan, they trained healthcare professionals to see faith not as a barrier, but a bridge.
This isn’t about theory. It is about trust and friendship. Showing up again and again for the
harder conversation, especially when the world tells you not to.
Today, as antisemitism and Islamophobia surge across Europe, dialogue like this is a necessity. Because real peace isn’t made in declarations. It is made in walking tours; in shared meals; in WhatsApp groups and workshops and whispered prayers.
The MJLC has expanded its reach to Strasbourg, Brussels, Lisbon and Helsinki. With every new cohort, another door opens, another stereotype cracks and another bridge is built.
That’s what peace looks like.
Hind and Eidel, the two MJLC Ambassadors from Vienna, will join the 6th European Policy Dialogue Forum (EPDF) in Geneva and feature in the “Human Library”.
Curious to learn more about MJLC’s cohort stories or to connect with ambassadors across the Europe programme? Watch them in action.
God’s House is a member of the Network for Dialogue, the KAICIID-supported community of practices, gathering faith-based and secular civil society organizations committed to harnessing interreligious dialogue to foster migrant and refugee inclusion. Last year, young people from God’s House developed a new podcast as part of KAICIID’s Catalysts for Cohesion grant scheme.
A greeting to you from Sweden: “Here you find the latest update from us at God’s House in Fisksätra, where Christians and Muslims meet side by side for peace, integration and a sustainable future in this polarised world of today. Support our work with your warm thoughts, prayers and donations.” Website: www.gudshus.se.
Opportunities and Resources in the Field
• The OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rightshas published a new guide: Understanding Anti-Christian Hate Crimes and Addressing the Security Needs of Christian Communities – A Practical Guide. Access it here.
• The call for proposals in the framework of the Citizens Equality Rights and Values
programme CERV-2025-EQUAL of the European Commission has been published. The
call is open between 15 July and 23 October 2025. If you are a non-profit and public
organizations, working for equality, inclusion and non-discrimination in the EU, you can
We would love to hear from you. If you missed previous editions of the blog, please click here.
Warm wishes from
Teresa, Jana, Tim, Aleksandra
R. Castilho 52 Lisbon, 1250-071, Portugal
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