Ambassador Receives Interfaith Bridge Builders

October 30, 2009

Ambassador Martinez with the group

On October 30, Ambassador Vilma Martinez received approximately 25 youth participants, organizers and professors from the Bridge Builders Project.  The young men and women from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities have met together over a period of eight months to better understand each other and their respective faith traditions.  The project was built on principles of integration in diversity, mutual respect and interfaith cooperation.  Participants described community service projects that they have developed as part of their work.

“The work of the young men and women of the Bridge Builders project was an inspiration to me," said Ambassador Martinez following the conversation.  "I am pleased that the United States Government was able to support the work of these youth in establishing links and better understanding among the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities of Buenos Aires.  I hope that their example will lead others to discover more about their neighbors and expand on the important traditions of religious and cultural tolerance in Argentina," Ambassador said. 

The Bridge Builders Project joins a variety of organizations and people dedicated to stronger mutual understanding.  The U.S. Embassy has provided funding through the global non-governmental organization United Religions Initiative to support the seminars, publications and weekly exchanges among the youth participants.  The Jewish Museum of Buenos Aires, Fundación Judaica has provided space for the weekly meetings, which have also included visits to mosques, temples and churches.  All three involved organizations, Fundación de la Amistad Argentina Turca, Fundación Judaica and United Religions Initiative designed, launched and developed the program.  One of the expected results of the program is the creation of a Center of Diversity.

The Ambassador recalled that, just a few months ago in Cairo, President Obama said he wanted "to particularly say to young people of every faith, in every country -- you, more than anyone, have the ability to reimaging the world, to remake the world."  In that same speech, she noted, President Obama also said, "Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action."