Pentecost is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles during the during the Jewish Harvest Festival, empowering them and gathering them as a church. It therefore honors the establishment of the Christian Church through the Apostles’ teachings and the baptism of thousands of followers.

May this Pentecost Sunday bring hope and joy to our Christian friends!

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Eid al Fitr, meaning ‘the festival of breaking the fast’ marks the end of the Holy month of fasting, Ramadan.

It is observed during the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, although the exact day of Eid al Fitr varies every year, depending on the first sighting of the moon. It is celebrated for one to three days depending on different customs, and on the morning of the first day, Muslims gather to pray. Specific traditions for celebrating Eid al Fitr are different according to the country, and also depends on the denomination within Islam.

In all cases, Eid al Fitr is a day of great joy, family gathering, and celebration. The day is celebrated by making and sharing sweet delicacies between family and friends, as well as gift-giving and communal praying.


Eid Mubarak to all of our Muslim friends!

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Today is International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. The day aims to commemorate and acknowledge the ‘pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.’ It also serves to remind us of the United Nation’s commitment to protecting children, institutionalized by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is ‘the most rapidly and most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.’

In an effort to address this issue, Arigatou International has launched and convened a Consortium to bring together civil society and faith-based organizations, religious communities, multilateral organizations, academia and individual experts to foster collaboration, share good practices and develop evidence-based and innovative approaches to end violence in early childhood.

#CRC #ChildRights #UNDay #children

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We just concluded the fourth National Roundtable Discussion on Nurturing Values and Spirituality in Early Childhood for the Prevention of Violence that took place in Nairobi with the participation of more than 80 religious leaders, representatives from civil society and faith-based organisations, academia and governments.

The roundtable presented an excellent opportunity to discuss issues related to corporal punishment, female genital mutilation, emotional violence, gender-based violence, among many other critical issues that affect the healthy and positive development of children.

Religious representatives agreed that there is no religion that endorses violence against children and that religion should be taught without fear and violence. Sheikh Ibrahim Lethome said: “Religious beliefs are often misinterpreted; and while we cannot change the scripture, we have an obligation to a diligent and careful interpretation that leads to positive understanding and applications of religious teachings”. Speaking about corporal punishment, religious leaders and experts encouraged the use of alternative ways that affirm the dignity of the child and appeal to their feelings and hearts. Violence begets violence and should not be used with children, they emphasized.

The roundtable is organized by the Consortium members and partners in Kenya, including World Vision Kenya, Arigatou International, Aga Khan Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, Islamic Relief Kenya, and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
World Vision InternationalWorld Vision Kenya Aga Khan Foundation Islamic Relief Worldwide Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC)End Child Poverty Catholic Relief Services End Violence Against Children

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It's the 11th Anniversary of the #LTLT !

Our flagship program, Learning to Live Together, was launched 11 years ago at the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Third Forum held in Hiroshima, Japan.

In a world in which education has focused mainly on building a set of skills and knowledge to equip children for the job market, but has failed in helping them to develop emotionally, relationally and spiritually, Learning to Live Together remains as relevant as ever.

Hear about the Programmes' impact, through the voices of children, facilitators, trainers, and partners in the following video:

Learn more about the Programme, and how to be part of it, here: https://ethicseducationforchildren.org/en/what-we-do/learning-to-live-together/training

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