What inspired me to join the Bridge Builders Programme was something I’ve always valued: Common Ground.
It’s actually the title of my Elevator Pitch from the programme. Many of us grow up in one prominent community, especially within our families, and it can be difficult to connect with people outside that circle. Too often, dialogue happens without building a relationship first.
A lot of conversations today take place online, shaped by quick assumptions about a single post or comment. But without knowing the person behind the words, how can you truly understand their beliefs? This programme gave me the chance to meet people face-to-face, connect with them as individuals, and then explore our different perspectives. It created a space where ideas could be challenged without attacking the person.
The diversity of the group was one of the best parts — Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, and more. Each person brought their own voice, and hearing so many different experiences gave me a much richer view of the world.
Challenges:
One of the hardest things was when people heard what I was saying but didn’t truly listen. Hearing and listening are not the same. Sometimes it felt difficult to reach someone without making them feel either “completely wrong” or “completely right.”
Another challenge was the one-minute limit for our Elevator Pitch. It was tough to condense an idea into such a short time, but it was a great test of clarity and focus. In the real world, you may only get a few seconds to share your message, so making it count is essential.
While I loved sharing my own pitch, I also valued hearing others. One that stayed with me came from my peer Abigail. She described two people speaking across a border without seeing each other’s face, race, or background. Without those visual cues, prejudice disappears, and all you hear is the person’s voice. It was a powerful reminder of what dialogue should be.
What’s Next:
I want to take what I’ve learned back into my school. We already have a debating club run by my law teacher, but I’d like to turn it into a dialogue club. Debate is important, but it often focuses on winning rather than understanding. In a school with many different faiths, political beliefs, and cultural backgrounds, creating a space for open conversation could bring people together and challenge misconceptions.
Beyond school, both The Faith and Belief Forum and Solutions Not Sides have offered support for future interfaith projects. I’ve also been given contacts for bringing dialogue programmes to universities, which I plan to use when I start higher education.
Why the World Needs This:
The world is more interconnected than ever. We’ve grown in diversity, culture, and population, and faith remains a powerful influence in society. To live peacefully, we have to learn to respect and understand not just each other’s beliefs, but the people behind them.
The Bridge Builders Programme showed me that real connection makes dialogue possible — and that dialogue can build the bridges we all need.
By Aaliyah Omar
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The Bridge Builders Programme is Solutions Not Sides' flagship youth engagement programme, bringing together 16-19 year olds for a week to learn about Palestine-Israel, interfaith dialogue and leadership development, while spending it with Israeli and Palestinian peace-builders.
Applications for our 2026 edition will open in the coming months, to find out more, head to https://solutionsnotsides.co.uk/sns-bridge-builders-programme.