Programme that helps US students overcome their ignorance of Islam

Touch of Harmony, a programme launched in 2004 in collaboration with New York University Jamiyah and Mahakaruna Buddhist Association, seeks to create harmony between races and religions. Nine students comprising five from the US and four from Singapore visited Sri Lanka from 2 to 10 January where they had the opportunity to meet with policy makers, undertake community work, visit historical places and have a dialogue with several religious leaders. One of the students, second-year SMU student Ms Farah Mohd Masbur Nailul (20 years old) advised young people not to be afraid of diversity but to venture out to meet with others who differ from them. She is of the view that they will realise that people are generally similar regardless of culture, race and religion.