Interfaith Ambassadors (iFam) is a high school religious literacy initiative founded and run by students of the University of Southern California. In conjunction with the Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI), this USC-affiliated program helps prepare high school students for college by providing them with a foundation for interfaith studies and community work.
During the academic year, iFam runs a 20-week class that introduces students to the major world religions, as well as lesser known traditions and interfaith pluralism. Curriculum covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as Atheism, Agnosticism and interfaith dialogue. For every religious tradition, teachers present an information-heavy lecture, followed the subsequent week by presentations by practitioners of the faith who discuss and answer questions on their personal experiences of the religion. The program culminates in the students' own presentations on what they have learned, and friends, families and community members are strongly encouraged to attend.
The mission of iFam is to foster religious literacy and a passion for interfaith work throughout our community. We do this on three levels:
1. NAI sends 100% of its students to universities—so not only do our students learn about religious literacy, but they will bring this knowledge onto their own college campuses.
2. Because they present what they have learned to their friends and families, the information spreads to further corners of our community, creating a ripple effect of cultural sensitivity.
3. With the ultimate objective of sustainability, the curriculum is entirely USC-student created and taught, meaning it can repeat every year. We aim to begin using our curriculum in LA-area schools in the future and continue inspiring young people to make interfaith dialogue and cooperation the norm.
During the academic year, iFam runs a 20-week class that introduces students to the major world religions, as well as lesser known traditions and interfaith pluralism. Curriculum covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as Atheism, Agnosticism and interfaith dialogue. For every religious tradition, teachers present an information-heavy lecture, followed the subsequent week by presentations by practitioners of the faith who discuss and answer questions on their personal experiences of the religion. The program culminates in the students' own presentations on what they have learned, and friends, families and community members are strongly encouraged to attend.
The mission of iFam is to foster religious literacy and a passion for interfaith work throughout our community. We do this on three levels:
1. NAI sends 100% of its students to universities—so not only do our students learn about religious literacy, but they will bring this knowledge onto their own college campuses.
2. Because they present what they have learned to their friends and families, the information spreads to further corners of our community, creating a ripple effect of cultural sensitivity.
3. With the ultimate objective of sustainability, the curriculum is entirely USC-student created and taught, meaning it can repeat every year. We aim to begin using our curriculum in LA-area schools in the future and continue inspiring young people to make interfaith dialogue and cooperation the norm.