Today, Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Alexandria Province of the Episcopal Church, attended the closing ceremony of the “Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding” project, organized by the Christian-Muslim Center for Understanding and Partnership in cooperation with the Egyptian Family House. The event was held at All Saints’ Cathedral in Zamalek as part of the cooperation protocol between the two institutions, which aims to strengthen the culture of coexistence, promote dialogue, and spread the values of love and harmony among all citizens.
The celebration was held under the patronage of Archbishop Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Alexandria Province; Bishop Dr. Mouneer Anis Hanna, Archbishop Emeritus and Director of the Christian-Muslim Center for Understanding and Partnership; Professor Dr. Mostafa Abdel Ghani, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Family House; and His Grace Bishop Jeremiah, General Bishop and Assistant Secretary-General of the Egyptian Family House.
Opening the event, Archbishop Samy Fawzy welcomed the attendees and expressed his sincere appreciation for the Center’s outstanding efforts through its workshops and training programs. He stated:
“Today, more than ever, we are in need of peace. We witness how wars affect the entire world, even those who have no direct connection to conflicts. Peacebuilding is no longer a secondary matter; it is an essential necessity.”
He continued:
“Building peace is the responsibility of all of us. We are one people, and we must work to extinguish any spark before it becomes a fire. We should not wait for crises to escalate before taking action. Instead, we must work together from the beginning in a spirit of love and mutual understanding. I wish you all continued success, and I congratulate everyone who will receive certificates today, wishing them further progress and excellence.”
Bishop Mouneer Anis Hanna also addressed the gathering, explaining that a number of initiatives had been implemented across several governorates. During the workshops, participants began by studying religious texts from both the Holy Qur’an and the Bible as a foundation for promoting the values of peace. They then explored the concept of citizenship and examined the Document on Human Fraternity signed between Al-Azhar and the Vatican because of its shared humanitarian principles.
He added that participants discussed the causes of conflict, the role of mediators in resolving disputes, various conflict-resolution mechanisms, and initiatives that can help prevent conflicts before they arise. In this context, he expressed sincere gratitude to all organizations that supported these efforts, especially the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Egyptian Family House.
Dr. Ahmed El-Awady, representing His Eminence Dr. Nazir Ayyad, Grand Mufti of Egypt, remarked:
“God is Peace, and Paradise is the Abode of Peace. We have been commanded to spread love, peace, and mercy among people, for we are all servants of God. In this life, we should live together in harmony and seek what unites us rather than what divides us. Peace is the path that protects us from all forms of conflict, and God has always called upon wise people to intervene and reconcile others. All religions encourage the culture of peace and love, call for helping the poor, and reject violence.”
Ms. Eva Wetten, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands, expressed her pleasure at attending the event, saying:
“I am honored to be with you today and delighted to be part of this important project. It is one of the distinguished initiatives that bring people together and contribute to building peace and sustaining community activities and projects. Gatherings such as shared Ramadan iftars are valuable experiences that strengthen communication and bring people closer together.”
She added:
“What the world needs most today is peace. Peace cannot be achieved individually; it requires collective action and a series of small, interconnected steps. This is precisely what we explored during the training sessions conducted through this project. Small efforts contribute to the flourishing of society and support Egypt’s development journey.”
This celebration marked the culmination of a series of activities and training programs organized jointly by the Christian-Muslim Center for Understanding and Partnership and the Egyptian Family House. The programs focused on building the capacities of Egyptian Family House members across various governorates in the areas of conflict management and peacebuilding, contributing to social stability and strengthening community cohesion throughout Egypt.