The six-month program - co-hosted by Georgetown University, the Muslim Council of Elders, and the Human Fraternity Majlis - culminated in a week-long interactive study tour in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The tour included participation at the Human Fraternity Majlis at the Abrahamic Family House and the second Zayed Award for Human Fraternity roundtable, as well a meeting and discussion with President of East Timor José Ramos-Horta.

The cohort included 11 undergraduate and graduate students from top universities around the world, representing 8 countries and 5 religions and denominations.

The first-ever Human Fraternity Fellows program finished Friday following an intensive week-long interfaith and intercultural study tour in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which included meeting President of East Timor José Ramos-Horta; speaking on a youth panel at the Human Fraternity Majlis; and participation in the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Roundtable.

The program - launched and co-organized by Georgetown University, the Muslim Council of Elders, and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity - is an over six-month program that trains top university students to respond to the pressing need to foster peace and human fraternity, particularly in academic settings. By empowering the fellows to create more inclusive and connected campus communities, the program contributes to countering global trends of division and building a foundation for lasting peace and understanding.

During their time in Abu Dhabi, the fellows were featured speakers on a panel at the Human Fraternity Majlis at the Abrahamic Family House on February 4 – an event organized by the Muslim Council of Elders in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, which coincided with the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity. During the panel, the fellows shared their insights on challenges and opportunities to promote human fraternity as the future generation of leaders.

Ahead of the panel, the fellows met President of the Republic of East Timor His Excellency José Ramos-Horta who has spearheaded an initiative in his country to adopt the Document on Human Fraternity as a national document and to integrate it into the national educational programs.

On February 6, the fellows participated in the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity roundtable, where they engaged with high-level experts from various fields - including MCE Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam - on issues relating to human fraternity. They also visited New York University Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Abrahamic Family House.

“This program is part of the enduring legacy of the Document on Human Fraternity, which paves the way for a future where diverse cultures and faiths coexist in mutual respect and harmony,” said Secretary-General Mohamed Abdelsalam upon the conclusion of the first edition of the Human Fraternity Fellows program.

The 11 fellows - from eight countries including East Timor, Egypt, India, Italy, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe - represented prestigious universities including Georgetown University, Yale University, Harvard University, Bamberg University, Mohammed V University, the University of Edinburgh, and the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh.

Aisha Alyassi, a fellow from the United Arab Emirates and student at King’s College London, said: “The Human Fraternity Fellows Program made me grow both personally and spiritually. We had the pleasure to meet a number of international leaders, who emphasized the importance of youth in carrying out peacemaking processes and fostering human fraternity. Their faith in us left a mark in our hearts and made us all feel a sense of responsibility to provide a better world for the future generations.”

Ahmed Haykel Gaafar, a fellow from Egypt and student at Bamberg University, said: “This fellowship has been transformative, fostering a profound sense of peace. Through collaboration and diverse learnings, I have gained insights into effective cooperation, shaping my commitment to enhancing the well-being of my community and the world.”