Mosaic was thrilled to be involved in the recent inaugural interfaith Iftar at the Archbishop’s House hosted by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
Mosaic was represented on the day by senior members of the Mosaic team and members of the Mosaic Advisory Board, including Chairman Shabir Randeree CBE and member Harris Bokhari OBE, co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation and organiser of the Interfaith Iftar.
The event saw 100 young Londoners of different faiths and of no faith, including pupils from Mosaic partner schools Westminster Academy and Ernest Bevin College, join the Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and Mosaic Ambassador Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in the daily breaking of the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
A Mosaic mentee from Westminster Academy who attended his first interfaith Iftar said afterwards: “This event really opened my eyes and has encouraged me to involve people of different faiths when planning any project. The ideas I have heard today have been so inspiring”.
Harris Bokhari OBE said: “It has never been more important than now to bring people of faith and no faith together. We have to create more spaces where we are able to share with each other that we have more in common and break down the prejudices of not knowing the other. I hope this will lead to many of the young people to implement some of their ideas into real action which benefits their local communities.”The Prime Minister Rt Hon Theresa May MP sent a letter which was read out on the night, which said: “The work of the Foundation is truly the best of British; bringing young people together who would otherwise not have met, from very different backgrounds for good purposes at a time when we need more than ever to celebrate the positive contributions that faith can bring to our country”.
Harris is board member for the Prince's Trust Mosaic initiative. He was appointed as Mosaic’s first honorary patron and was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate 2013 for raising £1m within 12 months for various charities working in deprived communities in the UK, becoming the youngest and first Muslim to receive this honour. He now serves as a judge for the awards.
Harris is the co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to enhance educational excellence and positive integration. It was established in memory of his late father, Naz Bokhari OBE, the first Asian/Muslim head teacher in the UK. The Foundation was honoured to be awarded the Big Society Award 2014 by the Prime Minister. Harris is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust.
Harris’s interfaith work has included organising the first ever engagement event between national community, women and youth leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities meeting with the new Chief Rabbi in Finchley Kinloss Synagogue. Harris was one of the first Muslims to be invited to the Chief Rabbi’s installation ceremony and was selected to be an Ariane De Rothschild fellow, in partnership with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and King’s College. Harris also organised the first youth interfaith iftar at Lambeth Palace, which brought together the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, Mayor of London and over 100 youth leaders from each of London’s boroughs – representing all faiths and none.
Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services for young people and interfaith relations; named as one of 40 people in finance who goes further for good causes by Financial News Extra Mile List; and named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list.
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