Camp teaches children about the Abrahamic faith tradition

King’s University College welcomed the sixth annual London Interfaith Peace Camp (LIPC) on Monday, August 13 through Friday, August 17, 2018.

This year, approximately 60 children entering Grades 1 through 8 attended camp, held in the Vitali Student Lounge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. LIPC is supported by the King’s Campus Ministry and was assisted by 23 volunteer counsellors.

The camp was planned and organized by an interfaith team of community members, hosted by Shahin Pardhan (Islam), Rabbi Debra Dressler (Judaism) and Barbara McGill (Christianity). As in the past, LIPC focused on building friendships and understanding with children across the Abrahamic faith tradition (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) in the London community.

 “Our main goal is to learn about each other and create friendships,” says Ali Neves, Minister to Youth at King’s University College. “We learn together, play together, eat together and form a community.”

Participants at the camp learned about different communities of faith through arts and crafts, games, food and presentations about Judaism, Christianity and Islam. During the week, they visited visit a local church, mosque and synagogue, through planning by King's Campus Ministry. There was a potluck celebration and presentations to the campers' families on August 16.

The program won a City of London, Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award in 2016 and was nominated for a Pillar Community Innovation Award in 2017.