From left: Professor Robert Jackson, Director of WRERU, Institute of Education, University of Warwick and Professor of Religious Diversity and Education at the European Wergeland Centre, Oslo (advising on this and other Tony Blair Faith Foundation educational activities, and conducting the evaluation of the Face to Faith programme), Tony Blair, Simmi Kher, Principal of The Indian Heights School in New Delhi, Mahdu Gupta, Chair of The Indian Heights School, Kanta Vadhera of the British Council India (extending Face to Faith across India) and Jo Malone, Head of Citizenship and PSHE, Westhoughton Technology College (Lead School of Face to Faith programme)

Face to Faith is designed to improve young people's religious literacy, which is a vital skill in an increasingly complex, global society. It also offers an authentic and meaningful environment in which students can develop key 21st century skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Tony Blair said: “The Face to Faith programme provides students with a unique opportunity to interact across continents, to talk about their own faith, and learn more about other religions and cultures. It is only by discussing different cultural and religious perspectives that young people can build their awareness of the role of faith in today’s world.”

Designed by an international group of education experts and piloted with more than 1,000 students on three continents, Face to Faith uses video conferencing, an online community and a course syllabus to support encounter, exploration and exchange between young people of different faiths.  

Face to Faith is being evaluated by a team of researchers from Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit led by Professor Robert Jackson, Professor of Education at the University of Warwick. Robert Jackson is also Professor of Religious Diversity and Education at the European Wergeland Centre, Oslo.

The programme has already been taken up by schools in India, Pakistan, Singapore, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Thailand, Indonesia, the US, the UK and Canada, who have recognised the programme’s potential to improve young people’s religious literacy, which is a vital skill in an increasingly complex, global society. Schools who have participated in the pilots are already reporting increased awareness by their students of the role of faith in today’s world as well as improved communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills from collaborating with those of different faiths and cultures.

Annika Small, Director of Education, Tony Blair Faith Foundation: “Drawing on educational best practice, Face to Faith promotes active participation, collaboration and personal reflection which helps students to explore diversity both within and between religious traditions. By encouraging young people to enter into genuine dialogue with each other, Face to Faith leads students to a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and worldviews as well as those of others. The pilots have shown there is real enthusiasm for this sort of encounter and exchange within a structured framework, which supports collaborative learning and respect for difference.”

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation was founded by the Rt Honourable Tony Blair and launched in May 2008.  The Foundation’s goal is to promote respect and understanding between the major religions, to make the case for faith as a force for good and to show this in action by encouraging inter-faith initiatives to bring people together to tackle global poverty and conflict.