Sri Lanka’s MinorMatters receives UNAOC-BMW Group Intercultural Innovation Award

The MinorMatters: Rewind; Rebuild project of the Alliance Development Trust in Sri Lanka was selected as one of 10 global grassroots initiatives to receive the prestigious Intercultural Innovation Award from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group, during an awards ceremony held on 10 December at the Royal Theatre in Madrid, Spain.

Ten projects have been named finalists by UNAOC and the BMW Group for the 2019 Intercultural Innovation Award. The selection process was highly competitive, with over 1,200 applications received from 128 countries. 

The Alliance Development Trust’s MinorMatters: Rewind; Rebuild project is an innovative and first-of-its-kind national initiative aiming to promote religious freedom and coexistence in Sri Lanka.

As a web-based platform, MinorMatters seeks to raise awareness on issues surrounding freedoms of religion and belief.

 The project’s main objectives are to support interfaith communities and enhance coexistence.

The platform will soon also include an online museum to memorialise religious freedom violations and promote interreligious dialogue in the country. The latter will be implemented through an e-learning platform which will increase literacy on freedoms of religion and belief, especially among children and the youth.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition,” said Project Director Yamini Ravindran. “It is an encouragement to continue our work in promoting religious freedom.”

In addition to a financial grant, the Alliance Development Trust will receive capacity-building and mentorship support from UNAOC and the BMW Group to help the ‘MinorMatters: Rewind; Rebuild’ project expand and replicate to other contexts. This model of collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector creates a more profound impact, as both partners provide their respective expertise to ensure the sustainable growth of each project.

The Intercultural Innovation Award supports grassroots initiatives that promote intercultural dialogue and understanding, thereby contributing to peace, cultural diversity and more inclusive societies. This year, the awards ceremony was chaired by the High Representative for UNAOC and former Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and BMW Group Market Communications Vice President Bill McAndrews.