Jain Network 2010 11

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Network

Page 14

of Jain studies in the Faculty of Comparative Religions in Antwerp. Jain Academy delivers lectures at various interfaith institutions and publishes articles and booklets. The Institute of Jainology runs course on Jainism and has taken on an important task of digitalizing sacred texts available in British Libraries and Museums and publishing them on the website. The Young Jains are organizing lectures on Jainism and some organizations such as Jain Samaj Europe, Veeryatan, and Magic Touch are running children's schools, but there is a gap ; lack of trained teachers, teaching in modern acceptable way and reaching to the whole community; and lack of resources that they can provide to the R E teachers in State and Public schools.
Training It is essential that Jains develop the capacity and skills for employment and public services. This will help them to look after the needs of the elderly, women and young persons. They also require knowledge about the use of public services such as local authorities, NHS, Social services and educational institutions. The community requires training and skills for participation in the civil society and charity and voluntary work.
Contribution of Jains in civil society The principles of non-violence and reverence for all life; acceptance of multiple views; belief in equality; human responsibilities and rights; activities in animal welfare; their concern for the environment and natural world; and their resilience for acceptance of the culture in which they settle have made them good and respectable neighbours. Their motto is to 'live and help to live'. These principles and their way of life indirectly percolate to their neighbours. This will help the society in general to be law abiding, respectful to others and diverse communities to live together in harmony.
Interfaith Organisations Interfaith organisations are of interest not just to those within the faith communities but also to the people working in many other contexts - from local authorities and other public agencies to youth organisations, schools, chaplaincies, voluntary organisations and increasingly, sporting and in the private sector
Among these interfaith organisations there are key national, regional and local organisations doing valuable work in the interfaith arena; the main national ones are Interfaith Network of UK and Faith based Regeneration Network. Every English region has regional interfaith organisations and most of the cities and counties have local Multifaith bodies. They offer vital resources to access interfaith expertise, opportunities for engagement with other programmes and assistance in developing interfaith projects and community cohesion. The details for the national organisations are available from the following websites:
www.interfaith.org.uk www.fbrn.org.uk www.ncvo-vol.org.uk