Fellows’ Religious Freedom Experiences
Our Fellows share their experiences of being involved with projects and conferences through the Rising Generation Initiative.
G20 Interfaith Forum, Cape Town, August 2025
Judith: “I cherished the opportunity to participate in the G20 Interfaith Dialogue as a young person among older and more experienced individuals. I deeply value intergenerational collaboration in shaping a more just and inclusive future. Despite our differences in age and belief, the dialogue reminded me that a shared commitment to the well-being of our societies is a powerful foundation for both interfaith and policy work.”
Religious Freedom Annual Review: Rising Generation Luncheon with Dr. Steven Collis, BYU, June 2025
Nicole: “Getting to spend an hour with Dr. Steven Collis from Texas Law was incredible. We discussed the complex and important subject of religious freedom- both in the United States and internationally- within the framework of the constitution and the law. We also briefly looked at specific cases concerning religious freedom which was a unique experience for me. The Rising Generation Fellowship created a space for people like me, who aren’t lawyers or in law school, to interact and learn more from highly qualified professionals like Dr. Collis and create a network and a stronger connection than that which would’ve been possible virtually.”
Preserving Religious Freedom for the Rising Generation: Seminar with RFI’s President, David Trimble and Director Jim Bennett, BYU, April 2025
Joshua: “Hearing from the Religious Freedom Institute’s Jim Bennett and David Trimble about the first principles underlying religious freedom in the United States was a real privilege for me, and I was surprised by how impressed I was and how much I learned even though I had heard many of these things before, having interned at RFI last summer. The students and other community members in attendance were all engaged. I look forward to seeing how attendees from the seminar apply what they learned in the future.”
World Congress on Intercultural and Inter-religious Dialogue, Buenos Aires, March 2025
Manuel: “The event brought together religious leaders, academics and specialists in inter-religious dialogue with the aim of strengthening peaceful coexistence and understanding between faith communities . . . Throughout the event, participants underscored the importance of strengthening interfaith ties to build a more just and peaceful society.”
International Religious Freedom Summit, Washington D.C., February 2025
Anna: “I had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the IRF Summit about how the international religious freedom movement can better engage young people. It’s critical to train the next generation of advocates in the cause, and I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to address this important topic.”
African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies, Mozambique, 2024
Lucas: “I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Mozambique supporting a series of events focused on religious freedom . . . One of the highlights was teaching core concepts of religious freedom to over 300 religious leaders from across the country—an inspiring opportunity to promote understanding, respect, and collaboration among diverse faiths . . . This experience taught me the power of listening, the importance of building trust, and the impact that respectful, values-driven advocacy can have in international settings.”
International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance: Ministerial Conference, Prague, November 2023
Brady: “The IRFBA Ministerial taught me how the urgency to protect freedom of religion is widespread among young people. While this underscores the global challenges to FoRB, it also highlights opportunities for productive collaboration.”
Tanner: “It was a pleasure to attend the IRFBA Ministerial and work with others dedicated to youth-focused and youth-driven religious liberty and human dignity initiatives. It was a great opportunity to connect with others leading out in this area and strengthen international connections.”