With efforts are on for achieving a reconciliation in the society, Bahrain plans to learn from the experience of Northern Ireland in its ongoing healing process of the society, an entrepreneur and social blogger on Tuesday, said.
“Bahraini society, somehow, has been polarised in the recent past and we need to bring all segments of the society under one umbrella through dialogue,” , who announced the launch of Bahrain Foundation for Reconciliation and Civil Discourse (BFRCD), told 24X7 News on the sidelines of the ceremony.
“This is a bitter fact to admit that our society is divided on sectarian grounds and we need to work hard to get to the bottom of the problem and learning from Northern Ireland experience is a first step in this direction,” Algosaibi, said.
“We are inviting first speaker Peter Sheridan who will share Northern Ireland’s experience with participants of the first event to be held under the BFRCD umbrella.
“The new entity is to act as mediators in facilitating dialogue, conferences and events will promote social cohesion and unity amongst Bahrain’s communities,” he explained.
“The newly formed BFRCD was officially launched on Tuesday with the full support of the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Foundation has been registered with the Ministry of Social Development and has been formed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and values across all segments of Bahrain’s communities to promote reconciliation and social unity.”
Founder and Chairman of the BFRCD Board of Trustees, Suhail Ghazi Algosaibi, said that the time was right for such an initiative to foster and promote open discussion between all members of society regardless of age, race, gender or sect.
“Our mission of social cohesion and harmony, backed by a solid foundation, highest level of support and clear milestones and objectives has already resonated with Bahrain’s community,” he said.
The organisation takes a long term view towards helping society, looking beyond the current situation, and is bi-partisan and non-political in nature. The BFRCD has plans for public conferences and social events including lectures that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and values across all segments of society. In addition, comprehensive social media campaigns will highlight the many areas in which all Bahrain society agrees, while initiating and mediating dialogue to stimulate understanding and tolerance in areas of disagreement. Plans for these events will be announced shortly, and developments taking place within the BFRCD will be regularly announced through traditional and web-based media, including the society’s new website www.bfrcd.bh to ensure the highest level of participation and attendance.
Algosaibi explained the concept behind their new logo; it shows that Bahrain has a multi-cultural yet tolerant nature, where people of different backgrounds live together, and we are all striving to a better more harmonious Bahrain.