This event took place on 2 September 2007 and was indeed a milestone for the DTDT as it represents the first step in the new direction it intends embarking upon. It was widely felt among the Trustees that a series of dialogue sessions will elicit greater results and prove to be more effective. To this end, Ian Mann and Ujala Satgoor designed a three hour session that enabled youth representatives of the major faith traditions to interact with each other, and identify issues and solutions that impact upon the acknowledgement, acceptance and celebration of diversity in South Africa. 

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Participants – Twenty-one youth representatives of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and the Ba’hai Faith within the age range of 18-25.  

Programme facilitated by Ian Mann:

1. Introduction – Dr Gerrie Lubbe introduced the Trust and how it may serve as an objective platform for dialogue and interaction.

2. Ice-breaker - The exercise of pairing with an unknown person from a different faith group, sharing of personal information, identifying that which is important to you as a young South African and then introducing your partner to the group served as an excellent tool for listening and going beyond the usual social niceties.

3. The Constitution as a guiding document for a human rights culture – Ujala Satgoor presented the importance of acknowledging the Constitution as the means of fostering social integration and multicultural relevance.

4. Exercise – Own Faith Group Discussion - What are the issues, difficulties, options, opportunities in your opinion to acknowledge, appreciate & celebrate diversity from the perspective of your faith.

5. Exercise – Mixed Faith Group Discussion - As a representative of your faith group, share, discuss and debate with the others the set of principles or issues with the view to arriving at a way forward. Define what should be done to promote the value of diversity among youth - the next three steps…

6. Report back session - Conclusions and deliberations of the mixed faith groups.

7. “Picking up the Threads” & Concluding Remarks - Ian Mann