Sprouts of Peace
Sprouts of Peace provides interfaith encounters for youth and their caregivers as well as educational opportunities to increase understanding and appreciation of the diverse religious traditions practiced throughout our region.
Sprouts of Peace Home Library
Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Sprout of Peace Home Library delivered diverse children's book titles to St. Louis area families free of charge. The at-home enrichment program aimed to build empathy and understanding among young children and stimulate conversations about religious diversity.
Sprouts of Peace Interfaith Youth Cohorts
About
Sprouts of Peace cohorts consist of a group of three or four different religious congregations or cultural organizations who collaborate to bring children from different religious communities ages K-5 together for learning, sharing, and community building. Sprouts of Peace provides interfaith encounters for youth and their caregivers and provides opportunities to discover differences and similarities among the practices, traditions, and cultures of our religious traditions. Events include activities for both children, teen group leaders, and caregivers.
This program is currently only available to families affiliated with Peace UCC, Parkway UCC, United Hebrew Congregation, and the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis.
Benefits for Children
We believe no age is too early to begin building friendships and understanding with others across lines of religious, linguistic, and cultural lines of difference. It is our hope, and prayer, that our children engaged in this program will develop relationships with their peers and continue to grow together. We also believe that our children connect more deeply to their own faith when they learn about other religions.
For Caregivers
Our program also provides an opportunity for parents or caregivers to participate in learning and sharing, as well. Along with opportunities to learn more about the faith-based communities involved, adults also have the opportunity for discussion about important issues facing them as caregivers and as neighbors in a diverse world.
Background
Inspired by their own peace-making summer program, Peace United Church of Christ desired to expand their efforts. They contacted Interfaith Partnership and brought together a small, tri-faith leadership group. In July of 2015, representatives from the Interfaith Partnership, the Islamic Foundation of St. Louis, Peace United Church of Christ, Webster Groves, and United Hebrew Congregation began the “germination” process. “Sprouts of Peace” grew out of this venture with definition and goals. The very first event was held in January of 2016.
