Amman, Feb. 17 (Petra) -- The Jordanian organization Masarat for Development and Progress received special recognition for its project, "Dialogue Beyond Divides: Jordan’s Path to Religious Understanding," under the Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA) of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.

During a reception to mark the occasion and honor the organization’s achievement, Austria’s ambassador to Jordan Marieke Zimburg said the recognition marks the fourth consecutive year a Jordanian project has been honored under the award. She highlighted the strength and relevance of Jordanian civil society initiatives.

The ambassador said religion plays a central role in shaping identity and values. She noted Jordan’s long-standing tradition of religious coexistence and its role in advancing interfaith dialogue, adding that Masarat’s work builds on this legacy.

She presented the award certificate to the organization and confirmed the transfer of the €3,000 prize to support the continuation of its activities.

The Intercultural Achievement Award is a flagship initiative of Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. It recognizes civil society projects worldwide that promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, human rights and peaceful coexistence.

The awarded project was implemented between March and August 2024 within the Dialogue 360 framework. It included 12 university-based sessions, six community dialogue seminars and a 10-episode podcast series addressing the misuse of religious discourse and rising hate speech. The initiative engaged approximately 900 participants, exceeding its original targets.

Talal Ghuneimat, CEO of Masarat for Development and Progress, said dialogue is a practical tool for building trust, understanding and social cohesion. He said the project created spaces where differences were discussed with respect and diversity became a source of strength rather than division.

//Petra// NQ