Volunteers for world peace

18 November 2009

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker talks to student volunteers. From left: Director, Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology Professor Constant Mews, Natalie Ngu, Karen Zhang, Professor Shoemaker, Sheng Gu and Stephanie Rock.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker, centre, and from left Professor Constant Mews, Natalie Ngu, Karen Zhang, Sheng Gu and Stephanie Rock.

More than 20 Monash students will volunteer at the Parliament of the World's Religions, being held in Melbourne from 3-9 December.

The parliament will bring together more than 8000 people from across the world, including renowned spiritual, political and religious leaders with the aim of promoting peace, diversity and sustainability in the context of interreligious understanding and cooperation.

The students, from a range of faculties across the University, will fulfil a number of roles across the event including front of house, administration, event management, public relations and hospitality.

Gippsland campus student Sheng Gu said the Parliament was an excellent opportunity to make a contribution.

"I hope to gain knowledge about social cohesion within societies locally and globally in order to explore the solutions to religious conflict and separatism," she said.

Director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology in the Faculty of Arts, Professor Constant Mews said the volunteer program provided students with the opportunity to gain valuable career-enhancing skills.

"By participating in the parliament the students will grow their leadership, negotiation, communication and teamwork skills, while making a direct, tangible difference to the quality of life of others," Professor Mews said.

The event is sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).

Professor Adam Shoemaker said Monash wanted to encourage students to give back to their community.

"Students at all of our campuses volunteer and give very specific skills back to their community. In essence what it is saying is the education is there and the basis is excellent but it's what you give back that defines you," Professor Shoemaker said.

For more information on volunteering opportunities at Monash visit the Monash Passport website.