Source: The Indianapolis Star

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070422/OPINION/704220338/1002/OPINION

As a college student, Eboo Patel was dismayed as he looked around the world and saw young people of different faiths fighting and killing each other.

He was saddened that so few young people attended international conferences that brought together people of various faiths to talk about peace.

Patel and other like-minded young adults founded the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core in 1998. Patel, 31, is executive director. He has a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University.

Much of the nonprofit group's work involves training grassroots groups to engage youth in interfaith communication. More than 770 organizers trained by IFYC now lead their own interfaith youth service branches on five continents. They've reached more than 10,000 young people.

The IFYC also supports local efforts to further youth interfaith interaction. It works with 40 different faith communities and six universities in the Chicago area.