York Hope Consortium

The York Hope Consortium brought together perspectives on hope offered by different disciplines. The conversations in the consortium were organised along three interrelated themes: (i) History, health, and hope; (ii) Imagining hope; and (iii) Hope and social change. Each of these themes challenged and enriched our understandings of hope. The project was supported by the University of York

OUTPUTS

The first set of conversations around history, health and hope enabled a focus on the role of religion in overcoming hopelessness.

The panel on faith-based organisations and COVID19 with academics (Tudor Silva, University of Peradeniya; Sudharma Weerakkody, University of Birmingham; and Suranga Dolamulla, University of York) and practitioners (Vinya Ariyaratne, Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya) drew on Sri Lanka’s experience to explore the ways in which Buddhist religious practices were mobilised to help people grapple with the uncertainties wrought by the pandemic.

The panel discussing faith-based organisations in provisioning health brought together practitioners (Benjamin Walker, The Anglican Diocese of Leeds; Mwai Makoka, World Council of Churches; Harvey Kwiyani, Global Connections, UK network for world mission and Sally Smith, World Health Organisation) to reflect on the central role of Christian missions in providing aid to people in ill-health throughout sub-Saharan Africa when colonial and postcolonial states clearly failed in doing so.