Tony Blair Faith Foundation selects eight Christians to work on malaria

Nearly 700 people from around the world applied for the popular Faiths Act Fellowship, which provides a platform for young people of different faiths to work together on important issues.

This year’s common cause is eradicating deaths from malaria, which kills nearly one million people a year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the UK, Charlotte Flowers, a 20-year-old Christian from Dudley, will be paired with Maryam Duale, a Muslim from Manchester.

Steve Hirst, a 25-year-old Christian from Birmingham, will work together with Mandeep Kaur, a Sikh from Solihull.

Flowers said she was “thrilled” to be chosen for the Faith Act Fellowship.

“The campaign to educate and make people aware of the Millennium Development Goals and the need for them is so important, and the fellowship is a fantastic and unique opportunity to bring together my faith, my interest in other religions and love of inspiring others towards fighting poverty,” she said.

Hirst said the programme would give him the opportunity to “learn, grow and be challenged through the process”.

“My inspiration for applying for this fellowship was the opportunity it offers to integrate two of my greatest passions in life - being active in international development issues and actively developing and exploring my personal faith with a holistic approach,” he said.

Other successful candidates come from the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i, Sikh and Quaker faiths.

From July onwards, they work together in pairs to raise awareness of the devastating impact of malaria and the opportunities open to faith communities to work together in saving lives.

Malaria has been one of the foundation’s areas of focus for 2011. More than 15,000 people across 40 countries took part in the Faiths Act for World Malaria Day 2011 campaign to raise funds for life-saving bed nets.

“For the first time this generation has the opportunity to do two astonishing things; to work together alongside those of other faiths from all corners of the world and to meet one of the world’s greatest global health challenges- malaria” said Tony Blair, founder and patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

“Too often we hear about the negative aspects of faith but the number of applications we received shows the enthusiasm which exists among young people to use their faith as a force for good.

“Faith can build understanding and provide unity and strength to counter those who see faith as a source of division and discrimination.”