Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation Formalizes Partnership with Duke University for Climate Action

On the same visit, H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League delivered an historic address on girls' education at Duke University.

DURHAM, N.C., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke University and the Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation, an organisation seeded by the Muslim Word League, have formalized a significant new partnership aimed at mobilizing young religious leaders worldwide to confront climate change and advocate for interfaith cooperation.

The historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is designed to support the work of Faith For Our Planet (FFOP)—the global interfaith environmental initiative housed under the Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation (GICF).

The agreement, hailed as a profound step forward in faith-based diplomacy, establishes a framework for wide-ranging collaboration on environmental research, student and faculty exchanges, and community outreach rooted in shared values of stewardship and compassion.

The agreement comes on the back of the third annual Duke University-FFOP youth climate interfaith fellowship program. Launched in 2022, it stands as the world's first global youth interfaith fellowship dedicated to combating climate change.

Engagement with Global Youth Religious Leaders:

During the visit, H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa engaged in a comprehensive dialogue with members of the third cohort of the global youth Fellowship program at Duke Divinity School.

The engagement was with approximately 20 young and prominent faith leaders from across the globe including Bolivia, India, Ghana, the UK and Saudi Arabia and from faith traditions as diverse as Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and indigenous.

Meeting with Duke University President

H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa also had a personal meeting with Duke University president, Mr Vincent Edward Price, during which areas of alignment between the Muslim world league and Duke University were explored, as well as potential areas of future collaboration between the two entities.

Historic Address on Girls' Education

Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa delivered a compelling keynote lecture at a major reception event at Duke University, calling for renewed global commitment to girls' education. He highlighted the moral urgency of ensuring access to education for all children, calling it "not only a fundamental human right, but a divine commandment rooted in faith".

"When a girl is denied an education, the world loses its balance," Dr. Al-Issa stated. "Think of the doctors never trained, the solutions never discovered, the stories never told. This issue transcends gender—it is fundamental to human progress and the sacred duty of all faiths."

His words built on efforts that he and the Muslim World League engaged in earlier this year in Islamabad, where an unprecedented coalition of Islamic scholars, policymakers and activists - including Malala Yousafzai - convened to support the universal right of girls to education across the Islamic world.

Notable speakers and delegates participating at the Duke University public event included:

• Alec Gallimore, Provost, Duke University
• Mohamed Noor, Executive Vice Provost, Duke University
• Heela Yoon, Founder, Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organization (FFOP Fellow, 2025)
• Natalie S. Murdock, Senator, North Carolina Legislature
• Sophia Chitlik, Senator, North Carolina General Assembly

A Transformational Collaboration

The MOU between Duke University and the Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation partnership lays the groundwork for expanded cooperation between the two entities.

"This partnership is more than an agreement on paper – it is a beacon of hope for our planet and our shared future," said H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa who witnessed the signing.

 "By uniting the strengths of a leading American university with the Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation, we are empowering a new generation of faith leaders to tackle global crises with knowledge, compassion, and moral conviction."

NOTES

Photos, transcripts, and recordings from the event available upon request. We have included a small selection of photos below:

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2708659/Signing_of_MOU.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2708660/Issa_and_Duke_President.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2708661/Secretary_General_Muslim_World_League.jpg

SOURCE Geneva Islamic Cultural Foundation