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Nataliia Pavlyk

  • Christianity
  • Ukraine
  • Female
  • Ukraine
  • Eastern Europe
  • KAICIID Fellows

Biography Narrative

PhD Candidate, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquianas

Nataliia is a PhD candidate in philosophy and is currently pursuing an MAS degree at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute (part of the World Council of Churches and attached to the University of Geneva). In 2019, she received a prestigious Russell Berrie Fellowship to study interreligious dialogue at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Since 2013, Nataliia has been the head and founder of the NGO “The Oriental Studies Circle”. The main focus of its activity is academic research and non-formal education in interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Over the years, the organization has implemented over 50 interfaith projects to promote tolerance to oriental traditions, as well as reconciliation between West and East. Nataliia was a member of the International Working Group on Preventing Violent Extremism in Belgium and worked with unaccompanied minor refugees empowering Christian-Muslim dialogue in Austria. In 2017, due to her academic interest in Asian studies, she was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take part in the MIRAI Programme in Japan. Recently she has been conducting research for her PhD thesis on Jainism in India and Canada.

Interreligious Activities and Initiatives

Interreligious Workshop “Helianthus”
The 2-day IRD workshop “Helianthus” gathered 25 participants including representatives and leaders of different faiths (Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Mormons, Charismatics, Muslims, Ukrainian Native Faith, Sufis, and Sikhs), as well as researchers, journalists, and public figures from Kyiv and Kyiv region. Through non-formal methodology, the participants guided by a professional facilitator worked on developing practical interfaith skills and their capacities in overcoming religious conflicts, increasing inter- and intra-religious sensitivity and solidarity in times of pandemic. The 1st day of the workshop was dedicated to the team- and capacity-building activities, introductory presentation on interreligious clashes and peacebuilding in the world, and a group work (World Café method). The 2nd day included a game on religious diversity, discussion on political and religious conflicts, and a group work for developing practical skills how to decrease the level of interfaith clashes in Ukrainian realities. The workshop also empowered networking between representatives of different religious traditions in Ukraine and encouraged their collaboration on future projects.