Last month, 6500 participants (2500 from 37 countries outside Algeria) came together for seven days at the Sufi Centenial in Mostaganem, Algeria around the theme of Sowing Hope. Each day had a different focus: preserving the earth; education and awakening; the role of media; the impact of globalization; divine revelation, and Sufism. Another goal was to enhance Algerian self-esteem after years of severe political oppression.
Security was high and necessary, under the auspices of the Algerian President, a friend of the Sheikh Bentounès who leads the Alawiyya Sufi congregation, so our presenters did not see Algeria, just a few routes to and from the conference site, eating and lodging places, between Oran airport and Mostaganem.
For Belgian-born, Bay Area Facilitator, Noelle Poncelet, who brought the Symposium to the French-speaking world, it was an “unbelievably rich and warm immersion into the heart of Islam. First I learned about the art of welcoming – the Sufi way – with exquisite, sustained and warm attention, and informal teaching by hundreds of volunteers working selflessly day and night for Islam, Sufism, and their Sheikh.”
Noelle was joined by a powerful team that included (pictured left to right next to Noelle, on far left): Hassina Boukrouh, (France) responsible for AV, Nassera Bousbaine (Belgium) who made the agreement with the Sheikh to deliver the symposium and managed the whole initiative for a year, Rony Mecattaf, (France-Lebanon), Fattouma Djerrari, President of Terre et Humanisme (Initiative of Pierre rabhi) in Morocco who followed our symposium with an earth-based initiative of reinstituting pride in small farmers practicing organic farming methods, and Michel Simonis (Belgian).
First, there was an introduction to the Symposium for 2000 people in the main auditorium on the first morning that was very well received, and culminated in seven TV interviews, including, to the surprise of the presenters, the local Oil Company TV station.
The actual Symposium was given over 3 afternoons, starting that same day. Despite many challenges including AV breakdowns and simultaneous translations from French to Arabic and Berber, the team worked very well together. The feedback was very moving and positive with requests for symposiums in Benin, Morocco, Egypt and Algeria (Africa), and in Syria.
