ATHENS, Ohio -- Scholars and educators will gather to explore the experience of childhood in, near and around Islamic societies at a conference on "Children and Islam: Faith and Social Change in Africa & Southeast Asia" at Ohio University April 10 through 12 in Morton Hall.

"As recent events have put images and ideas of the Muslim world on our television screens 24 hours a day, it is important that we differentiate among the experiences of the world's billions of Muslims and the impact of this faith on the children," said Steven Howard, conference convener and director of the Institute for the African Child, one of the conference sponsors.

In this context of examining Islam's impact on children, the conference sessions will address such issues as education, family life, children's rights and youth movements. Featured speakers will come from Southeast Asia, Africa, India, across the United States and Ohio University.

Children will not only be the focus of the discussion at the conference, they will also actively participate. A collaboration intended to break down stereotypes and build cross-cultural understanding between students from Amesville Elementary School in Athens County and Somali students from the International Academy in Columbus will culminate with a presentation to the conference participants.

More than 100 students from area schools will also be selected to participate in a day-long interactive media workshop, which will introduce the youth to the tools of "media literacy" -- the ability to read between the lines and apply a critical analysis of images, tests and films encountered in popular culture and the media.

Facilitators for the children's workshop are: Firdoze Bulbulia, a South African documentary film producer who specializes in working with children and youth; Rajendra Kumar Sethia, an educator and motivator from India whose experience includes conducting workshops on inter-cultural sensitivity and non-verbal communication; and Polly Sandenburgh, a director of outreach at Ohio University's Center for International Studies.

The conference will begin on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. with an opening address by Howard, director of the Institute for the African Child and associate professor of education at Ohio University. He will address how children learn Islam in Africa and Southeast Asia.

The conference will close on Saturday with a session led by Osman Bakar, Malaysia Chair of Islam in Southeast Asia at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.

"Children and Islam: Faith and Social Change in Africa & Southeast Asia" is sponsored by Ohio University's Institute for the African Child, the Southeast Asian Studies Program and Lifelong Learning Programs. Interested community members are welcome to attend conference sessions. For more information, contact conference coordinator Acacia Nikoi at (740) 597-1368.