Georgette Bennett talks to Nick Higham

Sociologist and campaigner for interreligious relations Dr Georgette Bennett tells the inspiring story of how one woman confronted a humanitarian crisis in Syria by forging partnerships across national, tribal and religious boundaries.

Bennett explains how, during the Syrian civil war, sworn enemies, Syrians and Israelis, Jews and Muslims, came to trust each other with their lives to alleviate suffering. Bennett says the story shows what a few determined individuals can do in the face of inertia and indifference. And she says it offers a beacon of hope for the hate-based clashes plaguing the world today.

Bennett is a sociologist and founder of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees. She works with faith leaders to delegitimise misuse of religion to justify violence. Here she talks to journalist Nick Higham, who was the BBC’s first ever media correspondent and is a former presenter of Meet the Author on the BBC news channel.