Ep. 49: Challenges for Education: Solutions – Not Sides: Experiences in Education from the UK (Sharon Booth & Mohamed Ali Amla – Solutions – Not Sides, UK)

Guests: Sharon Booth, CEO Solutions – Not Sides, Mohamed Ali Amla, Public Affairs Director, Solutions – Not Sides Hosts: Mert, Alexandria, Yusuf Bio: Sharon Booth is the Founding Executive Director of Solutions – Not Sides, a leading UK NGO fostering constructive dialogue about Israel/Palestine in schools. She studied Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University, taught English in Tunisia, worked on youth publishing initiatives in Amman, and served at the British Embassy. She holds a master’s with distinction from King’s College London, specializing in nationalism and religion. In 2010, she founded Solutions – Not Sides to empower students to engage in non-partisan, solutions-focused learning. Mohammed Ali Amla is the Public Affairs Director at Solutions – Not Sides, overseeing public affairs, crisis communication, strategic partnerships, and youth leadership programs. With over twenty years of experience in faith and policy, he is a researcher, educator, and practitioner. He founded Lita’arafu and Christian Muslim Encounters, advising widely on interfaith dialogue, conflict resolution, peace-building, and community leadership. He focuses on equipping young people to become bridge-builders while addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and structural inequality. In this episode: Mert, Alexandria, and Yusuf speak with Sharon Booth and Mohammed Ali Amla about Solutions – Not Sides’ mission and work. They discuss the NGO’s non-partisan, values-driven, and solutions-focused approach, including youth-led workshops and programs such as the Bridge Builders Programme and the Olive Branch Award. The conversation examines strategies for addressing bias, antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism, and for teaching empathy and critical thinking in schools. The guests share insights from classrooms and campuses across the UK, reflecting on broader international implications. Listeners gain practical guidance for creating safe spaces, fostering solutions-oriented thinking, and empowering young people to engage critically and empathetically with one of the world’s most contested conflicts. This episode was recorded September 1, 2025. Links: https://solutionsnotsides.co.uk/ Disclaimer: Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast team. Technical legal terms are explained in Episode 36 with Prof. Claus Kreß; contested histories are addressed by Prof. Gudrun Krämer in Episode 21.