Students belonging from different social backgrounds sometimes can never be on the same page, owing to difference of opinion and different approaches to life. Keeping that in mind, it is important for all students to interact with each other rather than harbouring prejudices. These were some of the findings when a 150 university and madrasa students from Multan interacted with each other, in a series of five youth camps, organised by the Pakistant Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). The camp, consisting of learning workshops and day-long study tours, was designed to enable students of madrasa and university, shed their mutually-held misperceptions and stereotypes about each other. During the interactions, students admitted that the two have different conceptions of the world around them. What was striking was that students did not interact much even within the same group. Seminary students, because of studying in sect-based institutions, do not intermingle much with students of other sect’s seminary. So much so that while a madrasa student might have visited a university, he will be more reluctant to step into the seminary of another sect. The study tour helped them overcome this unease. Madrasas should be encouraged for cross-madrasa interactions. Similarly, in public-sector universities, students often come from different regions, speaking different languages. Instead of letting this diversity plunge into discrimination and violence at campuses, universities should celebrate the blending in of different ethnicities, such as through cultural days. Renowned experts and scholars who spoke in the youth camp included Amanat Rasool, Ammar Khan Nasir, Shahid Nadeem, Yasir Pirzada, Wajahat Masood and Amjad Tufail, besides other researchers. Speakers taught students that having differences is not wrong. “Human civilisations have progressed on the basis of differences. But the way differences are expressed can have repercussions,” they said. Students curiously asked about avoiding tussles amid differences. It emerged that dialogue, which involves exchange of ideas with each other, produces amiable environment, rather than resorting to monologue contests, where the intention is to win over the other. PIPS noted that students should be taught about conducting dialogue in educational establishments. Students, 18 to 25 years old, were also advised not to resort to fake news online. Fake news, it was noted, produces hate speech. One of the best ways to stop hate speech online is to train students on checking authenticity of reports. Being better equipped will lead to being better informed, a sure remedy for countering lies and hate. Published in Daily Times, October 14th 2018.