Junior Youth Empowerment Program

One of the main activities the Baha'i community is focusing now on are programs aimed and designed to empower the junior youth and start them off on a lifetime of service. “Junior Youth” are classified as those who are between the ages of 12 and 15. It's those 3 crucial years of life that one is between being a child and being a youth. It's a time of physical, emotional, social and environmental changes, where the intellect of these young people are being challenged to comprehend the world around them.

The “objective is the empowerment of the participants through development of [their] spiritual perception, enhancement of the power of expression and the building of a sound moral structure...it moulds the capacities of junior youth for service to humanity.”

What does it mean to develop their “spiritual perception”, “enhance their power of expression” and “build a sound moral structure”?

My understanding of developing a spiritual perception is that these teens will be able to start seeing the world through spiritual eyes, through the eyes of virtues and that of our spiritual nature, and not through the eyes of materialism or the status quo. As for enhancing their power of expression, in most people's eyes, tweens, aren't the most eloquent of people, but they are in truth very intelligent and have all the tools to lead a community, they just need to leran to hone that sill; having a structure where the power of comprehension and communication is focused on, the teens will hopefully learn how to eloquently and effectively put their ideas on the table, how to express their feelings, and how to effectively make a change in their environment. Building a sound moral structure is that of helping them construct an environment around based on a moral standard that is conducive to their development. Morality is on a low in this world, so to have youth that have a moral basis in their life has the potential to change what we perceive as “normal” and accepted.

A class generally consists of arts and crafts, games, sports, as well as prayer and lessons based in moral values. This type of structure allows the pre-youth to have somewhere they can focus all their artistic and physical energy on.

“After a time he enters the period of youth in which his former conditions and needs are superseded by new requirements applicable to the advance in his degree. His faculties of observation are broadened and deepened, his intelligent capacities are trained and awakened, the limitations and environment of childhood no longer restrict his energies and accomplishments.” (Abdu'l-Baha)

I am currently helping out with a friend's junior youth group which consists of 6 non-Baha'i girls, full of energy and willingness to learn and participate. At times it's really hard to keep them focused, but then I have to remind myself that I am there as a friend, a mentor, not a teacher- that while they need structure, they also need companionship and friendship which is at times even more important.

I have found it hard to connect to the junior youth, so I made it a point to gain some sort of experience while here in Australia. I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to help with this class I'm in- the girl that started it is full of energy herself and knows exactly what she's doing through experience- hopefully with this experience, I'll be able to get involved and assist with a JY when I get back home.

The purpose of this program isn't to “convert” the youth, just like how getting enrollments in the Faith isn't the main purpose of teaching. The curriculum is based in Baha'i writings, but the main thing it aims to do is to set these young people, with so much vigor and fire, on a path of service to humanity for the rest of their lives.

They are they future, they are the ones that are going to shape our world- we're constantly handing the progress of our society to the next generation...don't you want that generation to be full of vitality, eloquence, passion, faith and understanding of the influence each and every person has on the world? I know I do.