Flora Teckie is a professional architect, a Bahá’í Faith follower, and spiritual columnist.
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Youth have a significant role to play in transforming society. However, the current approaches to raising youth often treat them as receptacles of information rather than active members of society. Yet, young people are anxious to become partners in helping to plan the world they will inherit.
We observed, last week, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Regarding the role that our youth can play to eliminate racism, the Bahá'í International Community states: “The unique role of youth in efforts to combat racism must be particularly emphasised. Their innate ability to be active agents of change and to lead these efforts should be fully nurtured and encouraged. Youth engagement in this context is boundless, but we would like to mention two key aspects here. First, no effort should be spared to involve diverse young people in spaces where significant decisions are made…. Secondly… youth must be at the forefront of initiatives to foster new relationships among diverse populations at the grassroots level. When adequately supported, youth have a remarkable capacity to bring people together, organising and engaging in activities that enhance the well-being of entire communities”.
Young people have many wonderful powers, and channelling them properly is very important. Education is the most effective way to shape the values, attitudes, behaviours, and skills of our youth towards creating peaceful communities.
The educational systems and programs must empower our youth to assess the flaws and opportunities in society, and instil in them a sense of moral duty to act for the betterment of the world. They must cultivate tolerance, understanding, love, compassion, equality, humility, and an active commitment to justice.
The Bahá'í International Community says that “educational systems must foster the understanding of the inherent oneness of humanity, while also highlighting the unique and invaluable contributions that the diversity of individuals and communities bring to the advancement of society. This should not be seen as a one-off initiative or occasional project within schools and universities or a mere course designed to convey facts. Rather, promoting this awareness should be viewed as one of the core responsibilities of education. Educational philosophy and curricula must therefore be reimagined with this principle at the forefront”.
An adequate education would enrich both the mind and the spirit. It must be a primary focus of educational processes to build the capacity within young people, to participate fully as protagonists of social progress. Both spiritual and intellectual education will be essential to enable them to realise their full potential, as contributing members of communities that are both socially and spiritually advancing.
“This education”, says the Bahá'í Writings, “in order to be adequate and fruitful should be comprehensive in nature and should take into consideration not only the physical and the intellectual side of man but also his spiritual and ethical aspects”.
Providing youth with guidance that will lead them to combine science and religion, belief and reason is very important, as this will help them to be freed from fanaticism, prejudice, and superstition.
In our increasingly interdependent world, we need to nurture in our youth an appreciation for the richness and importance of the world’s diverse cultural, religious and social systems, as they contribute to social integration, justice, and unity.
Our youth have a significant role to play in transforming society and building of a peaceful world. According to the Bahá'í International Community “rising generations will play a vital role in weaving a new tapestry of community life that can propel humanity’s evolution towards a period of maturity and collective prosperity”.
For feedback please contact: secretary.nsa@bahai.org.za or (011) 801 3100 Websites: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za