Youth are hope for a brighter future

As we continue observing National Youth Month, it is opportune to reflect on the role of youth in building a better and brighter future.

While youth are our hope for tomorrow, their contribution is not only for the future. It is within their power to contribute significantly to the transformation of society today.

The period of youth is a time for preparation. It is the time for personal change, the time during which youth begin to consciously explore and apply their knowledge, values and beliefs about individual and collective life.

We need to have confidence that our children and youth have great potential and capacities and to help them to develop and enhance these capacities. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, compares human beings to a mine containing many hidden jewels, waiting to be discovered. He says: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom”.

It is therefore important to converse with our youth, listen to their opinions and try to find out how we can help them enhance their potential capacities. They should be guided to analyse the constructive and destructive forces operating in society and recognise the influence these forces have on their thoughts and actions.

In order to develop their latent capabilities and for them to contribute to the betterment of society, it is necessary for our youth to acquire a balanced education. An adequate education involves moral empowerment as well as intellectual development. It involves acquiring spiritual qualities and useful qualifications, developing a high-minded outlook and upright character.

Combining spiritual and intellectual education will help our youth to develop ability and interest to work for the common good. According to the Bahá'í Writings: “Service to humanity is service to God”.

Educating our youth in the principle of service to humanity will arouse and maintain motivation. When this is coupled with the acquisition of practical skills and appropriate technologies, will open many possibilities for development and advancement in our societies.

A guidance leading our youth to combine science and religion, belief and reason, will help free our children and youth from fanaticism and superstition. Placing emphasis on learning to think, rather than following adults out of fear, to reflect and reason, rather than to imitate, will motivate them to apply moral laws and guidance with understanding and conviction.

We need a new direction in education that emphasises the role of youth as global citizens and prepares young people to act in the long-term interests of humanity as a whole. Such an education would instil in them the awareness of the fundamental oneness of the human family and to work for peace.

“Everywhere the signs multiply that the earth's peoples yearn for an end to conflict and to the suffering and ruin from which no land is any longer immune. These rising impulses for change must be seized upon and channelled into overcoming the remaining barriers that block realisation of the age-old dream of global peace”, says the Bahá'í International Community in one of its statements.

A great responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society rests on the current generation of youth. They are our hope for a brighter future and a peaceful world. By adhering to high moral standards, by showing integrity and uprightness in their interactions with others, by valuing differences in the human family, and by their commitment to serve humanity, they can become effective actors in building a better and brighter global society.

For feedback please contact: secretary.nsa@bahai.org.za or (011) 801 3100 Websites: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za