More than 300 young people will be taking part in a three-day Bahá’í Youth Conference slated to begin today as part of a drive to encourage the youth to contribute to the well-being of their communities.
In a press release, the Bahá’í Office of External Affairs said youths have been gathering in a series of conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice, which is the international governing body of the Bahá’í Faith. One hundred and fourteen youth conferences, scheduled between July and October of this year, are being held worldwide in five continents. Participants from French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago will assemble in Georgetown for the conference that has been scheduled for this region, the release said.
Among the themes that the youth will discuss are the unique characteristics that distinguish the period of youth, the great responsibility facing young people to contribute to the betterment of society, and the importance of fostering an environment of encouragement.
The release stated that many registered to attend are already engaged in offering acts of service in their own neighbourhoods and villages, including efforts to help those younger than themselves to channel their energies for the progress of their communities.
At each of the conferences, participants will plan how best to serve their communities upon their return home. Study sessions, group consultations, and artistic presentations are common to the programme of each conference.
The release added that in a July 1, 2013 letter addressed to all participants, the Universal House of Justice observed that “although your realities are shaped by a broad diversity of circumstances, yet a desire to bring about constructive change and a capacity for meaningful service, both characteristic of your stage of life, are neither limited to any race or nationality, nor dependent upon material means.”
The same letter encouraged the participants to see these gatherings as part of an ever-expanding conversation about the well-being of their communities.
