How the Baha’i institute has infused a collective spirit in the youth of Westmead 

A group of young people from the neighbourhood of Westmead in Sydney’s west are witnessing how Baha’i institute camps are creating a collective spirit among the local youth while infusing the community with vitality, vigour and strengthening bonds of support. 

At a recent institute camp held at the Sydney Baha’i House of Worship, a group of youth studied Book 1 of the sequence of courses which focuses on Reflections on the Life of the Spirit.

Held on the temple grounds, participant Pratik Shah said the camp included both “fruitful and dedicated study”, as well as a “lighthearted and fun atmosphere”. 

Pratik said with the Temple being close to the coast, participants were able to visit the beach regularly, and also enjoy prayers at the House of Worship. 

“Another benefit of camps at the temple grounds, with a small and intimate group, is that participants are able to share the collective responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the facility. Sharing duties served as a great way to boost fellowship, especially cooking together which the participants really enjoyed, likely because of the creative nature of it,” he said.

Westmead’s Hari Remala said the camps offered a practical course of action for those receptive to the community-building vision of the Baha’i Faith. 

“It helps individuals to take their first steps on the path of service and unites them with other like-minded individuals,” he said. “We have learned that while institute camps have unique benefits, especially when done residentially and for longer durations, creating opportunities to study the Ruhi Books in other modes such as weekly study circles in a timely and suitable manner also harnesses the eagerness of receptive souls.  

“Gradually, as more individuals study the courses and enter the field of action, the nucleus of individuals committed to social transformation begins to grow, helping the institute process to take root within a community.”

Hari said institute camps enrich the community-building process in several ways. 

“Some of these include creating a collective spirit among youth which naturally infuses the community with vitality and vigor, strengthening the bonds of mutual support among youth which extends beyond service to other dimensions of life, increased intensity in teaching as youth put into action the practice components of the books they are studying, a greater commitment to the institute process – especially the responsibility of serving the younger generations, and a stronger desire to explore the Word of God individually and in collective spaces.”

Westmead’s community-building efforts have been unfolding for more than a decade, with several families involved in the core team and many others participating in the institute activities including children’s classes, junior youth activities, study circles and devotional gatherings.