Summer schools solidify vision of service and sacrifice 

The Australian Baha’i summer schools have attracted hundreds of Baha’is and well-wishers of humanity as they have explored how to further the community-building efforts in their own localities in alignment with the needs of the current Nine Year Plan. 

Taking place in various settings across the country, the summer schools were held during January with people of all ages gathering in a spirit of unity and joy to explore various themes. Carefully crafted sessions for children and junior youth were a main feature of each summer school, with the gatherings also filled with art, performance, recreation and wholesome food.

In Victoria, the summer school was held in the town of Blampied, about 120km north-west of Melbourne, at the Rutherford Park retreat. Focusing on the theme of The family’s involvement in the life of society, the summer school welcomed guest speaker and former Universal House of Justice member Stephen Hall and his wife Dicy.

The three-day camp included plenaries and small group discussions with arts scattered throughout the program. Mr Hall spoke about the Nine Year Plan, the Covenant, family life and their relationship to society-building. He also shared stories and examples from across the world where community-building endeavours were thriving and from which participants could source inspiration. 

Participant Samin Todd attended with her family of five. She said it was inspiring to spend quality time with like-minded individuals in a learning mode and to explore opportunities for service with other families.

“In particular, I appreciate my children having spaces where they can foster friendships with more children around Victoria and form a stronger identity around who they are and how they belong in this world,” Samin said. 

Mr and Mrs Hall also attended the Sydney and Tasmanian summer schools, which both focused on the same theme of families and community life.

The Sydney camp saw more than 100 daily visitors and more than 140 staying on-site. Co-organiser, Azita Ansari, said participants described the summer school as “a remarkable gathering filled with joy, learning, and community spirit.” 

“The participants expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the well-organised programs, inspiring talks, and memorable social activities,” she said. 

“[They] were thrilled to meet and listen to Mr and Mrs Hall, whose talks left a lasting impact on everyone. Their inspirational messages resonated deeply with the audience, setting a positive and uplifting tone for the weekend.”

Azita said the summer school was a vibrant celebration of learning, service, and connection. 

“The event successfully fostered an atmosphere of love, joy, and unity, leaving participants energised and inspired. The positive feedback and high levels of engagement underscore the event’s success, and many are already looking forward to the next gathering.”

The Tasmanian summer school was held at the Tasmanian Baha’i Centre to Learning in Hobart at the end of January.

Participant Alpha Ye Jie Chua said the highlight of the summer school was meeting people from Tasmania and interstate and visiting the Baha’i Centre of Learning for the first time since moving to Tasmania. 

“There was also an emphasis on organic growth as well as suffusion of the Baha’i teachings, encouraging creativity and the arts to catalyse this process.” 

Negin Iranmehr said the summer school objectives were to build and further strengthen the bonds of friendship among the friends, create an atmosphere of love and unity, and further emphasise on some of the elements of the Nine Year Plan.   

“A lot of individual plans were made by people in regards to their personal reality and the needs of their community,” Negin said. “I think for a lot of participants it was a source of motivation and individual reflection about how and what they can contribute.  

“I think that many of the participants felt hopeful, energised, motivated and more clear in their vision [and] better familiar with the goals of the plan and the responsibility that lies on our shoulders.”

The Western Australian summer school hosted more than 300 adults, youth, junior youth, children and toddlers from across the state, with some additions from interstate and overseas. 

Adults and youth had the chance to reflect on concepts presented, share their ideas and explore the themes through artistic endeavours in the workshop spaces that followed.

One participant shared that the “plenary session in the smaller groups provided insights from another community on social action learnings that have helped frame some changes to action needed in our social action endeavour and community engagement strategies.”

Another shared that the summer school was always a “great place for friends to meet and learn” while someone else shared that the children’s, junior youth and youth programs were “key factors on making the experience enjoyable.”

The Nine Year Plan is one of the first in a series of ambitious plans for the worldwide Baha’i community, spanning the next quarter-century, which focuses on “a single aim: the release of the society-building power of the Faith in ever-greater measures.” Each Plan provides a framework for action, empowering the Baha’i community to strengthen its community-building efforts in towns, villages and cities across the globe in a bid to advance the material, spiritual and economic life of society.