Celebrating 30 years of sharing food and warmth across Victoria

For 30 years, the Munirih Khanum Project has been sharing warmth, food, and plenty of love to isolated friends and older Baha’is living both in Melbourne and across Victoria. 

Named after the wife of ‘Abdu’l-Baha – the son of the Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith – the project initially launched in New South Wales when a group of Baha’is started visiting rural communities. “They named this activity the Munirih Khanum Project,” says project member Manizheh Davies. 

Not long after learning about this initiative, a group of friends from Victoria decided to launch a similar initiative locally. They sought input from interested individuals who came together to “propose, frame and discuss” the idea together. 

“70 souls responded and attended the gathering,” Manizheh recalls. “Harnessing such a force of energy, it was identified that multiple projects were feasible.” 

Since then, the Munirih Khanum Project has visited individuals and families in rural and regional areas and spent some time connecting with Indigenous communities and organisations across the state. 

For three decades, the team has also been organising monthly gatherings for senior members of the Baha’i community in Melbourne. “Members of the group provide transport for attendees, organise appropriate programs, including prayer gatherings and social aspects, often with a keynote speaker,” Manizheh says. 

“Other activities of this group include organising outings around five times a year including short trips in country Victoria and visiting senior friends in nursing homes and retirement villages.” 

Manizheh says the group continued to visit isolated individuals and small communities and assist with programs and catering of special Baha’i Holy Days or Nineteen Day Feasts. For those who do not have regular contact with Baha’is, this is often the harbinger of much joy. 

“We make a total of about 10 trips per year in supporting these friends in their activities,” she says. 

“Regular communication is maintained through designing and sending calendars and greeting cards four times per year on the occasions of Naw Ruz, Ridvan, the Declaration of The Bab and the Births of The Bab and Baha’u’llah.  

“Recipients commented that these assisted in bridging isolation.” 

In addressing the needs of those residing in rural communities, the project has also organised funerals, burials, and memorials. Thirty years on, Manizheh says these activities continue thanks to “the dedicated support and participation of 13 individuals ensuring that friendship, camaraderie and love is shown to our elders and rural friends.”  

Featured image: The Munirih Khanum Project visits friends in Golden Plains Shire for the commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Bab. The Holy Day is also attended by friends from surrounding regional and rural communities.