Building a vibrant community in East Fremantle through genuine friendships, consistency, and perseverance

EAST FREMANTLE, WA – When Sholeh and Jared moved to East Fremantle, they knew they wanted to raise their children in a safe, loving, and vibrant community.

They started the process by inviting people they met into their home, getting to know their neighbours, and becoming involved in local activities.  

“Genuine friendship-building is important. Our goal was to sincerely engage with people, connect, and care for those who crossed our path.”  

Over time, Jared and Sholeh began coaching children’s soccer and netball teams and offering a children’s class. They invited friends to join and ensured the classes were regular, welcoming, and uplifting.  

“Our neighbourhood is mainly made up of middle-class professional families who may not have religion in their lives, but we share common values and a desire to contribute to a better world.”

Through conversations about service, virtues, and community-building, parents began to see the positive impact of the children’s classes in their own families. Together with small acts of care and service, these efforts fostered a strong sense of unity, wellbeing, and purpose.   

Families now spend time together at sporting events, classes, playdates, and social gatherings. During school holidays, they organise activities such as children’s festivals and camping trips. They also collaborate to support the local school and have built a strong relationship with the principal.  

When the children’s class outgrew family homes, the principal agreed to host the classes at school, after school, making it accessible to any child who wishes to attend.  

Over the past six years, the program has expanded to include a junior youth group, and three children’s classes for different age groups. The junior youth group includes young people who graduated from the children’s classes as well as their friends. Three junior youth now teach the youngest children’s class, bringing creativity, enthusiasm, and a deep familiarity with the curriculum.  

Many of the children and youth have developed a love for the stories and history of the Faith, inspired by examples of sacrifice, integrity, and service. They are growing up with a strong sense of identity, hope, belonging, and purpose. One parent, a GP who works at a women’s refuge, suggested an annual service project in which children create hand-decorated wrapping paper and wrap gifts for children arriving at the shelter. Another child whose family friend was diagnosed with MND came to Baha’i classes and proposed a festival fundraiser for MNDi as a way of making a difference, and the whole neighborhood jumped on board to create a vibrant festival. These ideas have been translated into action, together with reflection and devotions.  

Reflecting on what has contributed to the development of this vibrant neighbourhood, Jared and Sholeh identify three key ingredients: genuine friendship, consistency, and perseverance.

“The forces of disintegration are strong, so it takes perseverance to swim against the tide. But we have one life and this is it. We want to build a community where everyone can contribute towards the betterment of our world”. 

Sholeh reflects that when she was growing up, children’s classes often felt like a standalone weekly activity. Today, their understanding has deepened. Now children’s classes, junior youth activities, and the youth movement are embedded as part of a community-building process, with reflection, consultation and action at the core of this process.  

“Everything we do is a conscious step towards building a vibrant neighbourhood where each person can become an agent of change.”