How Ryde has launched an expanding community-building process that crosses the generational divide

RYDE, NSW – A community in Sydney is learning how to develop an expanding community-building process that embraces individuals of all ages and asks them to find their role as agents of change. 

Ryde’s community-building process began in July 2022. A taskforce was formed to learn more about the idea of launching children’s festivals in the neighbourhood and bringing residents together to address the spiritual, material and intellectual needs of young people in the locality. 

“The first children’s festival was held [in the neighbourhood of Meadowbank],” the taskforce reflects. “Since then, festivals have continued consistently, helping to build relationships within the community.” 

A systematic planning process 

Prior to each festival, the taskforce would meet to plan, deciding on the theme, activities, invitations, and logistics. One member would distribute flyers in local grocery stores, community centres, and libraries, while others engaged in conversations with locals in parks and streets of Meadowbank – personally inviting families and friends. 

“The Meadowbank Facebook page was also used to share invitations, which became one of the more effective ways of attracting families to the festivals,” the team reflected. “After each festival, the task force would reflect together, discuss learnings, and plan the next steps, including the date and focus of the following event.”

An expanding community-building process

The Ryde team is currently working alongside the Mongolian community, particularly with junior youth and their families.  

Since the establishment of the children’s festivals, formal children’s classes have been launched in the Meadowbank neighbourhood, as well as groups for junior youth aged between 12 and 15. These activities are being spearheaded by a strengthening youth movement. 

The youth movement began in 2024 when three youth were inspired to further the ongoing community-building efforts in the area having recently completed the Action Reflection Consultation and Study (ARCS) intensive capacity building program based on the Ruhi Training Institute. 

“This was … the beginning of more coordinated youth-led action contributing to the wider community-building process.” 

Initially, Friday youth spaces were organised consisting of prayer, games and meaningful conversations and exploring themes including purpose, suffering, tests and true friendship. 

“In the youth spaces, one of the most significant impacts has been the creation of a strong sense of belonging and spiritual connection among participants,” the team says. “Many youth describe the devotional gatherings as a “family” environment, where they feel safe, supported, and able to explore deeper questions of life and spirituality.” 

“For many who initially felt disconnected from their spiritual identity, these spaces have provided a consistent environment for reflection, friendship, and meaningful conversation, gradually strengthening their sense of purpose and connection to service.” 

“In parallel, the youth supported the ongoing children’s festivals, which helped build their capacity through active service.”

Building on this foundation, it wasn’t long before one of the youth connected with a Mongolian/English speaking parent. This connection opened relationships with several Mongolian junior youth in the local area. “What began as weekly park-based classes gradually expanded into camps and family festivals with the Mongolian community, further strengthening the junior youth program and deepening community bonds.” 

Junior youth groups are now held weekly at the local park, complemented by camps and family festivals. 

Recently, a junior youth camp was held near the Sydney Baha’i House of Worship with 13 Mongolian-born junior youth from the neighbourhood.

Participants studied texts from the junior youth curriculum including Walking the Straight Path and Glimmerings of Hope and participated in a range of sports and recreation activities before attending a special prayer service and learning more about the concept of prayer and reverence.

“There are also plans to establish an additional junior youth group to meet the increasing interest in the area. This would help accommodate more participants and ensure continuity as the program expands.”

Crossing the generational divide 

Through children’s classes and festivals, entire families, including parents, grandparents and extended family are engaged in the local educational process and are taking on active roles contributing to the well-being of their surroundings. 

“As families witness the transformation in their children, many have become more involved in the process themselves, attending children’s festivals, devotional gatherings, study circles, and Baha’i Holy Day celebrations.  

“Some parents have even begun participating in Ruhi study circles while their children attend classes, and a group of mothers connected to [one of the] children’s classes has begun meeting to discuss how they can support and contribute to community activities.” 

“More recently, some parents have expressed interest in initiating children’s festivals in another pocket of North Ryde, showing how the process is beginning to be carried forward by the community itself.” 

“These developments are early glimpses of social transformation, with growing unity, collaboration, and a shared sense of responsibility for the well-being of the neighbourhood.” 

Challenges faced 

In the youth space, a key challenge has been sustaining regular participation in the prayer gatherings and inviting participants into more sturctured Ruhi Institute study circles where they can systematically study material aimed at strengthening their capacity to serve their community. 

While many youth are enthusiastic about the space, busy schedules often make consistent attendance difficult. The team has found that ongoing encouragement, flexibility, and gradual accompaniment have been key. 

“A key future direction is to continue regular devotionals while gradually increasing participation from friends and others in the neighbourhood. The aim is to channel this growing engagement into the institute process, supporting individuals to build capacity for service and contribute to community life.” 

Working with individuals whose first language is not English has also posed a challenge for the youth, particularly those working with the junior youth program. 

“At times, it has been difficult for facilitators, who are mostly Australian-born, to create natural flow and connection with the Mongolian junior youth,” the team reflected. 

Through the junior youth program, however, participants have grown spiritual insights and practical skills, and have also enhanced their English skills. 

“Early on, these expressions were simple and often delivered in their first language, with translation needed. Over time, however, the junior youth have developed greater confidence in articulating complex spiritual ideas in their second language, demonstrating significant growth in communication, reflection, and understanding.”

Ensuring a systematic and sustainable approach 

The team is focusing on meeting more regularly as a core group to reflect, consult, and plan together. There is also a desire to collaborate more closely with the local governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Local Spiritual Assembly, and create broader spaces for consultation and planning so more members of the community can take ownership of the process. 

The community is regularly studying messages from the international governing body of the Baha’i Faith, the Universal House of Justice. This helps to unify vision, strengthen understanding of the educational process, and guide collective planning and action in a coherent and systematic way 

The Ryde community now has its sights set on expanding those working on the community-building process, raising more teachers to support the growing number of children’s activities. 

“There is significant potential to open new classes, particularly a children’s class for ages 7–10, in response to growing interest within the neighbourhood,” the team says. 

“To support sustainability, there is also an emphasis on developing more individuals who can accompany and help sustain these efforts over time.”