Raising capacity in the regions: The reflections of a youth pioneer

In this interview with Australian Baha’i Horizons, Ryan Zare speaks about his pioneering journey and the community-building process underway in his new hometown of Carnarvon, Western Australia.

The regional country town of Carnarvon is located about 1000 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia at the mouth of the Gascoyne River where the mainland meets the Indian Ocean. Renowned for its fruit and vegetable production, it’s a tropical oasis that for almost four years has served as the hometown of 23-year-old Ryan Zare. 

Ryan fell in love with regional WA when he and a group of friends had a three-week stint in a rural town as part of a special summer program dedicated to spearheading the community-building process in the regions. 

“Those three weeks are among my most cherished ever,” he recalls. “These friends and I formed close bonds of friendship, and the experience planted the seed in my mind that ‘all forms of service bring joy and draw blessings like a magnet’.” 

Upon his return to Perth, Ryan “dove straight into university” but continued to revisit the regions. It’s during this time he felt a yearning to pioneer long-term. 

In consultation with the relevant institutions, he moved to Gascoyne cluster, teaming up with the other Baha’is living in the town and securing part-time employment to sustain himself. 

Over the past four years, the Gascoyne community-building process has been underpinned by a solid process of reflection, study and planning and action. Initially focusing on hosting institute camps aimed at embracing more individuals into the fold, Ryan says the approach has shifted more towards capacity-building in recent years, rather than the delivery of events. 

“As we gained more experience and learned how to read the reality of the cluster, it became clearer that we needed to adjust our focus to work within a more sustainable model and examine our personal views which included our egos.  

“Through deeper reflections we came to realise we needed to focus on the capacity building skills embedded in the institute process. 

“While we had managed to run study circles at camps, what we needed to do was to learn how to raise a cadre of tutors. In a sense, we had to take a really good look at ourselves and go back to basics. 

“While institute camps were exciting, we needed to see the institute as a capacity building process.” 

Throughout the pioneering process, Ryan says he has developed patience, generosity, and steadfastness. He says he has grown in his understanding of the trauma that exists in the world and is better able to understand why the Writings say we must ‘let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who cross your path’.  

He also says the “love, support and accompaniment” of the Auxiliary Board members has played a significant role in his pioneering journey, as well as some specific Writings that have helped him along his path of service, including ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s words: 

“Leaving an already established life behind and trying to rise to the exigencies of pioneering had been a huge challenge for me,” Ryan says. “At times it requires a mammoth effort, and there are some attitudes and qualities that are monumental which I’m still working on. 

“Without a doubt anytime we have felt our efforts are not fruitful and we are running around in circles, the (Universal House of Justice) messages have helped guide and strengthen our action. 

“In times of great difficulty, focusing my thoughts on prayer has been a great solace, and in times of prosperity making sure I thank God for both my blessings and challenges has been very humbling.”