YOUTH SPACE

YOUTH SPACE you want it  - you got it! A dedicated space in the Journal for youth ...

A regular way of communicating ideas and successes to each other, sharing stories and deepening in the Faith in a way that is relevant to you. There's a lot going on out there,so please, let the rest of us hear about it - send stuff  to the Editor, Bahá'í Journal UK, 2 Devonshire Place, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7BZ e-mail: maund@chesternet.co.uk

WETLANDS IV

29th Dec - 2nd Jan European Youth Conference

Wetlands returns to Carmarthen, Wales, bringing together the youth of the UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, old and young, tall and small, bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Revamped, reinvigorated, recognisably WETLANDS, book now to avoid spending 31st December watching BBC1's best efforts...

For registration information contact your regional youth committee, or e-mail mailto:byce@warble.com, or write to Barry Thorne, 2 Allesborough Drive, Pershore, Worcs. WR10 1JH  or check out http://www.ebyc.org/wetlands

Bushfire Projects - events coming up ...

Bushfire Projects residential events are open to Bahá'í youth and their friends. All are held in a 50-bed adventure centre in Gloucestershire and run to high standards.

28th December - 2nd January: "Refreshing the Promise" - Exploring the Covenants of the Messengers and how they have developed. For 14 - 18+ year olds. 5 nights. £55.

22nd - 25th February: "SDR2" (Sex n' Drugs n' Rock & Roll) - Exploring the impact of modern society on young people's morals and values, and the Bahá'í perspective. For 13 - 18+ year olds. 3 nights. £35.

Details and bookings, Tel: 01453 766356  e-mail: mailto:BushfireUK@aol.com

 

Participants at the "Unity" weekend in Wales

 

Participants at the "What Next?" youth camp in Bath in August.

 

 

Diversity Dance Theatre

 

Australia needs Bahá'í youth for a 5-month service project starting Feb 2001.

 

DDT Aus is a newly established international Bahá'í youth workshop using drama and dance to proclaim and teach the principles of the Faith. There'll be training, deepening, teaching, travelling and lots of fun down under... To know more contact the Australian Diversity Dance Theatre organising committee: ddtheater@gmx.net or YOS Desk , Sylvia Miley, 97 Waterloo Road, Southport PR8 4QN. Tel/fax: 01704 551514 or Esmyr Koomen, Tel: 01865 407887 e-mail: mailto:yosdesk@koomen.demon.co.ukhttp://www.bahai.org.uk/yos

 

Panacea in Bristol

 

"Thought-provoking, serious, fun and essential", is how the Bristol Observer newspaper described Panacea, the Performing Arts Workshop from the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel.

 

Panacea (means a universal remedy) visited Bristol for two weeks this summer during July and August running performing arts workshops during the day and presenting public performances of "the Wonderlamp", based on a story written by the Hand of the Cause, A Q Faizi, in the evening.

 

Panacea is a group of performers from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds, which bases a lot of it's goals on the Ridván 153 message from the Universal House of Justice which states, "friends are also asked to give greater attention to the use of the arts, not only for proclamation but also for the work in expansion and consolidation... Art can better awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalizing especially among the mass of the people."

 

Panacea aims to train members of  local communities "youth force"  in the skills of the Bahá'í arts workshop, in order that new workshops will emerge and in turn, teach the Faith through performing arts after Panacea leaves. This was the purpose of Panacea's project in Bristol. During their stay, Panacea involved the local and some national youth in their workshops and with the help of "Shine" dance group, they successfully attracted crowds on many occasions with their unique style of "step" dancing on the streets of Bristol.

 

Many non-Bahá'ís and local contacts came to their evening performances of  "the Wonderlamp" and their last performance at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton was attended by the Labour MP Valerie Davey, an active human rights supporter and very much aware of the persecution of the Bahá'ís in Iran.

 

A reporter from the BBC came to meet Panacea and take photos for their web site. If you want to check this out, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/082000/04/news3/dance.shtml

 

Comments from local youth, who attended the workshops -

 

"I liked the "drug" dance and the Wonderlamp play. The whole thing was very well organised." Parissa Faridani

 

"Great two weeks. Really inspiring!" Leyla Sabet

 

"It was very good. Lots to do and you never got bored." Mai Sabet-Parry.

 

The carefree life at Sidcot

 

Isn't life great at summer school? This year at Sidcot it seemed like there were hundreds of youth. They especially like to come out at night. I don't know where they are all day, but as it grows dark they emerge and can be found in groups or crowds, laughing and chatting together. It's very refreshing to be around that many young people and not feel threatened by trouble. That's Bahá'í youth for you, fun, kind, considerate and helpful, if you happen to be looking for your own offspring in the dark, attempting to negotiate some sort of bed time. Bedtime? No chance, this is summer school, this is Sidcot and for a lot of these people it's the one time in the year when they can feel free and safe, happy and accepted for who and what they are. Who needs sleep? Only the adults it seems!

 

Anne Maund

 

What Next?

 

Not everyone has the opportunity to attend Bahá'í classes on a regular basis and for some that do, things sometimes dwindle out once people reach the age of around 15. A combination of extra studies, increasing social life outside the family and lack of provision for this group in our Bahá'í communities leaves the way open for our youth to vote with their feet and be gone. What a sad situation that is.

 

Mark Aldred from Bath (see photo, back row, left), helped to organise a youth event  in his area. Nine young people, their families and dogs enjoyed an August weekend camp. Thanks to all who gave their time to provide stimulating sessions, especially the Dacey family who provided the venue, surprises and spiritual wonderment.

 

Cheap shots

 

If you are wondering why there are so many photos featuring the Maund youth it is because I am waiting for YOU to send pics from your camera.  So get snapping!

 

Ed

 

 

 

 

Some of the happy youth at this year's Sidcot summer school