*This is the work of an individual for a college course.
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program (JYSEP) is a global movement inspiring young people, parents, and community members to work together toward a better world. Over the past 20 years, the program has grown from a small grassroots program in Puerto Tejada, Columbia to now being found in countless cities, towns, neighborhoods and villages in more than 150 countries around the world.
YOUTH
Regardless of their social situations, young people aspire for spiritual and intellectual growth and “to make a contribution to the fortunes of humanity”. They have many wonderful powers, and channelling them properly is an important concern, for when misdirected or manipulated by others, they can cause much social distress. A great responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society faces the current generation of youth. |
ANIMATOR
On youth also rests the duty of fostering an environment in which the younger members of society can attain the spiritual and intellectual powers needed to become builders of a new civilization. Youth create spaces all around the world for younger members of society and help them release the potential that they posses. Each group is guided by an animator, an older youth who is a true friend to the junior youth and helps them express their talents in meaningful ways. Youth who have acted as animators have experienced the rapid development of their own capacity to serve, and found that their sense of purpose has been sharpened. |
JUNIOR YOUTH
When thinking about building capacity to bring about spiritual and material transformation, we should remember the important role that the younger generations play in a community. Specifically, those between the ages of 12 and 15, whom we refer to as “junior youth”, have tremendous potential to grow up to become protagonists of change. They are no longer children but not yet adults. The habits developed during this period persist throughout one's life. Unfortunately this is recognized by those who wish to take advantage of people to increase their own power and wealth. Through different means they influence junior youth negatively, who are vulnerable without proper education. |
A short video about the the junior youth spiritual empowerment program
SErvice and art projects
As an important element of the program, junior youth engage in various art projects to help them learn how to express the complex concepts that they study. They carry out service projects to help their community informed by the study of the text and their accurate reading of reality.
Training
We need to acquire knowledge and develop certain qualities, attitudes, skills and abilities if we are to help junior youth release their true potential. The Ruhi Institute conducts courses that enhance our capacity to serve the community. By studying them we gain the spiritual insights and the practical skills needed to walk the path of service together. Many youth have been introduced to this path through the courses of the Ruhi Institute, beginning with the two that prepare them to act as animators of junior youth groups.
In the courses of the institute, study and service are joined and undertaken with the help and support of friends. As we advance through these courses, our capacity to carry out more and more complex acts of service increases. All along, we are accompanied by those who are more experienced than us and, in time, we naturally come to accompany friends with less experience. From the start, we are all protagonists of personal and social transformation, eagerly assuming responsibility for our own learning and for service to the community.
In the courses of the institute, study and service are joined and undertaken with the help and support of friends. As we advance through these courses, our capacity to carry out more and more complex acts of service increases. All along, we are accompanied by those who are more experienced than us and, in time, we naturally come to accompany friends with less experience. From the start, we are all protagonists of personal and social transformation, eagerly assuming responsibility for our own learning and for service to the community.
Inspirated by the baha'i faith
The texts studied in the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment program are inspired by Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings, but they are not material for religious instruction. Those who act as animators of junior youth groups are not required to be Bahá'ís. However, in preparing themselves for this act of service, they need to study the courses of the Ruhi Institute that make explicit reference to the Bahá'í Faith. This is necessary if they are to gain a full understanding of the vital concepts that shape the content of the program and its approach.
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“Let your vision be world embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh
Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God. Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. *Adapted from Bahai.org Visit Bahai.org for more information |
My reflection
My experience with the junior youth empowerment program has been so rich, especially for the past couple of weeks, that I am so encouraged to intensify my efforts and learn more about how to extend the reach of the program to more and more neighborhoods and cities. I can see myself being so immersed in this learning process that I think I will be striving to learn about it for the rest of my life. I will be trying to learn about the developmental projects that emerge from the grassroots and owned by the community itself. Where there is such an ownership, the change becomes much more pronounce in the fabric of society. In the community that I have been living it, I have been able to see the glimpse of change that has happened.