Unlocking the Potential of Children and Youth

The moral and spiritual education of children assumes vital importance in a world where the joy and innocence of childhood can so easily be overwhelmed by materialism.

The materials used in these classes emphasise the acquisition of spiritual qualities—for example, truthfulness, generosity, purity of heart, and kindness, to name a few—which are considered attributes of God that are reflected in the mirror of the human heart. 

The goal is for the children to reach a stage in which they can understand and act upon the imperative to tend to their own spiritual development and contribute to the well-being of society.

The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program moti­vates young people aged 12 to 15 to work together with parents and community members to contribute to the well-being of their neighbourhoods and the world at large.

The program is founded on the idea that, to help young people achieve their highest potential, education needs to address both their intellectual and spiritual development. While inspired by the Bahá'í Faith, the program does not approach education in the mode of religious instruction. It affirms that young people have a vital role to play in helping communities grow.

In these groups, junior youth are mentored by older teens and young adults, referred to as “animators,”. Animators strive to awaken junior youth to their own potential, channel their energies, and develop their talents to serve their neighbours, family, and friends. Along the way, many animators discover that the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program makes an impact in their own lives as well as in the lives of the young people they serve.