COMMITTEES & DEPARTMENTS

Association for Bahá’í Studies (English-Speaking Europe)

23rd IRFAN COLLOQUIUM / SEMINAR 14 - 16 JULY 2000

Mysticism and the Bahá’í Faith - Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation during the ‘Akká Period A joint meeting of the Association of Bahá’í Studies (ESE) Religious Studies Special Interest Group and the Irfan Colloquium, followed by a seminar on the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh during the ‘Akká period.

London School of Economics, London

Registration: Mirta Lopez, Flat 1, 64 Addison Road, London W14 8JL  Tel: 020 7371 6022  e-mail: mailto:mirta@compuserve.comAdrian Kielhorn, e-mail: mailto:adrain.kielhorn@cwcom.netPre-registration is required

 Committee for International Pioneering and Travel Teaching

Pre-school teacher required in Grenada

Nima and Negin Anvar, pioneers on the island of Grenada, are trying to start a Bahá’í preschool for children in Grenada and are seeking a teacher (preferably a woman) who is willing to help start the programme. The teacher does not necessarily have to be a college graduate. However, some experience in the educational field or similar field is preferable. Teachers are preferred who could stay in Grenada for at least one year.

Free accommodation is offered, plus a small monthly stipend, and teaching opportunities at the weekends. The teachers would be teaching 6 hours/day for 5 days/week. They are looking for someone who is responsible, works well with young children, and is creative.

If you are interested, please contact: Thelma Batchelor, CIPTT, Tel: 01372 375782, e-mail: mailto:batchelor@clara.net

Year of Service Desk

Working at The School of the Nations, Brazil

Since reading the Universal House of Justice’s Ridván 2000 Message, I feel confirmed in the Service that myself and three other Year of Service Workers are offering out here in Brasilia, Brazil.

“Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future.”

Working at The School of the Nations, this quote really is borne out every day.  We, the Service Youth, are interacting and in many ways, helping to mould the “future”!  Due to the school being in the new capital of Brazil, the children that study at the school come from highly influential backgrounds where there is a lot of importance placed on materialism. Yet during these precious formative years of their lives, they are exposed to an incredible Bahá’í environment every day!

The classes start at 8am with a Bahá’í prayer or any prayer in Portuguese or English that the children feel they would like to share with the class. The programme is bilingual with half the day in     English and half in Portuguese. Aside from offering a bilingual curriculum, which distinguishes the School of the Nations from other schools, the philosophy of the school, which is based on Bahá’í principles, is founded upon the belief in the spiritual nature of man and the oneness of mankind.  The main aim is to develop each child’s capacity to know and love in the context of service to humanity.

“Unity in Diversity” is something that is made apparent every day when I come to class. Although about three quarters of the students are Brazilian, more than thirty countries are represented.  It gives me so much joy to be faced with this sea of colour!

Because my native tongue is English I work the whole day as an assistant to the English class of Grade 4.  Working as a volunteer assistant is such a service to the school and to the children, because we are able to form very strong bonds with the children. These bonds are developed in the hope that they will   last a lifetime. I am still surprised at how they look upon us. Developing these bonds is such a pleasure because the children radiate such innocence and purity of heart!  Our presence is also of great benefit to the staff, Bahá’í or otherwise. This is because they are able to really teach the children rather than worry about marking the class assignments or whether or not their work has been displayed.

Other than serving at the school, we also  have many opportunities to work with the Bahá’í community. The LSAs are so warm and receptive to any teaching initiatives. Myself, and fellow YOS volunteer Hannah, have recently been given funding to hold regular Meditation Zones.  We were asked to organise a meditative area for the Ridván voting and it was a great success, even  though it was held in a classroom with concrete floors!

Milly Azordegan

 Association of Bahá’í Women

External Affairs ABW or Letting other women hear about Bahá’u’lláh’s New World Order

We re-introduced ourselves two issues back, inviting all Bahá’í Women in the UK to accept ‘automatic membership’ in the Association of Bahá’í Women. We also set forth the two goals given to us by the National Spiritual Assembly: “realising potential and raising the profile of the Faith”. We talked mainly about realising potential - and ways that we all can help bring this about. Raising the profile of the Faith is the other side of the coin, but really, this is the same coin! These two processes work together to enhance the “advancement of women”.

Many women across the UK are aready Raising the Profile of the Faith, when they: 

• Organise a regular coffee morning or evening with friends, to discuss relevant issues, like creating peaceful homes, or balancing work and family

• Join other groups of like-minded women

• Participate in International Women’s Day

just to name a few.

Small coffee mornings or large conferences, these are all  means for letting other women learn about the Faith. The point of the ABW is simply to use our Association as a convenient vehicle for inte-relating - with ourselves, friends, colleagues and associates. Being a member of a 2000-member organisation gives us strength and support to reach out.

Now that the National Assembly has also established the Office for the Advancement of Women (OAW) UK, we have even  more help in raising the profile of the Faith. The OAW is guiding us in the ways we can officially make contact in the wider community:

• Through registering with our local councils

• In contacting and/or working with other women’s organisations (did you know that there are 145 such organisations in the UK?!)

• In taking an active part in national conferences, such as “The Juggle” in November

Over the last three years, local ABWs have worked hand in hand quite well with the hugely successful Acuto Seminars, created by the European Task Force for Women. These women come back to the UK tremendously inspired and spread their enthusiasm down to grass roots through regional seminars here. In fact, a group has just returned on 7th May, and is eager to start promoting “Peace Week II”, to be held in September.

Ultimately the success of projects like these will depend upon initiative at the local level (that’s you and me), working under the guidance of the European Task Force for Women, the OAW UK, and the regional Associations of Bahá’í  Women (Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland).

So! There’s lots going on, there’s lots of avenues available for those of us wanting “to find our niche”...and there’s loads of information available to help us on our way. Write, phone or e-mail...let’s get in touch!

Association of Bahá’í Women contacts -

ABW England - Janet Justnes, secretary, 22 Brixham Avenue, Swindon SN3 1EW Tel: 01793 336676  e-mail: mailto:justnes@writeme.com

ABW Scotland - Mona Helmy, 147 N Deeside Rd, Bieldside, Aberdeen AB1 9EA Tel: 01224 861217

ABW Wales - Tracey Jones, 123 Harvard Rd, Llanelli Mynydd, Carmarthenshire SA14 8SD Tel: 01554 741815

ABW Northern Ireland - Collette Rodgers, 89a Ballywatermoy Rd, Glarryford, Ballemena, NI Tel: 01266 881484

Office for the Advancement of Women Zarin Hainsworth-Fadaei , Tel: 01256 350187

Info on Acuto Seminars - Angela Tidswell,  Bahá’í National Office, Tel: 020 7584 2566 e-mail: mailto:angela.tidswell@bahai.org.uk