| Amid social challenges, youth advance culture of peace | | MARADI, Niger — In a region where youth are increasingly recognizing their capacity to contribute to social harmony, more than 300 young people from across Niger gathered in Maradi recently to explore the part they can play in building peaceful communities.
"Through Bahá'u'lláh's vision of a peaceful world, we understand that young people must arise and bring about transformation, making their contributions to creating a modern and spiritually grounded civilization," said Aboubacar, 24, one of the conference participants in comments to the News Service.
The conference, which brought together participants from 21 localities across the country, exemplified in its very structure the commitment to transcending barriers that divide people—conversations and study took place in four languages: French, Zarma, Hausa, and Gourmanchéma. Through this multilingual exchange, participants explored concepts such as the relationship between personal spiritual growth and service to society.
"We learned that these two aims reinforce each other," explained Tahere, 18, another participant. "Spiritual development gives us the strength and motivation to serve, while service to humanity becomes a way to put spiritual values into practice."
She described how the gathering itself became a transformative space, where participants from diverse backgrounds strengthened bonds of friendship while examining false dichotomies that often confront youth. "We sometimes think we must choose between our personal development and service to society, but the conference helped us see how these reinforce each other as we work to build a better world."
Countering religious extremism
The significance of these efforts to contribute to social harmony was highlighted at the conference's opening session by Illiassou Nomawou, Secretary General of the Maradi regional government, who attended on behalf of the Governor. Speaking to the attendees, he emphasized how the Bahá'í community's educational initiatives are helping to foster constructive patterns of thought and action in a region where religious extremism poses challenges to social cohesion.
"You have set an example through your dedication to unity and your prayers for the country," Mr. Nomawou said. "The authorities are calling for greater fraternity… and this is precisely what you are doing." The Secretary General observed how the spiritual and moral educational programs these young people participate in helps them develop the qualities and capacities needed for constructive citizenship. "This will truly contribute to the development of the country," he added.
Overcoming passivity through service to society
Discussions at the conference examined the choices facing youth today and the harmful forces that breed passivity.
"Young people face a crucial choice," said Abdourahaman, 23. "We can either arise to contribute to the spiritual and moral education of the rising generations, helping to create peaceful communities, or remain passive in the face of forces that threaten social harmony."
He emphasized how indifference to seemingly small conflicts can have far-reaching consequences that eventually affect an entire community. "The conference helped us understand that we cannot be mere observers of harmful social forces affecting our neighborhoods and villages—we must be active participants in building peace."
The conference highlighted how one of the most powerful ways for youth to act on this commitment is to accompany younger generations through the same educational programs that had awakened their own minds to the possibilities of what could be and nurtured in them capacities to serve.
"If we want to contribute to positive change, then we need to support each other through all trials and difficulties," said Illia, 25. "We must be like the strands of a broom tied together by a single knot."
Collective vision galvanizes action
Through sharing their experiences, participants saw how their modest efforts, when viewed together, revealed a powerful pattern of transformation—that the moral and spiritual education of children and youth enables them to apply principles such as the equality of women and men, unity in diversity, and consultation to the building of agreement and the overcoming of conflict in their daily lives.
Seeing this pattern of transformation in their collective experience galvanized participants to strengthen their commitment to fostering communities characterized by unity and peace.
The youth realized that to sustain and expand these efforts, more young people would need to arise to serve as facilitators of educational programs in their neighborhoods. In the weeks following the conference, some 100 participants dedicated themselves to intensive periods of study and practice to take on this role, preparing to facilitate moral and spiritual education programs for children and youth in their communities.
"The conference helped us understand that youth represent the future of our country," said Badi, 17. "By serving society, we can simultaneously grow personally and increase our ability to contribute to social progress." | | | | | Ontario youth conference strengthens movement for social progress | | | | | | New statement highlights transformative potential of youth | | | | | | Counsellors on youth and social transformation | | | Follow BWNS for regular updates | | Dear Edward Lorilla, you are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS) at news.bahai.org/subscribe/.
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