BAHÁ'Í WORLD CENTRE — The latest podcast episode of the Baháʼí World News Service explores how a growing number of young people in the Canary Islands are learning to live a more coherent life centered on service to their society through their participation in Bahá'í moral and spiritual educational programs.
Orlando Ravelo Hernández, member of the Board of Counsellors in Europe, and Alejandro Sarmiento González, member of the Auxiliary Board in the Canary Islands, discuss how these educational programs are fostering a new understanding of the period of youth in communities throughout that region of Spain, one that contrasts sharply with prevailing societal narratives.
Mr. Sarmiento González observes: "In many parts of society, youth are portrayed as facing insurmountable challenges. On the other hand, ... we are seeing a completely different picture. ... The community really trusts them and believes in them. This is a spiritual condition for progress."
A distinctive capacity being cultivated among young people participating in Baháʼí moral educational programs is the ability to thoughtfully examine their own lives and the social forces acting on them.
This reflection enables them to learn to better maintain coherence across different settings—whether at home, in school, or in leisure activities—without fragmenting their identities or compromising their values.
The effort for greater coherence in their lives has led these youth to take creative approaches, including reimagining competitive activities. Some began exploring how sports like football could be played with a focus on unity rather than competition.
"It was a crazy idea," says Mr. Ravelo Hernández, explaining how young people were asking: "How are we going to play football without competition? How is it possible to collaborate?"
Yet the impact of these efforts soon reached well beyond the sports field. What started with four friends seeking a different approach to football grew to over 30 young players in just a month, bringing together families and even expanding to include fundraising matches for local causes.
"When you put coherence, service, relationships and values at the center, suddenly our true nature comes to life," Mr. Ravelo Hernández explains. "We are made to be united, to share, to have reciprocity, to hear each other."
The podcast episode, which explores several other examples of social change among youth in the Canary Islands, is part of the "In Conversation" series exploring Baháʼí efforts worldwide to contribute to social progress, from the grassroots to the international level.
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