Our youth will be the adults of tomorrow.
What kind of adult do you want your child to be?
Why the junior youth age group?
Do you know that the period between the ages of 12 and 15 represents a special time in the life of a person? It is during these years that childhood is left behind and the individual, both boy and girl, undergoes profound changes. The changes can be positive or negative.
Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 have much to say, and whoever treats them as children misses the opportunity to help them form a positive identity.
Engaging the individual during the period of junior youth in programs that seek to enhance their spiritual and intellectual capacities will anticipate the changes that will occur and prepare them to participate positively in the elevation of their lives as individuals and in their communities. Ultimately, because this is a global program, it will result in effectively contributing to the advancement of civilization.
The program combines study, mentorship and social action. Today there are Junior Youth groups in every part of the United States and throughout the world. They meet in various places, homes, schools, centers and in some countries … even under trees.
Goals of the program
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program brings groups of junior youth together, facilitated by trained individuals who serve as mentors and role models. Together they meet weekly where they study character development themes, develop the power of expression, discuss difficult issues with peers, create art, play cooperative games, engage in healthy recreation and plan and carry out service projects.
When possible, we try to include the youth and his or her friends so that the peer influence is positive.
Spiritual Empowerment is achieved in Junior Youth when they:
-
Build a sound moral structure through learning to practice virtues, such as showing respect, accepting responsibility and being truthful
-
Develop their spiritual perception
The Junior Youth spiritual Empowerment Program also aims to:
-
Assist them to recognize the moral issues underlying everyday decisions and identify the moral implications of speech and action
-
Empower them to channel their energies towards both strengthening their own characters and to serve their communities
What about youth older than 14?
According to the Bahá'í teachings, an individual reaches the age of spiritual maturity at 15, when spiritual and moral obligations become binding. The Animator program for youth older than 15 involves learning information about themselves as youth, which helps them demonstrate their growing maturity. Additionally, it is accepted that younger youth look up to older youth. Therefore, this program also provides youth past the age of 12 (15 and older) with an opportunity to learn to mentor younger youth. Guided by trained adults, older youth learn to raise their own capacity to serve and to take charge of their own spiritual, social and intellectual development.
Who can attend?
The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program is open to all young people, ages 11, 12, 13 and 14, of every religious or non-religious background, and assists them to navigate through this crucial stage in their lives.
Both programs explore themes from a Bahá'í perspective, but not in the mode of religious instruction.