JUNIOR YOUTH SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Spaces in which junior youth (ages 11-14) can explore their own capacity to contribute to the betterment of the world as well as their own selves.
Aims of the junior youth program:
Build literacy and numeracy skills and explore meaning of scientific investigation and mathematical observation in socially relevant contexts, illuminated by storytelling.
Develop powers of expression.
Develop moral reasoning capability.
Plan and carry out service projects in the community.
SERVICE
Service is anything we do in the spirit of helping others. In the group, the junior youth are asked to imagine what it would be like if we did not receive help from anyone, and are encouraged to reflect on the idea that we are all members of the human family and must try our best to improve the conditions in which we all live. The animators (youth-aged volunteers who facilitate the junior youth group) accompany the junior youth to carry out regular acts of service within their communities based on observations of their surroundings and their own interests and inclinations.
Examples of service projects junior youth in St. James Town and Pringdale have carried out:
Bake sale for charity
Storytelling for younger children in the community
Community workshops on nutrition and diabetes
Computer literacy for seniors
Environmental health initiatives (education, garbage pick-ups)
MATERIALS
The series of books studied in the program are designed to foster the moral and intellectual empowerment of junior youth (ages 11-14). Through stories, lessons, and exercises, the junior youth are encouraged to investigate their physical, social, and spiritual realities while developing their literacy skills and ability to express themselves.
All of the titles are concerned with developing language skills and the power of expression. Some also address mathematical concepts and social issues, while others seek to prepare young people to approach the investigation of physical, social and spiritual reality in a scientific manner.
The moral concepts that underlie the books are drawn from the teachings of the Baha’i Faith but are incorporated in such a way as to touch on universal themes that are enriching to junior youth from all religious and cultural backgrounds. Many kinds of organizations, including academic institutions, will therefore find them useful for their educational programs with junior youth.
Themes explored in material:
Making an effort to achieve noble goals
Choosing how to react in the face of difficulties
Finding one’s occupation while serving humanity
Love and friendship
Competition and cooperation
Spiritual and intellectual excellence
Media and society
Power of expression and moral implications of speech and action
CAMPS
During school breaks or holidays, camps are organized as an extension of the regular group space. Camps can range from one-day intensive spaces to weeklong spaces and incorporate all the elements of the junior youth program in a way that is open to junior youth who are both new to, and familiar with, the program.
Typical activities at camp:
Games
Songs
Study of texts
Service projects
Outings
Artistic activities
Recreation
Questions from Walking the Straight Path (excerpts)
This book shares different cultures’ stories about elements of a good character and introduces moral concepts for junior youth to explore as they reflect on their development as individuals.
Reading Comprehension
1. What did the fox see?
2. What did the crow have in his beak?
3. What did the fox do to get the cheese?
4. Did the crow really have a pleasant voice?
5. Was the fox sincere in his praise of the crow?
6. Did this story occur in a city, village, or forest?
Literacy
Complete each of the sentences below using one of the following words:
encouraged, longing, charming, shadow, praise, satisfied, pride, pleasant, judgment, weakened
1. The teacher thought her students were hardworking and was always full of _____________________ for them.
2. Armando and his brother spent a __________________________ day together, working in the fields and talking about their future
plans.
3. Hong Mei liked to travel and had a _________________ to see new places.
4. She had a beautiful voice, and her teacher _____________________ her to study music.
Discussion
How do we make sure that we are not fooled by flattery?
Exercises from Habits of an Orderly Mind (excerpts)
This book helps junior youth explore the habits of thought that help them explore their world with attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and logic.
With assistance from Mr. Liu, the friends realize how important it is for them to give thought to the sequence in which they do things. A few exercises will help your group think about prioritizing and planning.
While getting ready to go to bed on Saturday night, Dian starts to worry about the things she must do the next day. She has an exam on Monday and has to study. She needs to clean her room and do the laundry. Her little brother has asked her to read a book to him. She must attend the regular meeting of her junior youth group, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Meiling’s home. Her mind swimming with thoughts, she turns to her sister, Intan, and shares her worries. Intan suggests that she make a schedule for the next day, to ensure that she can accomplish everything.
A) Dian immediately picks up a notepad and begins. She makes a list of what she has to do the next day and then puts everything in order. In doing so, she thinks about a number of things. For example, she realizes that she studies best in the morning, rather than later in the day, and that her brother likes her to read to him at night when he is going to sleep. Together as a group, complete the list below.
− Wake up
− Wash up and get dressed
− Pray
− Eat breakfast
b) Next, Dian tries to estimate how long everything she has listed will take. For example, she knows that it takes around 10 minutes to walk to Meiling’s home. Beside each thing listed above, indicate how long you expect it to take.
C) Finally, Dian writes down the actual time of the day for everything on her list. For example, she decides to wake up at 7:00 a.m. and wash up and get dressed from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m. For each thing on the list you have made, can you add the time that it begins and ends in order to create Dian’s schedule for the day?
In the story, Intan suggests that an orderly mind must have the ability to focus. Here are some exercises that will help you see her point.
Sometimes a task may seem too difficult to complete at first. But if we begin, we will find that the initial few steps show us the way forward. To see this for yourselves, try to fill in the blank spaces below without using a calculator. After completing the first few steps, you will discover a pattern that allows you to complete the rest easily.
1 × 8 + 1 = ___
12 × 8 + 2 = ____
123 × 8 + 3 = _____
1234 × 8 + 4 = ______
12345 × 8 + 5 = _______
123456 × 8 + 6 = ________
1234567 × 8 + 7 = _________
12345678 × 8 + 8 = __________
123456789 × 8 + 9 = ___________