the powerof one. dec2012

Corruption at all levels

Widening gap between

rich and poor

Violence against women

Racial prejudices

Religious war

“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.”— Bahá’u’lláh

"Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements - Bahá’u’lláh

Social Action

Participating in Social Action

is a prominent feature of a

life dedicated to the

service of the entire

human race.

Social action includes a spectrum of activity ranging from short-term informal efforts by individuals or small groups of friends…

… to complex programs of social and economic development carried out by Bahá’í-inspired organizations.

Social Action & Public DiscourseEvery human being, whether or not they are followers of Bahá'u'lláh, can take inspiration from His teachings.

Indeed, the future world civilization will not be built through the efforts of Bahá’ís alone.

It requires awareness of existing social conditions and a vision that animates

and focuses our action

Effective social action

where is the love

Whatever the scope and scale, the purpose of all social action is to apply the teachings of the Faith to improve the spiritual and material life of the population.

Study Circles

DevotionalGatherings

Children’s Classes

Junior Youth Groups

Four Core Activities

. . . bricks in the

foundation of a global

civilization.

Junior Youth Groups

Study Circles

DevotionalGatherings

Children’s Classes

Bahá'ís will be challenged to use the systematic approaches they have developed so far, to respond to

the material and spiritual issues facing their communities.

Action Reflection Consultation Planning

Learning in Action

Social change is not a project that one group of people carries out for the benefit of another.

Although goods and services may be provided, the primary goal is to build capacity in the local population,

enabling them to participate in creating a better world.

Efforts generally begin on a small scale,

perhaps with a few friends concerned

with a specific social

or economic need.

Consultation at Feast allows the community

to express its collective views.

Effective social action also serves to enrich participation in the discourses of society.

Introducing Bahá’í ideas into everyday conversation

Meaningful dialog with local civic groups

Writing articles and attending gatherings on themes of social concern

Public discourse can include:

Identify an Opportunity to serve Consult among friends/NDF/JYEP Initiate Project Develop a Proposal/Plan Get Local Involvement Monitor/Evaluate results Sustain- Sustain - Sustain

Steps involved

C h i l d r e n A r e O u r F u t u r e

Jyoti Yadev, Rajasthan

Justin ChurchmanJustin Churchman is helping change lives in Juarez, Mexico, one house at a time.

Through Casas por Cristo, he was able to accomplish a remarkable goal: building 18 homes for people by his 18th birthday.

Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom"

Teach the children in the slums/streets

Babar Ali's day (West Bengal) starts early. He wakes, pitches in with the household chores, then jumps on an auto-rickshaw which takes him part of the 10km (six mile) ride to the Raj Govinda school. The last couple of kilometres he has to walk.

HOPE

Social ActionResponsibility