“
The fruits of the human tree are exquisite, highly desired and dearly cherished. Among them are upright character, virtuous deeds and a goodly utterance.” ~ Bahau’llah
Junior Youth Program Materials: The series of books studied in the program are designed to foster the moral and intellectual empowerment of junior youth (ages 12-14). 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
Breezes of Confirmation is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Programme. It fosters literacy and builds the power of expression. A key concept explored in this module is that of confirmation – the understanding that God assists and helps us when we strive to achieve a noble goal. This book along with its sister books, Walking the Straight Path & Drawing on the Power of the Word, seek to impart essential moral concepts and build certain attitudes required to live a fruitful and rewarding life.
Wellspring of Joy is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Programme. It is designed to strengthen basic reading and comprehension skills and to develop the capabilities associated with articulating ideas with precision and clarity. The readings tell the story of a 12 year old refugee who is adjusting to life in his new country. Though he is experiencing difficulty at the outset of the story he gradually comes to recognize where the source of true joy lies.
Habits of an Orderly Mind is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Programme. It is the first to address mathematical and scientific concepts. It consists of ten readings, each of which is accompanied by a set of activities. This book helps junior youth explore the habits of thought that help them explore their world with attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and logic. The initial nine readings follow the discussions of a group of five friends who seek to identify some of the habits they want to develop such as formulating ideas in an orderly sequence, espressing them with clarity, planning and prioritizing. These habits then allow them to draw upon their intellectual and spiritual powers. The final reading leads to reflection on some of the powers of the mind and how they can be employed for the good of humanity: the power of imagination, the power of thought, the power of memory and the power of understanding.
Glimmerings of Hope is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores the choices and attitudes that contribute to hope, and conversely to despair. It emerged out of the experience of a group working with young people in Africa, many of whom are faced with difficult choices in societies torn by civil strife.
Walking the Straight Path is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It brings together twenty stories from several different cultures, each with a universal theme. Many of the stories are well known, have been recounted in numerous ways, and in this sense belong to the heritage of humankind. In Walking the Straight Path the stories are told in a way that teaches concepts related to moral development and develops language skills.
On Health and Well-Being is an entry-level text, envisioned as the first in the series taken up for study by junior youth that addresses scientific concepts. It is made up of ten readings, each of which is followed by a set of activities. The story revolves around a seventh-grade class in Central America, whose teacher is helping her students think about human health. As the story unfolds, they learn about how the immune system protects the body, and this assists them in reflecting on the spiritual health of their community when a crisis occurs that affects them all.
Spirit of Faith is a text used in the first year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores the purpose of human existence as spiritual beings, in conjunction with the natural world. It encourages spiritual and scientific thought about the purpose of physical reality. It follows the conversation of a youth group in Russia as they explore these themes.
Learning About Excellence is a text used in the second year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores the challenges created by rapid social change and ways in which these challenges can be framed and responded to. The story follows a Chinese student, Li, who goes to visit her grandparents in their village during school holidays.
Thinking About Numbers is a text used in the second year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores mathematical concepts such as accuracy, one-to-one correspondence, sets, negative and irrational numbers as well as efficiency, justice, technology and time. It supports the capability of making numerical statements about reality, as well as the capability to think about the social dimension of such statements.
The story follows the conversation of a group of classmates and their teacher, living in a rural village in the Philippines.
Observation and Insight is a text used in the third year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It is the first of the texts that address the question of science. Like other textbooks in the series, it consists of a number of readings which are followed by exercises intended to expand on ideas under discussion. The story opens in Jalpura, an imaginary village in India.
The Human Temple is a text used in the second year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores in depth the powers of the human spirit, that which distinguishes the human being from all other aspects of creation. The story follows a teacher and group of students in a classroom, who discuss, among other concepts, language, spiritual perception and the power of human utterance.
Drawing on the Power of the Word is a text used in the third year of the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program. It explores concepts related to speech and action and the influence they exert on social progress. It encourages critical thinking, analysis of assumptions, and the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.
The story follows the meetings of a fictional junior youth group who discuss the way words are used, identify the importance of linking words to noble deeds, and explore ideas related to family, friendship, education, as well as material and spiritual progress. A visit by a newspaper reporter who writes an article about the group’s activities, leads to conversation about the media.