Summer school offers twofold learning experiences
This year’s summer school is shaping up to be an engaging event with a mixture of online sessions, along with “real life” activities at the local level. The event will be held from 27–30 December (inclusive), featuring keynote talks each morning by Mrs Alison Milston and each afternoon by Mrs Huti Watson. Good internet access will be necessary.
The online component of the adult/youth programme is set to run for about three hours a day. It is likely that Mrs Milston’s one-hour talks will be in the mornings, followed after a “morning tea break” by workshops based on these talks. For summaries of Mrs Milston’s talks, please scroll down the page a little. Mrs Watson’s talks are set for the early afternoons. These will provide insights on how we can better amplify the unique and valuable contributions of tangata whenua, so as to enhance both the life of the Bahá’í community and our engagement with Māori in the wider society.
The local-based component of the programme allows an opportunity for friends to come together in their extended families, teaching teams, groups of families, neighbourhoods, sectors or communities (or “bubbles” should pandemic restrictions require it) to implement activities (arts, recreation, outreach, learning) — that they themselves plan and which may relate in some way with the online programme content and/or with the goals and plans of the community building occurring already in their area. It is hoped that involvement of a wider circle of friends who are not yet enrolled believers will allow for greater participation in the summer school than what has previously been possible. The National Assembly envisages the local focus being similar to the approach for the bicentenaries and other recent Holy Days, i.e. people reaching out to involve their friends, neighbours and family members.
Sessions for the youngsters will most likely not be online as experience during the lockdown showed this to be a difficult means for providing children’s classes. It is anticipated that plenty of hands-on activity can be offered to the children and junior youth, guided by the friends themselves, who will want to ensure that they are able to access support from those who have child protection accreditation and have some experience in organising activities for children that are meaningful.
Summaries of morning keynote talks
Day 1: A mighty spiritual enterprise
Reflecting on the significance of our efforts in the context of the Eternal Covenant of God; how the systems of science and religion are reinforcing one another; and how our personal connection to the spiritual and administrative Centre of the Bahá’í Faith in the Holy Land deepens over our lifetime.
Day 2: A system for large scale transformation
Exploring the purpose and some features of the global system of education that the Bahá’í community is building with growing numbers of like-minded souls, and the related change in culture that is unfolding.
Day 3: Unlocking human potential—looking to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Considering how our efforts trace their origins to the work and example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a teacher, nurturer, unifier, and defender of His Father’s Faith, and as a champion of the principle of the oneness of humanity.
Day 4: A befitting response
Meditating on the nature and spirit of our contributions toward the work of the moment, and the magnitude of change that is required to respond to the needs of humanity at the present time.
