Summer school: how it will work and how to prepare

Here is an overview of the 2020 summer school programme and how to participate.

Introduction

Vision: a nationwide event that spurs on the work of the Plan in the final few months.

This year’s summer school will be a nationwide event that happens in numerous local settings around the country. Some elements of the programme will be online and other parts will be happening in gatherings at the local level. Here’s an outline of how it will work and how to prepare for it.

Home page of the summer school website.

More information will be provided as details become available, and a dedicated website has now been set up for all aspects — see summerschool.bahai.org.nz.

A programme schedule is available on the Schedule page of the website. Or download a PDF of the programme here:

Watch the video below to hear a summary of the decentralised summer school concept, the way the sessions will be scheduled, and preparations you can make, including technical resources. This information is also set out below.

Why decentralise?

As mentioned in the video, the decentralised summer school format is designed to draw on the experience our community has gained in creating activities at the local level and in creatively using modern communications technology. A decentralised summer school provides flexibility for the event to go ahead even if the pandemic happens to make gathering restrictions necessary in late December.

Securing the benefits of the decentralised format will call for initiative and agility at the local level. There are complexities involved. But the institutions, communities and individuals have learned a few lessons from the activities of the bicentenary celebrations and from the relationships they have established amongst these protagonists. Local Assemblies, sectors, neighbourhoods, families and other kinds of groups may organise their own events but will need to cooperate with one another for the best overall result. Naturally, therefore, there should be good communication among the various protagonists. It is very possible that many more souls will engage with summer school this year because of its decentralised nature, but this depends to a large extent on the creativity and initiative of the friends in reaching out to widen the circle.

Who organises local gatherings?

Summer school in your locality may include gatherings (of all sizes) for the online sessions and morning workshops that will be based on the plenary talks by Mrs Alison Milston. It is hoped that locally-led activities will take place in the afternoons. Children’s and junior youth activities are to be locally led, coordinated and delivered, with help from guides that will be published on the summer school website on 7 December.

Different arrangements can be made depending on local conditions. With Local Spiritual Assemblies taking a facilitating role but not necessarily organising everything for their communities, some possible configurations include:

• Gatherings of groups of families, in neighbourhoods, or in sectors.

• Gatherings held in Bahá’í Centres (or hired venues) for whole localities or even multiple adjacent localities, such as within a cluster.

Those who wish to organise gatherings for their neighbourhoods, etc., are encouraged to begin planning now, and perhaps form small coordination teams.

Adults and youth are encouraged to be “together” simultaneously for the online programme. That said, parts of the programme will be recorded for the benefit of those who have other commitments, or who wish to re-listen later to some of the talks, etc.

The morning online plenary talks (9.00–10.00 am) will be followed by participatory workshops based on the morning plenary. These should be facilitated in-person in some localities and Regional Councils are identifying facilitators. There will be some availability to join as Zoom workshops (10.30–11.30 am) for language groups or isolated friends. There will be a number of other live-streamed elements in the programme, such as morning devotions and lunchtime musical performances.

How do we watch online?

A YouTube link will be provided leading up to the event, you will simply click the link and be directed to the live stream. Naturally this requires a good internet connection and a device such as a smartphone, laptop, or desktop computer. Where larger groups gather, such as gatherings in Bahá’í Centres, the required equipment will include a smart television or a projector connected to a laptop. Also essential is a sound system loud enough to enable everyone present to easily hear the proceedings.

How will the workshops function?

Workshop and facilitator options will be provided soon. It is envisaged that workshops will be offered on Zoom for speakers of Tongan, Samoan, Māori, Persian, and English (and for isolated friends and youth). Links will be available on the day. It is anticipated that the workshop materials will be made freely available to use by friends even if they can’t get together with very many others and simply want to invite a neighbour to view the summer school talks and consult together on the workshop materials afterwards.

For further information

As mentioned, a summer school website has been set up at summerschool.bahai.org.nz. Further information will be posted there as it comes to hand, including suggestions on activities for children and junior youth.

For urgent enquiries, please use the Contact Form on the summer school site.