Bahá'í Summer Schools Announced

Sep 19

Sep 19 Bahá'í Summer Schools Announced

The annual Bahá'í Summer School has long been a cherished gathering of our community, an oasis of spiritual nourishment, an occasion for deepening our understanding of the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, and an opportunity to build lasting connections with fellow believers and others whose hearts are being connected to the Blessed Beauty.

In collaboration with the National Assembly and regional institutions, the Local Assemblies of Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Masterton and Christchurch will host five sub-regional summer schools in the North Island (two in Auckland), and one regional summer school in the South Island. The National Assembly is arranging the keynote speakers who will present on the following topics:

Day 1: Bahá'u'lláh’s vision for humanity
Day 2: Building vibrant communities
Day 3: A universal education system for all ages (tentative title)
Day 4: Contributing to social transformation   

In a spirit of hope and love, our beloved National Spiritual Assembly shared its vision for vibrant and purposeful summer schools in a letter sent out to all believers on 14 September, copied below.

14 September 2023

7 ‘Izzat/ Pῡkaha/ Might 180
To the followers of Bahá'u'lláh in Aotearoa
Very dear friends, Tēnā koutou katoa
The National Spiritual Assembly recognises that many friends have missed the energy, vibrancy and connections that came with the larger regional summer school gatherings. Some friends found the large North Island summer school too overwhelming in size. Many families were grateful for having this annual opportunity to reconnect with other families with children of similar ages from wider afield. We have listened to your feedback, heard your concerns, and given thought to your suggestions. As a result, the National Assembly has engaged in extensive consultations with a wide range of institutions and agencies to explore how to balance the desire of many of the friends to gather in larger groups with having summer schools closer to the grassroots where many more people can potentially participate. The concept that prevailed is for summer schools to be as decentralised as possible, but in a way that ensures an optimal number of participants and a robust organisational system that creates a vibrant experience for everyone, especially children, junior youth and youth.
Hence, what is envisaged for the summer schools in 2023 is bringing friends together in sub-regional summer schools in the North Island and one regional summer school in the South Island—where approximately 100-150 individuals of all ages in each gathering can have a rich and meaningful experience. These spaces will generate inspiration and energy for adults and youth through shorter presentations combined with purposeful workshops that integrate creativity and lead to an action-oriented outcome. It is also anticipated that there will be worthwhile programmes for children and junior youth in a family-friendly environment.
Briefly, the plan that has been decided by the National Assembly and Regional Councils is that there will be approximately six summer schools organised collaboratively by the National Assembly, Regional Councils and host Assemblies, that provide for four full days of programme.
In the North Island there will be five of these sub-regional summer schools. There is still some fluidity about locations, hosts, and possibly dates in some areas, but host Local Assemblies in the North Island are Whangarei; Auckland (two summer schools); Hamilton; and Masterton. There is also likely to be a summer school (kura raumati) organised by and for Māori friends and others who wish to experience summer school in a Māori cultural and language context on a Marae in the South Wairarapa District.
The South Island’s regional summer school will be held 2 to 7 January 2024 at Wainui in Canterbury.
The themes for the four days of summer school programmes will be aligned closely with those of the 2022 World Conferences. That is, aimed towards building our capacities in the following ways.
To better understand and be able to share with others Bahá'u'lláh’s vision for humanity; to raise up vibrant communities that are outward-facing and contribute to the spiritual and material progress of society; to better understand the centrality of education and the training institute as the system to generate this progress; and to learn how such progress leads to opportunities for all to contribute to social transformation.
As with the series of world conferences, the summer schools are open to all well-wishers of humanity who want to learn more about the Faith.
And as has always been the case, summer schools are intended to be self-funding—where friends cover their own travel, registration, meals and accommodation costs—and if there is hardship for any believers, there are processes in place to support them to attend.
While we have a national vision, there will be room for sub-regions to decide on creative aspects and express their own reality.
The children and junior youth programmes are likely to follow, as much as practical, the themes that the adults will be engaged in. While some parents have expressed that their children’s “Bahá'í identity” is reinforced by spaces such as larger summer schools, where their children have a larger cohort of Bahá'í peers to bond with, it is becoming clearer that a more lasting Bahá'í identity for young people arises through participation in the institute process and community-building activities, particularly when service is given prominence as the main component of Bahá'í identity.
Dear friends, it is our ardent hope that these vibrant and purposeful summer schools will be spaces to learn, share and support our personal and collective efforts to execute Bahá'u'lláh’s vision for humanity, guided always by the unfailing wisdom and assistance of the beloved Universal House of Justice.

“Copious are the blessings that a benevolent Lord has chosen to bestow upon His loved ones. Lofty is the calling, magnificent the prospect. Pressing are the times in which we have all been summoned to serve. Impassioned, then, are the prayers with which, on your behalf and for your tireless efforts, we supplicate at the Threshold of Bahá’u’lláh.”

- Universal House of Justice, Ridván 2023, to the Bahá'ís of the World