For Bahá’ís, the years of youth are a special time of high potential. Indeed, the young have been at the forefront of activity at every notable point in the history of the faith.

There can be no definitive list of what Bahá’í youth do, but remarkably, a lot does get done. From years spent abroad helping people to realise a sustainable future, to litter-collecting in British inner-cities, to teaching children basic principles of morality at community schools - each young member of the Bahá’í community is encouraged to take responsibility both for his own development and for contributing to the well-being of others. Many choose to devote an entire gap year to some form of service to humanity. Known as a Year of Service, this experience frequently sets the pattern for a life of generosity of time, energy, finances and spirit.

It would be a mistake to think that the Bahá’í faith simply provides a platform for the young to exercise their social consciences, or exists as a broad umbrella for a number of disparate development projects that take the fancy of a particular generation. Every Bahá’í endeavour is framed and guided by wider plans, directed by the community’s elected administrators.

This relationship between youthful freedom, and the organisation traditionally associated with the adult world is much more than a balancing trick. Young Bahá’ís actively contribute to decision-making processes, and understand that their efforts will exercise greater influence when informed by the experiences and successes of others. In this way, they seek to maximise the effect of their efforts to serve humanity by placing their creativity in a framework of coherent and structured plans.

For many observers, this is nothing short of remarkable. A community placing creative, young individuals at the heart of its functioning has, in different settings, been either a recipe for crippling contention or for unconnected initiatives, of little or no benefit to the wider community. The Bahá’í community is able to provide encouragement to its young members by giving them real responsibility for its affairs and imparting a profound sense of ownership of shared goals. Each Bahá’í, whether young or old, listens to and learns from others: there is a tangible sense of moving forward together. The motivating impulse is one of love for humanity.

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