International Youth Day
The Bahá’í community of Mauritius will host a gathering on Sunday, 1 September 2024, starting at 9:30 a.m., dedicated to exploring the role of youth in the transformation of society.
Although great economic and social progress has been achieved over recent decades, the present generation of young people finds itself both witness to and inheritor of unprecedented changes in society—accompanied by disturbances and challenges that transcend borders: the loss of biodiversity, extremes of wealth and poverty, the erosion of trust in institutions, polarization of opinions and divisions within society; the scourges of drug abuse and violence with their consequences for public safety, health, absenteeism, and school failure, as well as the perpetuation of cycles of poverty; and the breakdown of the family structure, the basic unit of social life. The exponential advance of technology, while opening new possibilities, also adds uncertainty to an already fragile context.
In the midst of these troubling circumstances, the worldwide experience of the Bahá’í community and its friends—engaged wherever they reside in community-building and social action—continues to demonstrate that the desire to contribute to positive change in society and to serve humanity is a universal characteristic of the period of youth.
In the Bahá’í sacred writings, Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, states: “Blessed is he who, in the prime of his youth, and at the height of his days, will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the Beginning and the End, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and the earth. Blessed are the steadfast and the firm.” Numerous and distinctive are the powers and qualities of the period of youth. It follows that the full participation of young people in seeking solutions to the urgent problems we face is of great importance. The inclusion of youth in spaces for consultation and decision-making, both local and national, is not only necessary but also a source of hope for the future of all.
Recognition of the importance and capacities of younger generations is growing. However, in a recent statement to the United Nations titled In the Vanguard: The Role of Youth in an Ever-Advancing Global Society, the Bahá’í International Community noted that the inclusion and participation of young people often encounter attitudes and prejudices that portray youth as a looming threat of wrongdoing, violence, or unrest. In this statement, the BIC calls for a rethinking of prevailing assumptions about the period of youth. It asserts that before all generations stands a critical need and an unprecedented opportunity: to engage in a deep exploration of the role youth must play in the advancement and transformation of society. The aim is not to create a movement of young people, but to ensure that young people are at the heart of a movement of all people.
This exploration raises many questions: What transformation do we wish to see in our Mauritian society? What role must youth play in that transformation? What unique capacities of young Mauritians remain untapped by our communities and institutions? What is the current level of youth participation? What efforts are being made to include young people in the life of our communities and, more broadly, in society? And many more.
In a spirit of friendship and unity, the Bahá’í community of Mauritius warmly invites a diversity of individuals to begin this exploration together. The event will be held at the Bahá’í Convention Centre in Belle Rose, in a spiritual and consultative atmosphere enriched by the presence of people of various generations, faiths, professions, occupations, and experiences.
The Office of External Affairs of the Bahá’ís of Mauritius
