Activities
In Port Coquitlam
Children’s Classes
Bahá’í children’s classes are offered to children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old and held in diverse settings, focusing on developing spiritual qualities and the beliefs, habits, and patterns of conduct that enrich a person spiritually. These classes aim to inspire in each child a love for our diverse human family and to cultivate a praiseworthy character. They are guided by the Bahá’í belief that children are noble beings with great potential to develop into upright and active participants in their community.
Children’s classes awaken an understanding and love for the messengers of God and humanity’s collective spiritual heritage. Stories, games, arts, and songs are the main methods of instruction.
At the heart of these classes is the belief that the education of children is essential to the future development of our communities. That is why Bahá’í children’s classes convey an appreciation of the arts, respect for science, and a focus on empowering spiritual education.
Teachers are trained to see each child as a mine rich in gems and to convey an all-embracing love of children.
If you would like to learn more about the Children’s Classes in Port Coquitlam, please contact us
Junior Youth Empowerment
Junior youth – or those between 11 and 14 years – are at a crucial stage in their lives when they are defining their identity and values. Junior youth groups offered by the Bahá’í community address the needs of these young people by helping them to develop a strong moral identity and to empower them to contribute to the well-being of their communities.
In these groups, trained animators use creative activities to engage the interests of junior youth and mould their capacities for service. A curriculum of material designed for junior youth is used in tandem with drama, storytelling, visual arts, discussion of social issues, and acts of service to their community. These groups aim to develop a cohesive identity that revolves around optimism about the future, high ideals, and a sense of purpose in life.
As part of this program, older youth aged 15 and above are trained to serve as ‘animators’ who accompany small groups of junior youth in their own localities. With the help of their animator, these junior youth explore the profound questions that occupy their minds. These study materials assist them to develop spiritual perception and a moral framework for making decisions. The materials also aid them in developing their power of expression in a positive manner and enable them to channel their energies into service to their communities. The exploration of reality in which the program engages them assists them to analyze the constructive and destructive forces operating in society. It helps them resist forces that would rob them of their true identity as noble beings while aligning themselves with efforts to bring about positive change.
Contact us to discover more about Junior Youth Program in Port Coquitlam
Study Circles
At the heart of the various community-building endeavours initiated by the Baha’i community throughout the world is a decentralized educational process that builds capacities of youth and adults to initiate various programs and activities necessary for building vibrant and prosperous community life. This educational process is offered in small, informal groups called ‘study circles’. The curriculum of these study circles, which is based on the words of God, aims to foster intellectual, moral, spiritual and practical capacities of people of all backgrounds. They consist of a series of courses that aim to build capacities for offering various acts of service to the community such as teaching classes for the spiritual education of children, organizing devotional meetings, and tutoring study circles and Junior Youth spiritual empowerment programs.
Together, those who proceed through the sequence of courses walk a path of service that is structured yet flexible. This process enables participants to reflect profoundly on the Word of God and its implications for their lives and society and to work together to apply their learning to bettering their community.
Contact us to join a study circle.
Devotional Programs
Prayer and worship are central aspects of Bahá’í life, both as individuals and as a community. The Bahá’í Writings state that prayer, in its highest form, is an expression of love and gratitude for one’s Creator. Prayer can be likened to food for the soul and is a means of attracting divine assistance and blessings. Prayer is not limited to words but is a state of being that, ultimately, finds expression in our deeds.
In diverse settings, Bahá’ís gather with their friends and neighbours to pray and reflect upon the Bahá’í Sacred Texts. These simple gatherings generate a spirit of collective worship that inspires acts of service and increases the spiritual character of neighbourhoods and communities.
Contact us to join a devotional