One of the targets decided at the cluster agency meeting was to create a new Junior Youth group in Coleraine. The team decided to try to go into a neighbourhood and try to meet young people (+16 years old) who would be willing to train to become animators and also meet young people between the ages of 11-15 to participate in the junior youth group.
Following prayers, deepening and consultation, a two hour outreach was carried out on Sunday (07/06/2009) in a neighbourhood of a Baha’i family in Coleraine during which the team spoke to and collected contact details from about 17 youth between the ages of 11-19 who were interested in taking part in the Junior Youth Programme as a participant/animator. Contacts were met through door knocking and random encounters in the streets and a brief introduction to the Junior Youth Programme was given followed by an invitation to a taster session. Importantly we set a meeting point to meet with the junior youth/youth and bring them to the taster session. The outreach was conducted by splitting into two teams each with one girl and one boy.
Today (10/06/2009), the team again following prayers, deepening and consultation came up with a lesson plan for the taster session (to which 12 individuals attended and was held at the home of the Bahai family who lived in the area – the team utilized fully the garden, kitchen and living room):
7:00pm start:
1) Introduction and discussion on the nature of the Junior Youth group e.g. assisting “youth to navigate through a crucial stage of their lives and to become empowered to direct their energies toward the advancement of civilization.” Discussion also included concepts such as striving for excellence (intellectual and spiritual) and service (planning and implementing projects).
2) Games in the garden: - Nerve impulse game (very energetic & practising morals e.g. honesty): Human knot (team work), Cat & Mouse (energetic)
3) Refreshments (drinks, biscuits and cake)
4) Music – performance by youth
5) Art work: the quote “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value” was introduced, discussed (difficult words defined), and the Junior Youth and potential animators were asked to draw the images that came to their mind when they read this quote. Some of the older youth (potential animators) were asked to work with the younger junior youth (this was found to be effective way of integrating). Following the drawings each person was asked to share their picture with the group and explain what they had drawn and why.
6) Register went round – everyone wrote down their names, addresses and contact details and it was explained that every ones parents needed to be visited.
7) The younger junior youth left.
8) Recap with the potential animators e.g. purpose of group, service projects, the Bahai faith (Bahai inspired material), the training (book 1 and 5).
9) Music – collective singing.
The team then started the home visits to the parents, two of which were done straight after the class and some others planned for the rest of the week. The home visits were very successful. The parents were met and a brief introduction given as to the vision of the Junior youth programme and its connection with the Bahai faith explained. It was noted that giving praise to the parents with regards to their children was very effective and encouraging both for the parents and the junior youth. A second home visit was arranged during which we shall share some of the material the Junior Youth programme uses and also consent forms are to be given to the parents.
Involving local youth in the whole process was found to be very motivating and inspiring for individuals and contributes to the activation /deployment/engagement of local Bahá'ís . Power of prayer was strongly felt by all. Today truly brought a lot of joy to all of us and gave us a lot of learning with regards to the initiation of junior youth group and engagement of junior youth and their parents.
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