CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 73 - 12 Asmá 159 - 1 September 2002


WATERFORD

Waterford Summer School 2002 - A Great Success!

Nearly five hundred people from a wide variety of countries gathered at Waterford from 11th-18th August. A new School Board had been appointed and a new-style intensive programme was introduced for the first time. There was something for everyone and practically no one did not attend some kind of session. Parallel to the main programme, based on the Kitáb-i-Iqán, was a week long session of the Association for Bahá'í Studies-called the ABS-Scholarship Academy Programme. This new innovation had a number of International speakers including Moojan Momen, Stephen Lambden, Todd Lawson from Canada and Sheila and Amin Banani. Mr Banani's father was Musa Banani-named the 'Conqueror of Africa', Hand of the |Cause of God, who died in 1971. Both Amin and his wife had met the Beloved Guardian and gave moving accounts of these meetings. The programme for Youth, Junior Youth and children was well executed and very hard work as there were some 200 youth and children present at the school. The swimming pool is now covered over and the children enjoyed daily plunges in the pool. Arts and activities were given a high priority and the entertainments in the evening brought out the 'aul Irish craic'!

There was a goal of raising €9000 for an International Collaboration Project set by the House of Justice. The majority of this was achieved. The last session on Sunday morning was extremely moving and no one wanted to leave-a circle was formed and songs sung. Mr. Banani reminded us that it was almost 150 years since Bahá'u'lláh was in the depths of the Siyah Chal-and He would have been joyful to look into the future and see this gathering in Waterford, loving and united.


 

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