Montreal, Saturday, June 15, 2024 - Education in partnership with our communities is an essential approach to strengthening the social fabric and promoting sustainable development. With this in mind, the recent Montreal event brought together 250 people, including parents and children, to reflect on how Bahá'í principles can enrich our local educational initiatives.
The day began with an inaugural session highlighting the crucial importance of education in our communities, quoting Bahá'u'lláh's enlightening words:
"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
This passage from Lawh-i-Maqsúd, quoted in Bahá'u'lláh's Tablets, provided the basis for the enriching discussions that followed.
The participants were divided into twelve workshops, where they exchanged ideas on how to strengthen their capacity to serve their respective communities. Young people, aged between 11 and 14, also played an active role in these exchanges, underlining the importance of their involvement in community development.
This conference not only continued previous years' reflections on unity and collective action, but also highlighted the Training Institute as a vital tool for empowering local communities. By integrating Bahá'u'lláh's teachings with concrete educational practices, this approach fosters harmonious and sustainable development, both material and spiritual.
Spiritual education was a recurring theme throughout the day, recalling the rich heritage of Bahá'í communities in promoting learning and education from their inception in Iran to their expansion in India and beyond. Today, with over fifty-six thousand students in Baha'i schools in India, this commitment continues to bear fruit in shaping the next generation of leaders and servants of society.
Finally, the artistic and musical evening that concluded the event celebrated not only the day's achievements, but also the unity and diversity that characterize the Montreal community. Dozens of musicians, singers and artists created a vibrant atmosphere, perfectly illustrating the spirit of collaboration and celebration that drives these initiatives.
In short, this conference in Montreal not only strengthened ties within local communities, but also inspired everyone to actively contribute to a better future, aligned with the universal values of justice, equity and progress for all.
