Professor Fazel Naghdy speaking in the information centre at the Baha’i House of Worship for the International Day of Peace
A peace education program inspired by the Baha’i teachings has helped produce young people who are dedicated to building a culture of peace, according to one of its founders.
The graduates demonstrated a higher spirit of service, a commitment to building peace, and a capacity to empower others to be peacemarkers, said Professor Fazel Naghdy, co-founder of the Education for Peace Institute of Australia.
Many were engaged in teaching junior youth, passing on their knowledge and skills to those following behind them, said Professor Naghdy, a staff member at the University of Wollongong who has worked with the program for 15 years as a volunteer.
Speaking at the National Baha’i Centre during a reception to mark the International Day of Peace, he said 500 teenagers had graduated from the Education for Peace program since 1994.
“The Baha’i Faith is about building peace”, said Professor Naghdy, who is a Baha’i.
The core Education for Peace program is offered to “junior youth” — young people aged 13-15 years, a crucial stage in the devleopment from child to adult.
The same age group is also the focus of the Baha’i junior youth groups held throughout Australia.
Education for Peace focuses on developing — in both words and actions — four qualities within the students: knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech.
Students attend an annual eight-day residential school held at the Yerrinbool Baha’i Centre of Learning in the NSW southern highlands. They also complete monthly assignments over the two-year program.
Graduates can then complete an Advanced Education for Peace course and go on to attend an Education for Peace Leadership program in which they are trained to work with junior youth.
They may then be selected as faculty members for the core program, providing a continuing source of teachers that helps the program to be sustainable and self-generating.