Imagine 80 youth in one room from 33 countries of Europe speaking the same language, burning with love for the Cause and for each other, and setting their minds on how to inspire all the youth of Europe with love for humanity and Bahá’u’lláh. If you can imagine what it would feel like to be in that atmosphere then you will have caught a glimpse of the spirit at the 2001 EBYC Annual European Youth Committees Conference in Warsaw, Poland.
There were four representatives that attended from Northern Ireland (myself, Kathleen Holmlund, Mahan Hashemazadeh, and Adib Ma’ani), two from the South and another seven from Great Britain.
It was my first really international Bahá’í event and I was truly honoured and excited to be there. It was also my introduction to the institution of the European Bahá’í Youth Council, the only continental youth Institution of its kind, appointed by the Universal House of Justice. Their work is of great importance, guiding and coordinating all the National Youth Committees in Europe as well as youth committees appointed by Regional Bahá’í Councils. The purpose of the event in Warsaw was to create a vision for the coming year for NYCs, to help with their planning and to inspire the youth to action based on the aims of the 5 -Year Plan.
Two Auxiliary Board Members for Poland attended (one as a representative of the European Board of Counsellors) and enthused the youth with stories from the Counsellors’ meeting in January, and with insights regarding youth from the 9th January letter. Other enlightening presentations were given too, on pioneering, the Fund, Junior Youth, devotional meetings, study circles, and the recent letters from the House, along with consultation and planning sessions.
This event has taken place for 12 years, but was the first time NI had been represented. Certainly we four were very inspired, and the challenge remains to convey the spirit of this meeting to the youth here, and to translate all the ideas, suggestions, insights and knowledge gained in Warsaw into action!
Sarah Munro