Youth group distributes food, gains city and National Guard support

NEW ROCHELLE, New York, 27 March 2020, (BWNS) — When the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began causing disruptions to life in their neighborhood, a group of youth quickly turned their attention to pressing needs arising from school closures. In this suburb of New York City, these youth have been studying and serving together in Baha’i activities that develop their capacities for service to society.

As schools shut two weeks ago, many children were left without an important source of daily meals. While official arrangements for food distribution would soon be in place, the group of youth realized that the friendships and experience they had collectively developed through community-building initiatives, including food distribution efforts, would allow them to organize an immediate response in the interim.

“These youth have been learning about their spiritual development within a community, and about the strength that comes from facing a difficult situation together” says Timothy McKnight, a resident and community organizer in the neighborhood.

“In these times,” Mr. McKnight continues, “they have the volition to say ‘Our service to our community doesn’t stop, it adapts.’ It’s now about making sure people are doing well and trying to help out in the best way we can when we have to keep our distance and prevent spreading the disease.”

The night that school closures were announced, the youth contacted the board of education and spoke to various vendors in the area, who agreed to donate meals. They arranged for the community room in their apartment complex to be made available as a distribution point, with measures to ensure physical distancing and sanitation.

The board of education informed families, and they were able to pick up hot meals the next day. This gave children access to good food at home while minimizing contact.

“Because the youth were nimble and had the latitude to take action within their neighborhood,” says Nima Yousefian, who works with this group of youth in their activities, “they were able to be initial responders in a crisis, complementing the government response.”

The actions of the group caught the attention of city officials. On the second day of school closures, the arrangement they had set up was adopted as an official food distribution point staffed by the state’s National Guard.

“There is obviously a very long way to go in this situation,” says

Mr. Yousefian, “and the city will have countless needs during the crisis.

But the youth are continuing to think about what they can do to help.”

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Rising to the occasion in a global crisis

SYDNEY, 25 March 2020, (BWNS) — As the global health crisis continues to cause disruptions to society in all parts of the world, efforts of Baha’is to serve humanity increase in intensity. Communities are quickly and creatively adapting to new forms of interaction suited to public health requirements and focused on the specific spiritual and material needs that have now emerged.

“There is a deep resolve to serve our neighborhoods,” says Venus Khalessi of the Australian Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs. “Even with limits to social contact, we are trying to strengthen our contributions to the life of society—especially reaching out to those who are older or vulnerable and being conscious of the needs of each other.”

At the same time as current conditions prompt fear and anxiety, people across the world are finding hope in prayer. Everywhere, large numbers of people are connecting online over short distances or across continents to share uplifting devotions.

The Baha’i Houses of Worship have long been centers and symbols of the spirit of collective worship. Like other public places, they have had to close their doors as a preventive measure. Yet in communities where Baha’i Temples exist, new approaches are being taken to infuse wider segments of society with the spirit these structures embody.

In Santiago, Chile, 19 short videos of the Temple accompanied by a prayer set to music have been produced and disseminated online. At the House of Worship in Wilmette, United States, regular devotional programs have been temporarily moved online and include a visual presentation meant to convey the feeling of sitting in the Temple.

Baha’i educational efforts continue during these disruptive conditions. Communities have been encouraged by Baha’i institutions to conduct these activities in a way that respects government guidelines and prevents physical contact.

“Our community adapted incredibly fast,” says Leyla Tavernaro-Haidarian from the Austrian Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs. “Within days, all activities that build capacity for service to society were moved online. These forms of media have allowed us to continue classes for children, which they need as much as ever. The ideas of resilience, caring for community, and togetherness that we look at are relevant to them as they navigate these times.”

A youth from London who teaches classes for the spiritual education of children in his neighborhood describes how he and others are finding meaningful ways to serve under these conditions: “Consulting about this shift in action triggered a thought: as the situation develops could we try to see every parent as a potential teacher?” This youth is now supporting parents through telephone conversations.

Baha’is in countries in Africa and Asia that had not been heavily affected by the outbreak took active steps to raise public awareness about the virus. A group in Motibasti, Nepal, prepared informative banners—taking care to keep a safe distance and use protective gear as needed—and provided critical information about principles of personal and collective hygiene. Efforts have also been made to provide soap for handwashing.

Reflecting on the changes in her society, Dr. Tavernaro-Haidarian says that “whether in balcony conversations among neighbors or in the way public figures and journalists are speaking, one can see a big shift in the focus of discourse here in Austria toward an enlarged sense of shared identity in facing a global challenge. Concepts of unity and solidarity are receiving serious attention. Various groups are putting their differences aside to address this problem, and people are reaching out across religious backgrounds to pray together.”

Nilakshi Rajkhowa, of the Baha’i Office of External Affairs in India, notes a similar trend in her country. “We feel that this is the time when we can reach out to everyone for a profound conversation on spiritual and social transformation, because people have become more conscious of a central idea at the heart of Baha’u’llah’s message: we are all one, we are interdependent, and we are all called on to support one another.”

''''Court upholds death sentence against Yemeni Baha’i (Tribunal confirma sentença de morte contra iemenita Baha'i)'''''''''''''''

BIC GENEBRA, 23 de março de 2020, (BWNS) - Um tribunal de apelações em Sanaa, Iêmen, descartou neste domingo para defender uma sentença de morte religiosamente motivado contra Hamed bin Haydara, um Baha'i que está preso desde 2013.

Mr. Haydara foi condenado a execução pública em janeiro 2018 após quatro anos de ensaios sham, num veredicto que também pediu o confisco de seus bens ea dissolução das instituições bahá'ís. Os apelos processo já tinha estendido mais de dezoito audiências antes do mais recente, conjunto a ser realizada em 31 de março, foi abruptamente remarcado para o domingo.

A Comunidade Internacional Bahá'í condenou a sentença de morte de

Mr. Haydara nos termos mais fortes. “Numa altura em que a comunidade internacional está lutando contra uma crise de saúde global, é incompreensível que as autoridades de Sana têm defendido uma sentença de morte contra um indivíduo inocente unicamente por causa de suas crenças em vez de se concentrar em proteger a população, incluindo Baha' é “, diz Diane Ala'i, Representante da Comunidade Internacional Bahá'í nas Nações Unidas em Genebra.

Mr. Haydara foi arbitrariamente preso em dezembro de 2013 e tem enfrentado uma falta do devido processo desde então. Realizada por 14 meses , sem encargos, mais tarde ele foi impedido de assistir a primeira instância de audição quando sua sentença foi emitida.

Ele além disso sofreu tortura, incluindo espancamentos, electrocutions e abuso psicológico intenso. Maus tratos graves do Sr. Haydara estendido a negação de tratamento médico, forçou a assinatura dos documentos, enquanto os olhos vendados, e negação de visitantes, incluindo sua esposa e filhas.

“A Comunidade Internacional Bahá'í é absolutamente consternado com este veredicto escandaloso e insta o tribunal e as autoridades Houthi a tomar medidas imediatas para derrubar esta sentença injusta”, diz Ala'i.

Mr. Haydara é um dos seis bahá'ís atualmente presos em Sana'a por suas crenças.

Naw-Ruz around the world brings hope and spiritual renewal

KUWAIT CITY, 20 March 2020, (BWNS) — During this time of a global health crisis, Baha’is around the world are finding creative means of marking Naw-Ruz—their new year and the first day of spring—while strictly adhering to public health measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This day is a symbol of renewal, an occasion when all can reflect on their spiritual reality and how they can contribute to the well-being of their society.

A group of youth in Kuwait have created a short video exploring how Naw-Ruz has been a unifying event across several religions and cultures.

Individuals in other countries are recording songs and other media, and bringing joy to those around

 them in many other ways.

More than 180 people across Belgium and Luxembourg held a celebration together online, all connecting from their homes. This was one of countless such events that took place today across the world. One young man, who was able to connect despite the technical limitations of the refugee facility where he lives, said, “It’s my pleasure to be beside you and other lovely friends. I wish you the best in the new year, I’m so glad for having such friends.”

These efforts are a response to the message from the Universal House of Justice marking this special occasion, which states:

“However difficult matters are at present, and however close to the limits of their endurance some sections of societies are brought, humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence.”

The News Service will continue to cover stories on how communities around the world are responding constructively to the current difficult circumstances.