Baha'i Junior Youth Program listen

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Tags: Baha'i, Youth Programs, Project Betty

>Today in Clearwater, children and teens planted a community garden for residents of the MacArthur Apartment Complex. The youth involved belong to the Bahai church and part of the faith’s junior youth project. Kids aged, 12-14, chose a project they wanted to do for the community and this year was the first time a garden has been planted. Adeli is the projects organizer, and although this is her first year leading such a project and Adeli says the project is part of teaching the kids the importance community service.>The program is part of Project Betty, which is in its 6th year. The program has older teens teaching younger children the importance of kindness; honesty and integrity, along with helping them become better readers. All the teen counselors are part of a summer service project, and have been traveling to different communities, Navide who is 16, is helping teach the children how to plant the garden.>Navide says they wanted to do something everyone living in the complex could enjoy, and a diversely colored garden was the project the decided on.>Morgan and her counselors, Niaz and Tate say that after two weeks of working together with the kids, they are eager to come back next year.>Trisha irons is a volunteer for the project and member of the Bahai faith, she says that this project and others like is teaching young people to be empowered.>Although Adeli, the projects organizer, was raised in the Bahai faith, she says spirituality is a personal journey. The teachings used for the program come from Bahai but Adeli says that they are useful for everyone to learn.>The Baha’I church focuses on advocating unity and brotherhood within their faith and around the world. For more information about the faith or upcoming youth programs you can go online to www.bahai.org.