A youth camp which presented talks on ‘Challenges faced by youths of today’ and ‘How to build self-esteem’ attracted 26 Baha’i members from the various places in Miri and Niah yesterday. It was held at the Petronas Games Village here.

Themed ‘Youths and Spiritual Knowledge’, the event was organized by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Miri, specially for youths aged between 13 and 16.

“This group gathering was organized to increase awareness among youths on the importance of morality in accordance with the Baha’i principle, and in line with the government’s concern for youth provlems,” said a task force committee member and Baha’i member, SR Ramsey.

There were 218 people participating in the children’s festival 2004; a total of 70 children, 75 junior youths, 16 youths and 57 adults out of which about 60 were unexpected turn-ups. We are very happy to have quite a large number of seekers among our participants. About 15 children, 20 junior youths and 2 parents were seekers.Programmes were catered for 3 groups, the children, the junior youths and the parents.

The junior youths were sub-divided into about 10 persons per group for workshops and performance. Lee Yih Ven and Kenneth Jampang were the main coordinators for the junior youth programmes and other facilitators for each sub-group were appointed to assist with their workshops and performance.

The journey started with eight youths from Bau, Lundu and Kuching, traveling together from Kuching to Serian on 23 November. In Serian we were joined by another group of nine youths and we stayed at Ellen Joseph’s residence before proceeding to our first destination, Kampung Bugu Mawang the next morning.

Book 1 course started with 11 Bahá’í youths with myself and Poly Jampang as tutors. The course was held during day time only. At the same time children’s class and junior youth class were conducted by Calstino and Hartini. They were assisted by Erwina and Dovin. In the evening, workshop on arts was held whereby the youth were taught how to chant prayers, songs, games and dances. Besides that we also visited and prayed for a friend who was ill. He passed away a week later.

The campaign started on 1 November 2003 and was successfully completed on 30 November. The purpose of the campaign was to get the participants to attend a series of Ruhi courses, namely, Ruhi Book 1 through Book 4.

On Nov 1, Book 1 started with 4 participants. At the same time the junior youth class started with 22 participants, including one non-Bahá’í. On Nov 5, Book 2 started with 8 participants. At the same time a group of 8 persons started with Book 4. On Nov 18, graduates of Book 2 proceeded to Book 3 with 13 participants. On Nov 23 graduates of Book 3 continued to Book 4 with 12 participants.

On November 12, a group of four youths comprising Zarrin, Miday, Margeretha and I went with Uncle Balan to Kampung Ipuh Diang for the celebration of the Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The next day, 13th November, we organized a junior youth gathering, starting at 8 a.m.