The latest podcast episode explores BIC Brussels Office’s insights on conditions that enable young people’s capacities for meaningful social contribution to flourish.
BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service we hear from Rachel Bayani and Alessandro Benedetti, representatives of the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC), who explore conditions that enable young people’s capacities for meaningful contribution to society to flourish.
Among these essential conditions is society’s perception of young people. Reflecting on a recent gathering during the European Youth Week, Ms. Bayani recalls a youth participant’s insightful observation: “The ability of young people to contribute to social progress is directly related to how society perceives them. If youth are not viewed as capable protagonists, it significantly hampers their sense of agency.”
The podcast participants observe how experience gained through Bahá’í community-building initiatives across Europe illustrates that both young people and their communities flourish when youth are recognized as capable agents of change.
Ms. Bayani explains that youth frequently become “connectors” among diverse groups, effectively bridging cultural divides by navigating between their families’ traditions and the broader realities of their local communities.
She notes that the youth understand both the country in which they live and their own cultural heritage. “They are uniquely positioned to help communities read their social reality together and collectively identify paths forward,” she says.
Mr. Benedetti adds that young people also play a critical role across generations—especially in education—in many places around the world. He notes, “Youth take responsibility for the spiritual and intellectual education of younger generations, setting a new standard and fostering the emergence of a culture rooted in collective learning.”
He further describes Bahá’í educational endeavors that equip youth to critically evaluate assumptions within their fields of study. Recalling his own university experience, he reflects on how economic theories can portray humans as largely self-interested and invites listeners to envision an alternative: “What if we imagined human nature endowed with generosity?” Such a perspective, he observes, could profoundly reshape approaches to many fields of study.
The discussion acknowledges that young people confront immense societal pressures promoting passivity and consumerism. Ms. Bayani emphasizes that reclaiming agency involves a deliberate effort to break down complex societal challenges into manageable steps: “Simply being able to dismantle overwhelming challenges into actionable steps and discussing these with peers... is itself an empowering act.”
The podcast episode is part of the “In Conversation” series exploring Baháʼí efforts worldwide to contribute to social progress, from the grassroots to the international level.
