Baha'i Youth Gather for Summer Service Project
Project Zaynab is named after a young woman who lived in Persia (now Iran) in the mid 1800's. When the followers of the Báb were attacked by civil and ecclesiastical authorities, she "disguised herself in male attire, cut off her locks, girt a sword about her waist, and, raising the cry of 'Yá Sáhibu’z-Zamán!' ('O Lord of the Age!') rushed headlong in pursuit of the assailants, and who, disdainful of food and sleep, continued, during a period of five months, in the thick of the turmoil, to animate the zeal and to rush to the rescue of her men companions." Zaynab served with her men companions for five months before she was killed by the government.
School is out and 35 youth from all over the western states are heading to the Portland area for a two-week summer service project. On June 19, 2009, youth from Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, even as far as Texas will gather at the Beaverton Baha'i Center for orientation and training for Project Zaynab.
Ranging in age from 15 to 25, these youth will then help local Baha'is teach children's classes and develop junior youth empowerment programs.
Children's Classes: Using art, music and stories, the youth will help the children learn the principles of the Baha'i Faith and develop virtues. Quotes and songs and games will help them understand concepts such as unity, sharing, justice, truthfulness and service. The classes are for children from ages 5 to 11.
Junior Youth: Empowering junior youth (ages 11-14) is priority in the Baha'i Faith. The youth will work with the junior youth to study, consult together, develop plans for service to the community, develop skills in decision making and socialize together.
After two weeks of working together and developing new skills, the youth in Project Zaynab will return to their home communities to share what they've learned. Baha'is in those communities are ready and waiting to help them put their enthusiasm to work and start children's classes and junior youth groups of their own.
All of this takes quite a bit of coordinating. Local Baha'is from all over the Portland area have volunteered to house the youth in their homes, prepare meals and provide transportation.