ASSOCIATION OF BAHÁ’Í WOMEN
(NORTHERN IRELAND)
Providing resources for the empowerment of women everywhere:
Course Introduction
At the first session it is important to point out that this is a
Bahá'í inspired workshop and to give a brief introduction to the
Faith, so that those attending are informed of the community from which it was
developed. The Bahá'í Women of NI have been involved in events
promoting equality and peace for many years and are represented in local
communities across the Province. We dedicate this compilation to two
Bahá'í women, Jane Villiers-Stuart, from Greenisland and Pari
Twiname from Cullybackey. Jane was founder of the Bahá'í Women's
Committee of NI and worked remorselessly in peace and equality issues and was a
familiar and much loved figure in many women groups in NI. Jane's determination
was immense and whether it was in running a youth club or in promoting equality
or working in cross border initiatives she refused to be deflected. Pari, a
former district nurse, was very involved with carers in the community and
opened her home and heart to all she came into contact with. She uniquely
combined a commitment to fight injustice and a wonderful elegance. Pari's
kitchen echoed with laughter and the smell of her delicious cooking. Both Jane
and Pari achieved so much, gave so much and loved so much and are missed
greatly. We ask you to remember them in your prayers along with all those who
have worked so hard to contribute to peace here in NI and across the world.
(The Bahá'í Faith is a worldwide religion based on the
teachings of Baha'u'llah (1817-1892). He stated that the time had come for the
people of the world to put aside their differences and to unite on the basis of
the teachings that he had brought. In the brief course of its 160+ year
history, the Baha'i Faith has become a fast-growing religion that has
established itself in every country of the world and is rapidly transforming
individuals and communities. )
It is our hope that this course allows you to get a glimpse of the dynamics
of spiritual change that are a feature of real community life.
Bahá'í women from Lurgan and Coleraine designed the material and
have piloted the project to the wider community over the past two years. We are
grateful to all the participants both within and outside the
Bahá'í community who acted as guinea pigs and who gave of their
time and experience to enrich the project.
The course is participative and spiritual principles will be introduced and
there should be plenty of opportunity to share and learn from each other's
insights. Putting these principles into practice is the next stage and doing
this within a group can help individuals transform together and make dynamic
change a real option. Reflecting on your life, looking forward to your legacy
and understanding equality all contribute to anchoring your spiritual nature in
real action. Each group we have used this material with has been different and
yet the privilege of being nurtured and encouraged has been consistent. We hope
that you experience this too as a facilitator or participant.
To the Facilitator
Introduce yourself
Introduce the source of material.
Explain that we plan to read, reflect, and apply
spiritual principles in our lives. The principles are universal, anyone, of any
belief or none, can benefit from them.
Notes
- We found this worked best around a table, sessions should last 2-3 hours,
one person is designated clearly as facilitator and it is good practise to send
thank you cards to all participants at its end. Around 5 to 8 in number is
ideal and makes for a personal encounter. Get them to fill in evaluation form
so that things can be improved and lessons learned. Be prepared for tears, it
seemed to happen at some point during the course.
- Also be aware that there is a reluctance to read aloud (due to difficulty
with language) in some, be sensitive to this and respect the choice of the
individual, although most enjoy participating in all activities.
- There can be a resistance to participate in artistic pursuits, especially
in older women, don't be sensitive about this, they will enjoy it eventually
when they get into it, be persuasive and confident.
- Don't have devotionals with long sections, short with plenty of music in
between seems to go down better. Gives everyone a chance to really digest the
words properly.
- Can be useful to have a person as a helper/assistant, if only to tell you
when you talk too much, dominate, drift or just make a complete hash of it.
Don't worry if you do, but do learn from mistakes and try not to repeat them.
- Don't have hidden agendas or expectations just focus on spiritual progress
for all, which is the real goal.
- Ask each participant at the beginning of the course to introduce
themselves, give their name and say what they are hoping to gain from the
course. Don't be surprised if they don't have a clue as to why they are there,
but do ask and be prepared to listen. The amount you gain from this course will
be directly related to how willing you are to really listen and learn. The same
thing applies to all on the course with you!
Good luck!
These courses are made available as a community resource for anyone to use.
We ask only that the source is attributed: Association of
Bahá’í Women (Northern Ireland).
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