Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)

In this podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service, we hear from Townshend Lihanda, member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, sharing accounts of individual and collective transformation in Kenya inspired by Bahá’í moral and spiritual education programs. Mr. Lihanda discusses the profound changes occurring within communities where these programs are offered. He highlights how these initiatives aim to awaken the latent energies of the human soul, directing them towards meaningful service to society.

Amid increasing challenges and conflict in the world, a growing recognition is emerging of the interdependence of nations. This vital insight is addressed by the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) in international forums, where its contributions highlight that at a fundamental level, humanity is one. In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, representatives from the BIC’s Addis Ababa and Brussels Offices explore the implications of this interdependence within the context of the African Union (AU)–European Union (EU) partnership which recognizes that the two continents are intertwined socially and economically. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1731/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores how worship and service to humanity—two foundational aspects of living a spiritual life—mutually reinforce one another, paving the way to building more peaceful and harmonious communities. Guests of the podcast were among the participants of a recent consultation held at the Bahá’í World Centre that explored how Bahá’í Houses of Worship stand as beacons of hope, welcoming people from all backgrounds to contemplate how they can serve the needs of their fellow citizens. Full story on: https://news.bahai.org/story/1728/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores the history and evolution of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) over several decades, as well as its present work and contributions to discourses about the future and wellbeing of humanity. Guests of the episode include representatives of some of the BIC’s offices, including in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, and New York. Their accounts highlight the BIC’s commitment to promoting the principle of the oneness of humanity in diverse international forums. The podcast explores some of the BIC’s contributions to significant global conferences and its collaboration with various United Nations agencies over the past decades to contribute to the advancement of thought in many areas including social development, the advancement of women, climate change, governance and UN reform, as well as human rights. Full story: https://news.bahai.org/story/1722/

This podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service explores the initiatives of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) in North America that aim to enrich the intellectual life of communities. Selvi Adaikkallam Zabihi, Michael Karlberg, Malik Nash, and Negin Toosi join the News Service from the United States to discuss the ABS’s unique approach to inquiry within the sciences and humanities.

During a recent visit to the Bahá’í World Centre, members of Bahá’í communities from various countries joined in conversation with the News Service to explore insights about fostering a pattern of vibrant community life. Guests of the episode included Jorge Guerreiro from Brazil, Nazneen Rowhani from India, Confucius Ikoirere from Papua New Guinea, Rey Elmo from Philippines, and Maria Simbowe from Tanzania. Among the topics they explored was how prayer and efforts to apply spiritual principles to one’s daily life provide the seeds for social betterment. Full story on: https://news.bahai.org/story/1717/

During a recent visit to the Bahá’í World Centre, Bhavna Anbarasan, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia, spoke with the Bahá’í World News Service about how Bahá’í community-building endeavors in the villages of Bihar, India, are giving rise to a new culture of equality. Mrs. Anbarasan explained that the movement toward greater equality in Bihar has gained momentum as growing numbers of families participate in consultative spaces that welcome both women and men to contribute to discussions concerning social betterment. The consultative spaces are enabling people of all ages to re-examine some long-held perceptions that tend to inhibit women and young girls’ ability to advance in their education or to contribute to decision-making in different spheres of life. Full story: https://news.bahai.org/story/1714/

How do we ensure that our values, our aspirations, and our needs are integrated into the design, development, and use of technology? This was among the questions explored by Matt Weinberg, a technologist from the United States, in this podcast episode recorded during a recent gathering at the Bahá’í World Centre on the development of communities. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1705/

In this podcast episode from the News Service, we hear from Kessia Ruh, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, sharing stories about some of the efforts of the Bahá’ís of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to contribute to the wellbeing of their society. Mrs. Ruh’s accounts highlight a key principle at the core of Bahá’í social action initiatives: faith in the ability of a population to take charge of its own material and spiritual prosperity. Full story: news.bahai.org/story/1700/

A new podcast episode from the News Service explores how the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program, a Bahá’í-inspired educational endeavor, is raising capacity in people to apply scientific knowledge together with spiritual principles for the development of their communities. In this episode, Elisa Cooper, who works closely with a network of Bahá’í-inspired organizations around the world, joins two young people serving at the Bahá’í World Centre, Karishma Nair from India and Alex Kalumba from Zambia, to discuss how the PSA program is contributing to various aspects of community life, including education, environmental conservation, agriculture, and health.

In the latest podcast episode from the News Service, a group of young people serving at the Bahá’í World Centre explore the impact of Bahá’í Houses of Worship on community life, sharing their experiences of living near a Bahá’í temple in their local communities. In this episode we hear from Deeba Behrouzi from Canada, Leili Zapata Caldas from Colombia, Pacifique Lolonga from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Aharna Shoghi from India. They discuss how Bahá'í temples give expression to the interplay between service and worship, while inspiring people to contribute to the material and social progress of their society.

During recent consultations at the Bahá’í World Centre on the development of Bahá’í communities, a few attendees who work closely with the Bahá’í Houses of Worship in Uganda and Kenya sat down with the News Service for a podcast episode to explore insights about how these temples are enriching community life. The podcast features Samuel Mwangi, an Auxiliary Board member from Kenya; Patricia Senoga, an Auxiliary Board member from Uganda; and Charles Anglin, the Director of the House of Worship in Uganda. To watch the podcast visit: https://youtu.be/QQlmfdNxAdg

In the latest podcast episode from the News Service, two representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) discuss contributions of Bahá’í communities in the Arab region to the discourse on coexistence—a topic that has come to the forefront of public consciousness in recent years. Saba Haddad and Hatem El-Hady, representatives of the Geneva and Cairo Offices of the BIC respectively, explored several concepts and ideas relevant to conversations on fostering coexistence, including the constructive role of religion in contemporary society, the equality of women and men, and the inherent oneness of humanity. To watch the podcast visit: https://youtu.be/ALP7c1XzZ30

In this podcast episode, Leslie Stewart, Executive Director of FUNDAEC, sat with the News Service to discuss insights about some of that organization’s initiatives, particularly focusing on the areas of agriculture, food production, and distribution. Ms. Stewart provided a glimpse into ways that the Bahá’í principles of the harmony of science and religion, the oneness of humanity, and selfless service to society can inspire a population to take charge of its own progress and prosperity. To watch the podcast visit: https://youtu.be/2bRcPyUTonw

The latest podcast episode features Counsellors exploring the impact of educational initiatives in Bahá’í communities across the world. To watch the podcast visit: https://youtu.be/mEzWRHLpD1o