The majority of Bahá’í development efforts have arisen in villages and neighborhoods where an increasingly pronounced sense of community exists. In such settings it is especially apparent that, irrespective of the area of action—be it education, agriculture, health, or others— sustained progress is dependent not only on the empowerment of individuals and groups but more broadly on the capacities and nature of interaction between individuals, the community, and its institutions. The more that the qualities of cooperation and mutual assistance are manifested by a people, the Bahá’í writings state, “the more will human society advance in progress and prosperity.”
Animated by this conviction, opportunities are being created among inhabitants, groups, and institutions at various levels around the world to gather together to engage in an ongoing process of reading the material and social conditions of their communities. Such collaborative spaces involve all segments of the population in a conversation where experiences and resources are readily shared. In addition to enhancing unity of vision and thought, such gatherings also often lead to the emergence of initiatives of fixed duration to resolve one or another issue, as well as the creation of projects that are sustained over time.
In one such community gathering in India, 40 families in the periphery of a village that was previously disconnected from government programs have been discussing the material and social advancement of their locality. When a member of the village council was invited by a local Bahá’í institution to attend this community gathering, the relationship between the community and the government was strengthened, and the government officials became more acutely aware of the reality of that segment of the village. The community took systematic actions as a result of these gatherings, which fostered collaboration with the local leaders and helped connect the community to various schemes offered by government structures, such as those for microfinance and child welfare. Through such steps, what was previously characterized as a relationship of distance and mistrust between the community and local government gradually began to change to one of mutual collaboration and trust.
“Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding. ”
—Baháʼu'lláh
In Papua New Guinea, a three-day community gathering with over 600 participants was arranged by the local Bahá’í institutions in collaboration with local government officials. Rich conversations involving the inhabitants of the area, representatives of the local government, and ward councilors explored the historical account of steps taken thus far, as well as social, economic, or cultural barriers that have been impeding the population’s spiritual and material progress. Participants of the gathering also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among various entities concerned with processes central to the community’s life, including secondary and tertiary education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Following the gathering, steps were taken to establish a committee within the community that could engage in a more systematic and profound collaboration with the local government over issues of concern.
In addition to regular conferences that bring together members of the community, special gatherings have been taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo convening local chiefs. One example is a three-day meeting of 60 village and tribal chiefs, many of whom were on opposing sides of armed conflict in the past, coming together to discuss the promotion of social progress and decide on practical action that could transform tense coexistence into constructive and peaceful collaboration among various ethnic groups and religious communities. A notable result of the conference was the decision by many of the chiefs to call regular meetings of all the women in their villages to discuss taking steps toward this goal, realizing that their participation was essential for successful reconciliation.