Location
September 3, 2014
To all Local Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly cordially invites Bahá’í youth who are engaged in their undergraduate studies and who wish to participate in a series of seminars prepared by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) to express their interest by completing a web-based application form.
The series of ISGP undergraduate seminars, entitled “Participating in the Prevalent Discourses of Society,” seeks to accompany Bahá’í undergraduate students annually over the course of four years of university studies. The purpose of these intensive seminars is to raise the consciousness of youth about the importance of engaging in action and discourse directed at social change; to develop their capacity to reflect, to analyze, and to learn from action; and to explore elements of a conceptual framework for contributing to the advancement of civilization. They further strive to provide young people with tools to understand and analyze the culture in which they are immersed and the content of their university courses; to help them assume ownership of their education; and to assist them to acquire the kind of knowledge that will enable them to live productive and meaningful lives. These seminars are sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly and conducted by ISGP—an organization established in 1999 by the Universal House of Justice.
The next seminar for a new cohort of undergraduate students will take place this winter at Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California, from December 19-29, 2014. Further information is available in the attached brochure and online at www.globalprosperity.org. It is the Institute’s policy that participants must attend the entire seminar from start to finish to be eligible to participate. They should also plan to continue with the same group for the duration of their participation in the seminars, which would ideally span four years of study, completing one seminar each year. To reduce the cost to each participant, the National Assembly has subsidized the expenses for the seminar and the remaining fees amount to a flat rate of $440. This significantly reduced rate contributes to the cost of food and lodging for the full eleven days of the session.
Due to the growing number of applicants and the limited space available, preference will be shown to first-year university students—although undergraduate students further along in their studies are also welcome to apply—and other factors may also be taken into consideration, including the order in which applications are received. Interested youth should complete the application online at bit.ly/VJnOdv and submit it no later than September 30. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered. Applicants will receive responses by mid-October. Inquiries about this seminar should be directed to isgp.bosch@gmail.com.
We encourage you to share news of this opportunity widely among eligible Bahá’í youth in your area.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Kenneth E. Bowers
Secretary
National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá’ís of the United States