In neighbourhoods across the country, groups of young people devoted their summer break to activities aimed at strengthening community life.
On a summer morning in the Kipps Lane neighbourhood of London, Ontario, a 16-year-old student begins his day with prayer, packs a lunch, and sets off on his bicycle towards his neighbourhood centre. There, he joins a group of 20 other youth to engage in study, discussions and projects that aim to serve the families in their area. Along the way, he pauses to assist a neighbour with car repairs—an effort that also helps him save up for his future studies. Such moments were characteristic of the daily rhythm experienced by participants in the Summer of Service program, which this year engaged hundreds of youth in communities across Canada.
At the heart of the initiative is the understanding that individual growth is inseparable from the progress and well-being of society. Youth are invited to dedicate a period of their summer break to intensive activities of service, adapted to needs identified in their own communities. While these often include projects that seek to address practical concerns, much of their energy is directed to nurturing the capacities of younger generations through moral and spiritual education.
In Ottawa’s Greenboro neighbourhood, for example, participants organized weekly camps for their young neighbours. “We saw the need to strengthen the spiritual education of junior youth,” one participant explained, “so we planned and ran camps throughout the summer.” In the Springdale neighbourhood in Brampton, another youth shared “we met up every day in the park and had conversations with our neighbours about how together we can build our community. Out of those conversations, the junior youth in the neighbourhood ran a community festival to build greater unity among the families and the youth ran camps for children and junior youth.”
A common feature of the program in every locality is daily study of materials aimed at raising the participants’ capacity to apply the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith to their own realities, as well as reflecting on the transformation they witness in themselves, their families, and their communities. In Kipps Lane, London, after studying uplifting texts each morning, participants planned how they would put those ideas into action. “In the afternoons we went out and acted on those plans”, shared one participant. These included “extending meaningful conversations to our neighbours, running classes for the spiritual education of children and junior youth, and gathering families together to consult about how we can make our community a better place.”
Amid a social climate often characterized by isolation and material preoccupations—forces that are acutely felt by younger generations—participants expressed a sense of purpose and joy in dedicating their time to service. A youth in Montreal reflected on her experience over three weeks: “I feel happy that I served my community and developed my own capacity. Teaching children’s classes helped me grow spiritually and intellectually, and I feel more connected to others.”
Despite the diversity of contexts, reflections from participants revealed shared convictions: that service is central to their lives, and that this stage of youth is the “choicest time of life,” when energy and vitality can be directed toward strengthening community bonds. A participant from Sudbury’s Flour Mill neighbourhood expressed: “It’s very joyful walking a path of service with your best friends. After reflecting, I realized this is what really matters at this stage of my life.”
Another theme that emerged from the reflections was the inner transformation experienced by the participants. A youth from Stratford, Ontario, described how rapidly this process of growth can unfold: “It has only been 10 days, but I already feel like a different person. I feel myself becoming more patient—with myself and with others.” Others spoke of the courage and confidence that have accompanied this change. “I’ve noticed that I feel more comfortable talking to people I don’t know or am not used to talking to,” shared another youth. “Even though I feel afraid at times, I somehow find the courage to do it.”
Through such experiences, these young people are learning to approach life in a more integrated way—linking education, family, work, leisure, spiritual growth, and physical health—while recognizing service as the arena where personal development and the progress of their community come together.
They also described how the scope of their vision is expanding. Participants viewed their local efforts as contributions to the advancement of society. A youth from London expressed this insight: “What motivates me is thinking about strengthening family life—my own and those of my neighbours. Families are the foundation of a community, and when they are strengthened, so too is the community. Knowing that friends in communities around the world are engaged in similar efforts inspires me to keep serving, because this is how the world will change.”