Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)

Economist Nava Ashraf explores the implications of the concept of work as service for living a meaningful life.

This podcast episode explores how spiritual principles are fostering greater unity, participation, and shared responsibility in communities across Papua New Guinea.

Participants from three countries describe how Bahá’í educational programs are helping young people see their studies, work, and service as part of one coherent life.

In this podcast, families in two Ecuadorian fishing towns turn everyday concerns—schooling, sport, life at sea—into occasions to draw together and support one another.

Counsellors explore how Bahá’í Local Spiritual Assemblies in three diverse settings—Kenya, Sri Lanka, and the US—are becoming sources of care, consultation, and service.

Counsellor Taraz Nadarajah shares stories from Sydney where families and young people are contributing to new patterns of community life.

The latest podcast episode explores efforts in a DRC village to learn about addressing long-standing challenges in education, agriculture, and societal harmony.

Four Counsellors from different regions discuss how Bahá’í educational programs are helping young people discover a new identity and purpose through service to society.

This podcast episode explores how youth in Canada are learning to reorient their lives around service, discovering in the process a deeper sense of purpose.

Podcast explores how in Kenya, participation in Bahá’í moral and spiritual education is raising consciousness about individual and collective responsibility.

In settings across the UK, young people are discovering that their desire to serve others can become a powerful force for building peaceful communities.

The second part of this two-episode conversation in the Insights from the Field podcast continues a discussion with Moojan Momen, drawing on themes from his recent paper, “The Bábí-Bahá’í Revolution in Iran,” published in the Iranian Studies journal of Cambridge University Press. Building on the historical foundations introduced in Part 1, Dr. Momen explains that beginning in the late 19th century, the early Bahá’í community gradually developed new patterns of cooperation, decision-making, and service that contrasted sharply with the hierarchical norms of the time. These shifts unfolded patiently over decades, as Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá guided the community toward forms of collective action grounded in consultation, participation, and an ethos of service to all.

New two-part podcast explores the largely hidden history of significant Bahá’í contributions to education, governance, and social reform in 19th century Iran.

Participants at the annual ABS conference reflect on how spiritual principles can inform inquiry across diverse fields—from neuroscience to information technology.

The latest podcast episode explores how youth in the US, inspired by spiritual principles, are discovering the joy of serving together for the common good.

The latest podcast episode explores how young people in Central Asia are overcoming social barriers and contributing to the betterment of their communities. In the latest podcast episode of “In Conversation,” four members of the Board of Counsellors explore efforts to contribute to social progress in several countries across the Caucasuses and Central Asia, from neighborhoods in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to Tbilisi, Georgia.

The latest podcast episode explores how neighbors and groups of families in Australia are learning to support one another by applying spiritual principles to daily life.

The latest podcast episode explores how Bahá’í educational programs in Cambodia and Malawi are empowering women to transcend traditional roles and contribute to progress.

Members of Azerbaijan’s Bahá’í community reflect on how efforts to foster harmonious relationships at the grassroots have informed national discussions on pressing issues

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service we hear from Rachel Bayani and Alessandro Benedetti, representatives of the Brussels Office of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC), who explore conditions that enable young people’s capacities for meaningful social contribution to flourish.

The latest podcast episode from the News Service explores the need for global governance that recognizes humanity as an interdependent whole rather than competing units.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, we hear from Musonda Kapusa-Linsel, member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, as she reflects on the transformation fostered through Bahá’í material and spiritual educational initiatives in Zambia over the past four decades. Mrs. Kapusa-Linsel explains that, over time, educational programs created spaces where participants could explore concepts such as the essential oneness of humanity, the elimination of prejudice of all kinds, the equality of women and men, and the power of consultation as a tool for achieving collective vision and harmonious action.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, Ilya Shodjaee-Zrudlo from Canada explores how Bahá’í moral and spiritual education programs in that country are inspiring young people to see their lives through a new lens—one where service to humanity becomes the central organizing principle that brings coherence to all aspects of life. Dr. Shodjaee-Zrudlo, draws on experiences as a collaborator of Bahá’í training institutes in Montreal and as a member of Wordswell Association for Community Learning—a Bahá’í-inspired organization in Canada that empowers youth to develop their academic, intellectual, and moral capacities while contributing meaningfully to community transformation.

The latest podcast episode of the Baháʼí World News Service explores how a growing number of young people in the Canary Islands are learning to live a more coherent life centered on service to their society through their participation in Bahá’í moral and spiritual educational programs. Orlando Ravelo Hernández, member of the Board of Counsellors in Europe, and Alejandro Sarmiento González, member of the Auxiliary Board in the Canary Islands, discuss how these educational programs are fostering a new understanding of the period of youth in communities throughout that region of Spain, one that contrasts sharply with prevailing societal narratives.

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, representatives from the Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, and New York Offices of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) reflected on the advancement of women and the spiritual foundations of equality.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, Lyazzat Yangaliyeva and Timur Chekparbayev, members of Kazakhstan’s Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, shared insights from their participation in some of the prevalent discourses in their country over the years, particularly those related to societal harmony.

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) from offices in Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, and New York explored approaches to building societal harmony amid contemporary challenges. The representatives examined how foundational principles found in the Bahá’í teachings—particularly an understanding of the essential oneness of humanity and the inherent nobility of every person—can illuminate paths toward greater unity among diverse populations while fostering their collective spiritual and material advancement.

In a recent podcast episode from the News Service, Farrukh Rasulov, a member of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs of Uzbekistan, explores contributions of the Bahá’ís of that country to social progress over the past decades. The Bahá’í Faith has been present in what is now Uzbekistan since the 19th century, when it was part of the same broader region as Ashgabat (in present-day Turkmenistan), where the first Bahá’í House of Worship was constructed under the guidance of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Around this temple emerged schools for both girls and boys, inspired by the Bahá’í principle of equality between women and men.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, Hoda Mahmoudi—holder of the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland—discusses the Chair’s distinctive approach to promoting dialogue and understanding and its research with programs on peacebuilding and development.

In the latest podcast episode from the Bahá’í World News Service, Mina Yazdani—a professor of history at Eastern Kentucky University in the United States—explored the profound contribution of the Bahá’í community in Iran to their society. Dr. Yazdani shared some accounts of these contributions in several areas, including health, agriculture, and education. She explained how the Bahá’ís of Iran, despite relentless persecution, have embodied constructive resilience and have persisted in their endeavors to serve the needs of their society from its inception in the mid-nineteenth century.

A new podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service explores the rich discussion and collaborative spirit that characterized the recent 48th annual conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies (ABS) in North America. The conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia, brought together nearly 2,000 participants from diverse fields of study to explore the application of Bahá’í teachings to contemporary discourses on humanity’s well-being.

In the latest Bahá’í World News Service podcast episode, two representatives of the Bahá’í International Community (BIC)’s New York Office, Bani Dugal and Liliane Nkunzimana, discussed the BIC’s contributions to the discourse on global governance ahead of the UN Summit of the Future.

In the latest podcast episode of the Bahá’í World News Service, we are transported to the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Papua New Guinea, hearing firsthand accounts from three participants of the historic occasion. Full story on: news.bahai.org/story/1743/

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

In this episode, Counsellors discuss efforts in communities around the world to foster a culture of equality among women and men. To watch the podcast visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w8dB2o4DuY

Counsellors explore the ways youth engaged in Bahá’í educational initiatives are contributing to social transformation in their communities. To watch the podcast visit: https://youtu.be/5oNESSsc_bc

The centenary of the first race amity conference held by the American Bahá’í community was marked by a three-day symposium exploring racial unity and social change. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1514/

Australian Bahá’ís launch publication on social cohesion after two years of conversations among officials, academics, social actors, and people throughout the country.

An interview with representatives of a community in Uganda explores how collective prayer is influencing society at large. Read more at news.bahai.org/story/1344/.

The latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode features insights emerging from some of the Baha’i Temples around the world. Read more at news.bahai.org/story/1339/. Part one of their discussion can be heard here: news.bahai.org/story/1334/

The Baha’i World News Service interviewed representatives of Houses of Worship in Chile, India, and Uganda, which can be heard in a two-part podcast. Part one of the podcast, which focuses on the spiritual experiences people are having at Temples, is being published with this article. Part two will be made available in the coming weeks. Read more at news.bahai.org/story/1334/.

The latest BWNS podcast episode explores how a group of young women helped their community to shed superstitious attitudes that have ostracized women for generations. Read more at news.bahai.org/story/1332/.

The latest episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast focuses on the historic declaration of the Bab. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1328/.

This podcast episode highlights how Baha’is in Australia are employing the power of consultation in advancing discourses on the national stage. Read more on https://news.bahai.org/story/1312/.

May Lample and P.J. Andrews of the U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs talk about the Faith and Race Dialogues, a series of discussions about how religion can contribute to achieving race unity. Music from the podcast is by Lee Rosevere, used under the following Creative Commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1310.

In this podcast, Rachel Bayani from the BIC Brussels Office, Lyazzat Yangaliyeva from Kazakhstan, Arash Fazli from India, and Geoffrey Cameron from Canada discuss the efforts of regional and national Baha’i communities to participate in one particular discourse: the role of religion in society. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1303/.

In this podcast, Saba Detweiler from Germany interviews Rachel Bayani from the BIC Brussels Office, Vahid Vahdat from Brazil, and Karl Wightman from the United Kingdom. They discuss the efforts of regional and national Baha’i communities to participate in the discourses of society. Read the story that accompanies this podcast here: https://news.bahai.org/story/1298/.

In this edition of the Baha'i World News Service podcast, we hear excerpts from St. Barbe himself describing his inspiration for a lifelong commitment to environmentalism and the Baha'i Faith. Drawn to the Baha’i Faith at a young age, St. Barbe was a visionary environmentalist whose global impact is being revisited through the work of the International Tree Foundation and a new biography by Paul Hanley. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1292/.

Baha’u’llah’s arrival in Akka was a moment of severe crisis. But is marked the time when he made His weightiest pronouncements to the kings and rulers of His time, laying out the framework for a world civilization. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1284/.

This episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast focuses on Baha’u’llah’s arrival 150 years ago to the fortress city of Akka and events in the period that immediately followed it. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1282/.

This episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast explores the context of Baha’u’llah’s banishment to Akka 150 years ago, as well as His departure from Edirne, Turkey, and the curious history of Akka and Haifa. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1281/.

In this edition of the Baha'i World News Service podcast, we hear from the creative team behind the new stage musical Henry Box Brown. The performance is raising consciousness about fundamental Baha’i principles, such as the oneness of humankind, the elimination of all forms of prejudice, and justice. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1280/.

In this podcast episode, Counsellors explore the relationship between worship and service and discuss family life, community, and race unity. This is the third in a series of podcast episodes on community building, spiritual transformation, and social change. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1278/.

In this edition of the Baha'i World News Service podcast, a group of African Counsellors reflect on the experience of Baha’i-inspired organizations by discussing some educational endeavors. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1269/.

Members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors joined in a conversation with the Baha'i World News Service in a podcast about the impact of spiritual and moral education programs offered by the Baha'i community on youth and the communities in which they live. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1264/.

A process is unfolding in the DRC—one that seeks to build capacity within all people to arise and contribute to the advancement of civilization. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1233/.

Dizzy Gillespie, who would have turned 100 this month, is remembered as one of the greatest trumpeters of all time. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1204/.

Three decades ago, barred from higher education, the Baha'is of Iran embarked on a remarkable journey to educate their youth. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1181/.

Education is Nor a Crime is a street art campaign to raise awareness for human rights in Iran. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1173/.

Renowned composer Lasse Thoresen's new work highlights the poetry of Mahvash Sabet, wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for being a Baha'i.

Mark Tobey was an American painted whose influence on art in the twentieth century is being recognized again after many decades.

Brookings Institution highlights Baha'i-inspired program: A recent case study from the Brookings Institution highlights the Baha'i-inspired initiative Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial in Latin America. Read more at https://news.bahai.org/story/1155/.