Swiss Baha'i Winter School 2014
The 2014 Swiss Baha'i Winter School was held on 26-29 December 2014 at
Einsiedeln in the canton of Schwyz for the third year (see also 2012
and 2013).
About
150 participants of all ages came from all parts of Switzerland and a number
of foreign countries to experience the participative programme and warm
family atmosphere for which such Baha'i schools are well known. The
programme on the theme "Walking on a path
of service" was developed in close collaboration with Counsellor
Bernard Lo Cascio and the Board of the Training Institute. Special
activities were provided for infants, children and pre-adolescents. There
were also artistic workshops for all ages, and the Lemon Soul Trio gave a
concert Saturday evening. The school functioned in English, German and
French, with a special workshop in Persian, and translation for those who
needed help.
Winter School Group
The first day focused on capacity building,
the second day on meaningful conversations,
the third day on effort and confirmation,
and the final morning on service.
Bernard introduced each theme, and workshops in each language allowed for
further sharing on relevant texts. On Saturday, participants were paired up
to hold real meaningful conversations, not just to talk about them, and
found this a high point of the school. There was also a presentation on the
life of service of Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander (1875-1971), an
evocation in poetry of some Hands of the Cause, and a video on the Guardian,
Shoghi Effendi. The workshops on effort and confirmation were facilitated
very successfully by the junior youth, who introduced some of their study
programme.
The
programme
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Diane Ala'i opened the school on behalf of the National Spiritual
Assembly; Counsellor Bernard Lo Cascio gave the opening keynote; Nina
Jacquier presided
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The main hall was full
The different Baha'i clusters of Switzerland shared their experiences during
the year
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Workshops were held to discuss each theme
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The workshop in French sharing experience in meaningful conversations
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Workshops on confirmation were facilitated very effectively by the
junior youth
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the groups used different arts to express the choice of good over bad
qualities
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one group acted out going from violence to peaceful trees bearing
fruits of good qualities
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the audience; there were also workshops to exchange experience on
each of the core activities, such as study circles
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a workshop discussed personal virtues
The final morning
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after devotions and singing, Bernard presented the final theme of
service, and each cluster met to decide how to put what they learned at
the school into action
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Artistic
workshops for all ages in the late afternoon included music,
theater and crafts
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The stone-carving workshop
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stone-carving and card-making
Performances
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Nicholas Leroy and Yasmin Farhoumand of the Lemon Soul Trio performed
Saturday night
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Davis and Jean-Michel replaced their missing percussionist; the
audience
Tom Shoemaker recited poems about Hands of the Cause
The final gala evening included musical performances and presentations by
the children and junior youth
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A classical trio of Timo Habermacher, Nina Habermacher Jacquier and
Jean-Michel Jacquier; the masters of ceremonies
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even the children sang and danced; the audience
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the junior youth singing; the music workshop gave a performance
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the children's theater workshop prepared a shadow play
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historical text from German archives about Baha'u'llah; Colin
Shoemaker; Tom and Gabi Shoemaker
The evening ended with lively folk dancing for all generations to live music
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learning the steps; the talented musicians
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everyone had fun
The Winter School inspired everyone to advance on the path of service, and
we all went home ready to redouble our efforts