The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program (JYSEP) is a global program that helps young people ages 11–15 develop their character and navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood by developing their spiritual qualities, intellectual capabilities and by increasing their capacity to serve society . JYSEP brings together participants and volunteers from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. Inspired by teachings of the Baha’i Faith, its content explores universal themes of the importance of education, the elimination of prejudice, and the need for building united communities without reference to any particular religion. The program is open to youth of all backgrounds and focuses on spiritual and moral concepts universal to all the world’s great religions, traditions and philosophies.
Groups are divided by age group, each of which has an “animator”, or older youth or adult who guides and assists the junior youth in developing their capacities. Each age group has several workbooks for study that cover a wide range of topics. All of the titles are concerned with developing language skills and the power of expression. Some in the first category also address mathematical concepts and social issues, while others seek to prepare young people to approach the investigation of physical, social and spiritual reality in a scientific manner. Though the moral concepts in the materials in the first category are drawn from the Bahá’í teachings, they are not religious in nature, nor do they treat subjects that are specifically Bahá’í. Many kinds of organizations, including academic institutions, will therefore find them useful for their educational programs with junior youth.
Groups engage in study of the materials, group activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and service projects, where participants identify issues facing their community and work together toward solving them.