“FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE WORLD”
All human beings “have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization,” say the Bahá’í writings. Every person, every people, and every nation has a part to play in building a peaceful and prosperous global society. Animated by this conviction, countless individuals, communities, and institutions are striving in diverse settings around the world to contribute to the spiritual and material progress of their societies.
Now a new website—For the Betterment of the World—has been launched to share the content of a publication exploring the worldwide Bahá’í community’s approach to social and economic development. This website and companion publication offer an illustration of the modest efforts of the Bahá’í community in this field, working with collaborators from all walks of life, irrespective of background or belief.
Drawing on the fourth edition of the publication, released in 2023, the website provides a starting point for anyone wishing to explore Bahá’í thought and experience in the field of social action. Its content spans the full spectrum of development initiatives—from the first stirrings of activity in a community to well-established development organizations—and areas of action ranging from education, agriculture, and health to the environment, economic life, the arts and media, and the advancement of women.
Prepared by the Bahá’í International Development Organization at the Bahá’í World Centre, located in Haifa, Israel, the publication was first issued in 2003. It casts light on the efforts of the Bahá’í community, together with social actors from all walks of life, to contribute to material and social progress.
A map showing trends in the number of development activities
The website explores several concepts and principles that guide Bahá’í efforts in social action: oneness and justice, the harmony of science and religion, universal participation, and capacity building at all levels of society which views people, communities, and institutions as protagonists in marking their own path of development.
Another feature of the site is its “Global Process of Learning” section, which describes how arrangements at the local, national, and international levels foster learning about development. Through these arrangements, insights from the grassroots are brought together by regional and national Bahá’í institutions, while the Bahá’í International Development Organization serves as a learning entity dedicated to synthesizing experience from across the world.
Many pages, particularly those under “Areas of Action,” connect readers with relevant stories from the Bahá’í World News Service and essays from The Bahá’í World online publication through a “Related articles” section. Plans for the development of the website include adding further resources as well as links to the websites of Bahá’í-inspired organizations.Each article on the site is available in audio format. A map and chart illustrate the spread of Bahá’í development activities worldwide, and a short film, “Bahá’í Development Endeavors,” offers a glimpse of these efforts. The full publication is also available to download on the site in seven languages.