Nations Students Grow Through Service at the Community Camps in Brasília

Empowering Youth Through Service: Nations Students Foster Joy, Learning, and Unity at Brasília’s Community Camps

Students at CECON (Centro de Convivência) na Estrutural, after a day of activities

In July 2025, students from the School of the Nations participated in the Colônias de Férias Comunitárias, a regional initiative organized by the Bahá’í Development Institute of the Central West in collaboration with numerous partners. These community camps, held every six months in different neighborhoods of Brasília, create joyful, purposeful spaces where children and junior youth engage in education, arts, sports, and spiritual development.

Throughout the month, a diverse group of Nations volunteers, including Middle and High School students, alumni, family members, and staff, participated in various camp activities, reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to fostering service and community building.

A Week of Service, Learning, and Growth

Before the start of the school year, our students devoted an entire week of their vacation to serving as part of the moral empowerment teaching team. They were responsible for planning and facilitating daily sessions for groups of children, guiding activities that cultivated values, reflection, and joy.

During the five-day program, the students honed and exemplified leadership, initiative, compassion, teamwork, responsibility, adaptability, creativity, and moral insight. Their consistent presence and strong sense of purpose fostered a safe, inspiring environment for the children while deepening their own identity as global citizens.

Active Participation and Meaningful Connections

Later in the month, on July 30, a group of eight students from Grades 11 and 12 joined another camp for two hours. They began by supporting moral empowerment classes for children and junior youth, working in small groups alongside local facilitators.

One student shared a touching interaction during an art activity when a child asked for a “skin-colored pencil.” The student responded gently, “There are many skin colors: what’s yours?” The child paused and smiled: “Brown, please.” This moment reflected the kind of consciousness and sensitivity that emerges through service-based learning.

In addition to their educational support, the students helped distribute snacks and assisted the logistics team, giving local volunteers a chance to rest or attend to other responsibilities while ensuring all participants were cared for.

A Learning Community in Action

This collaboration between the School of the Nations and the Bahá’í Development Institute is an inspiring example of how a school community can unite across generations to serve and learn. While alumni and teachers continue to model service and leadership, current students are empowered to apply their learning beyond the classroom.

For students in the IB Diploma Programme, these experiences also contribute meaningfully to their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) journey, reinforcing the school’s vision of global citizenship and aligning with our purpose of nurturing individuals who are Noble in Character and strive to contribute to the betterment of the world.

As part of the school’s Service Learning Program, these community camps offer powerful opportunities to put values into action, connecting moral and spiritual development with real-world impact.

The Community Camps are offered every January and July, and more opportunities like these will be shared with the school community during the next break. We are grateful for each student, teacher, and volunteer who contributed to this shared effort, and for the friendships, learning, and joy that continue to grow through service.