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The Bahá'ís Magazine

The Chaco Project

Known simply as The Chaco Project, the effort draws on Bahá'í principles to encourage a process of self-development. Although much of the training provided by the project is technical--such as how to grow fungus-resistant citrus trees, plant high-protein corn, or vaccinate livestock--a special effort is made to provide supplementary training in community organization and grassroots decision-making techniques, such as consultation.

The goal is to create a level of self-sufficiency, through community awareness, that will reduce dependency on outside aid and advice.

A critical component of this approach is the introduction of moral principles into the training programs offered by the project. "If people are dishonest, training in bookkeeping will only allow them to practice their dishonesty more effectively," said Garth Pollack, who directed the project from 1988 to 1990. "So we talk about honesty, about service, and about the unity of the community in our classes."

A special focus of the project is the promotion of a new ideal of leadership--an ideal that is based largely on Bahá'í concepts. "Our approach is rooted in the notion that we are all part of one human family," said Ken Roedell, the project's director. "We're trying to stimulate local people to arise as servants of their own communities. This is our definition of a community leader: one who serves, rather than one who is served."

A village-level health care network in Africa

In Chad, Bahá'ís have established a primary health care network that extends to some of that country's most remote villages. Based in Sarh, the network is composed of indigenous villagers who have been trained in simple primary health care techniques: how to give inoculations, basic first aid, how to stem deadly infantile diarrhea, and what to do when malaria flares up.

The project relies on the relatively large number of Bahá'ís in the region; working through their local Spiritual Assemblies, they provide the communications network and sense of commitment necessary to make the project work. The Bahá'í village health workers themselves serve on a voluntary basis, having been selected by their local communities. In addition to the basics of health care, the training that they receive emphasizes service to humanity as a form of worship.

Consultation with the local Spiritual Assembly tends to reinforce the volunteer's desire to serve and stimulates the community to improve health conditions. As a result of this distinctive combination of factors, the drop-out rates among Bahá'í community health workers in Chad and several other African countries are very low in comparison with other community health programs.

"In some African countries, the drop-out rate in government-run programs is anywhere from 40 to 70 percent," said Dr. Ethel Martens, a Canadian health care specialist and a Bahá'í who has worked with some national and local Bahá'í communities in Africa and Asia. "In Bahá'í projects, the comparable rate over two years has been from two to five percent. In one project in Kenya, for example, two out of 40 workers dropped out. In Zambia, one is inactive out of 19. One important difference in Bahá'í projects has been the use of participatory, workshop-based training methods."

Bahá'u'lláh gave clear guidelines about how to work for social change and advancement. He stressed especially the importance of deeds over words. "Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men," wrote Bahá'u'lláh. "This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior."

When this idea of selfless service is combined with Bahá'í social ideals and administrative principles, what emerges is a new model for social action and development. That model includes the use of consultation to build community consensus and unity, emphasizes self-reliance and self-sufficiency where possible, and urges a holistic and "globally minded" approach in understanding a problem and its roots.

In addition to addressing directly the major issues of our day, such as the environment, education, and health, Bahá'í development efforts seek above all else to revitalize the human spirit and to break down the barriers that limit fruitful and harmonious cooperation among men and women, whatever their religious, national, or racial background.

Next pages:

• Growth of social and economic development projects [pg. 64]
• A global campaign for peace [pg. 70]
• The Promise of World Peace [pg. 71]

"Excerpted from The Bahá'ís, a publication of the Bahá'í International Community."

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