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The Nordic Bahai Youth Conference was held in Oulu this year - from March 20 to 24 and starting on March 20 with the Bahai New Year Feast. According to Bahai, Bahaies fasted for 19 days, and March 20th (Nevruz) was the last day of fasting. 
When a Persian nobleman in mid 18th century Teheran left a life of princely comfort and faced persecution and deprivation to spread a message of unity and peace, people were quite impressed. Today’s Bahá'í faith represents 2 100 ethnic and cultural backgrounds, more than five million followers, and is the second most wide-spread religion. It teaches unity of mankind, equality of women and men, eradication of all prejudices, and access to education - and encourages personal investigation of truth, active global citizenship, love, and virtues and good deeds. The Nordic Bahá'í Youth Conference, an annual event, attracts conference-goers from across Ostrobothnia with lectures and workshops, and is a chance to catch up with old friends as well as make some new ones. “Nordic” does appears in the title, but the conference attracts participants from many southern countries and from outside Europe. Oulu hosted the conference in Kaakkuri school; a good location, since the Bahá’í have good relations with them from previous events, the Bahá’í summer and winter schools. The theme this year was applying Bahá’í teachings and principles into daily life, in a series of lectures by Barney Leith (UK), as well as in his ‘basics of religion’ workshops after each lecture. Other topics and workshops covered children’s classes, pre-youth clubs, Ruhi study-circles, devotionals and deepenings; artistic workshops covered sports, visual arts, photography, stand-up comedy, jam sessions, origami and a ‘snow’-workshop. The conference was quite intense, and long breaks between programs allowed attendees to socialise and refresh themselves.
Conference organizer Michelle Francett confessed she “found it a great experience. It loaded me with renewed strength and knowledge…I will remember this conference: the many musical jam sessions and performances; the colorful and fun people interacting in unity and health.” The ‘performance’ aspect of the conference might surprise those unfamiliar with Bahá’í. New year’s celebrations (March 20 marked the first day of Bahá’í year 165) included flamenco dancing, music, pinatas and a lot of cake. The second night branched into stand-up comedy and performance arts; the third had a talent show, and the fourth a surprise birthday party for Melody Karvonen, a lady for whom affection in the Oulu community matches the tinkle in her name. As is traditional, friends stayed up late every night discussing the world, and playing music, games and sports. The last night was the highlight with most of the young people staying up all night. Veteran conference-goers knew how to manage staying up late every night and still get the most out of the day-time program: the first-timers had so much enthusiasm they hardly noticed sleep deprivation before they fell asleep in their chairs.
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