WHY EBWN?

In 1992 the Continental Board of Counsellors appointed the European Task Force for Women. The goal of the Task Force was to assist in raising up women from the grass root level of the community who could become not only teachers of the Cause of God but who could begin to appreciate their own special qualities and capacities which could then be offered in the path of service to the Faith, their families, their children and husbands, to the work place and to the community at large.

For more than 10 years over 300 Baha'i women from all of the European countries participated in the yearly international Seminars for Women produced by the Task Force. The main purpose and goal of these Seminars was to awaken, encourage, enkindle and inflame the women of Europe in their love for Baha'u'llah and service to the Cause. When they returned to their home country they offered these same Seminars to the women of their localities and regions, thus creating the foundation and network for a new spirit among the European Baha'i women. An approximate figure of how many women who have taken part in the Seminars on the regional and local level would be well over 1000. 

Apart from the Seminars, non-Baha’i women’s meetings were initiated. The Baha’i women were able to bring a warm loving spirit together with the knowledge and teachings of the Faith to their non-Baha’i women friends who would have not otherwise learned of the Faith. These meetings created the possibility for the Baha’i women to reach non-Baha’i women from all levels and an approximate number of non-Baha'i women attending these meetings during the 10 years of the Task force would be well over 1500.

The work of the Task Force was thus finished in 2001. However, the bond which had been established was deeply felt. One of the instruments which assisted in creating this bond was the bi-monthly Newsletter sent to all the Seminar ladies. This Newsletter contained the women’s personal reports, successes, ideas and experiences which the ladies had discovered in their activities. The Newsletter eventually became a website where there was an even greater exchange and reporting of their successes and activities, which then could include pictures and designs. It was of great importance. For this reason it was decided to continue with a site where one could send their information, inspiring or personal stories, thoughts or ideas. And thus we have today EBWN which serves as a place for the exchange of loving and inspiring information.

When EBWN first appeared, the Baha'i World News Service which goes out all over the world, wrote about our site and we have now women writing to us from many parts of the world. Hopefully this will be able to continue and grow. The reaction has been excellent and we find that it has truly served to inspire.

We are surely not professional and it is not intended to be so. Hopefully, as we grow EBWN will become a bit more polished. We greatly appreciate your comments and suggestions and would be ever so happy to receive any other ideas from you. 

EBWN