"One of the greatest tasks of Baha'is is to effect change in their everyday interactions," says a member of the Faith who volunteers with an organization that helps improve living conditions in Rwanda, Costa Rica and other countries.

His sentiment is echoed by other Baha'is who donate their time and talents to projects in healthcare, racial justice, women's rights, education and community development. Employing principles of the Baha'i Faith, they're working to bring about not only constructive and economic change, but the oneness of humanity, a main belief of the Faith.

In Service to the Common Good

This spiritual approach is making some headway in the general field of development and "may have an impact far greater than a project's apparent size or resources," says William Allmart, director of the office of development at the Baha'i National Center in Wilmette, Ill., and author of In Service to the Common Good : Aligning Development with the Forces of Progress.

This latest in a series of In Service to the Common Good booklets, Mr. Allmart says, illustrates how the development work of Baha'is "seeks to build on the social forces impelling humankind toward the realization of its inherent oneness, while at the same time upholding their dignity as cherished members of one human family."

As a member of the Baha'i-run Children's Theatre Company in New York City says in the booklet, "We have a dialogue with parents about how they want to raise their children and how we can support those goals. We definitely take advantage of the cultural richness that's around us in our communities."

Baha'is' optimism and a "can do attitude" are part of the process that helps get things done on a project," Mr. Allmart says. "It's what amplifies the effects of the project and makes its sustainability more likely."

Below is a summary of each In Service booklet:

2006: Aligning Development with the Forces of Progress

This latest installment highlights the lessons Baha'is have learned in their efforts to bring about constructive social and economic change and attempts to relate those lessons to the broader social forces at work in the world today. What emerges is that Baha'is, in accordance with the beliefs of their faith, are tending to the spiritual dimension of individual and community life, which has been long neglected in the development field. Consequently, Baha'is development efforts may have an impact far greater than their apparent size or resources.

2005: Baha'i Youth in Their Own Words

A study conducted by the Baha'i National Center in Evanston, Ill., found that young Baha'is are deeply committed to social change and justice, as evidenced by their high incidence of involvement in charity and service projects. When given a list of future or life goals, approximately 90 percent of respondents said they plan to "do service" and were optimistic about their ability to make a difference in their community and the world. At a conference held after the study, those surveyed attributed their positive attitude to encouragement they received from adults in their community and from belonging to the Baha'i Faith.

2004: The American Baha'i Community's Commitment to Social Change

Baha'is are challenged by their faith to apply its principles and teachings to solving problems in society. Culling information from Baha'i initiatives in healthcare, elimination of racism, women's rights, education and community development, this report concludes that Baha'is and like-minded people in their community are actively working to improve the lives of every sector of society, particularly those who labor under burdens of racism, prejudice, economic deprivation or physical disadvantage.