31 July, 128 B.E. (1971): The European Youth Conference takes place in Fiesch, Switzerland, attended by 1,200 youth from 50 countries.

Approximately 1,200 youth from fifty countries gathered from July 31 to August 11, 1971, for the European Youth Conference at Fiesch, in the mountain valley of the River Rhone in the heart of Europe.

The location, near the source of rivers which flow down in all directions to the seas, seemed to symbolize the work of the conference, the objective of which was to channel the teaching effort towards all countries of the Continent and bring about the entry by troops into the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

In January, 1971, the Universal House of Justice requested the Hand of the Cause Rahmatu'llah Muhajir to visit Europe and establish a two-year youth teaching plan to be coordinated by the Continental Board of Counsellors under whose aegis the Fiesch Conference was held, organized by the Baha'i youth of Switzerland and Italy. An immediate goal of the two-year teaching plan was the launching of a vigorous campaign by the youth and the convocation of the Fiesch Conference, with semiannual meetings scheduled in other European countries.

The Swiss Conference was preceded during June and July of 1971 by the visit of a team of thirty youth from the United States.

An international team of young believers contributed know-how, enthusiasm and momentum, notably Linda Marshall, Shanta Murday, Robert Phillips, Jeremy Phillips and others.

Successes registered in this preliminary period gave proof that a new receptivity existed in Europe.

Special guests at the conference included the Hands of the Cause Abdu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum - who attended at the request of the Universal House of Justice - and Adelbert Muhlschlegel. Other speakers were Betty Reed, Erik Blumenthal and Anneliese Bopp of the European Board of Counsellors, Donald Witzel of the South American Board, and Dr. B. Himmati who represented the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany. A particularly cherished visitor was Mr. Saichiro Fujita who embraced the Cause as a youth in 1905 and who has spent long years in the Holy Land in the service of 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi.

A beautiful letter of greeting from the Universal House of Justice was read: "The course of history has brought to your generation an unprecedented opportunity and challenge. The rejection of the old world by youth, in all countries, is shared by Baha'i and non-Baha'is alike. Unlike your non-Baha'i contemporaries, however, you have something to put in its place - the World Order of Baha'u'llah.

"That Baha'i youth are fully capable of meeting the challenge which evolution has placed before them has already been demonstrated. Now, in this conference at Fiesch, as you gird yourselves to launch a campaign in Europe - a continent which has 'entered upon what may well be regarded as the opening phase of a great spiritual revival that bids fair to eclipse any period in its spiritual history' - we urge you to consider that the more you understand the purpose of Baha'u'llah and the method by which He will achieve that purpose, the greater will be your success.

"Our hopes for your two-year campaign are boundless, and visualize nothing less than a tremendous forward surge in the spiritual revival referred to by our beloved Guardian. Our confidence in your ability to perform the task is unshakeable, and we assure you of our firm conviction that your efforts will be assisted by God to the degree to which your supplications and sacrifices are poured forth in His path.

"Dear friends, we delight in your enthusiasm, admire your accomplishments, give thanks for your dedication and pray that an ever-increasing outpouring of divine bounties and confirmations may reward your efforts in the service of the Blessed Beauty."

A moment of excitement was provided when Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum joined the youth in the launching of 1,200 balloons, to each of which was attached a message from the conference with a reply card. The "Glad Tidings" floated across several ranges of the Alps and replies were returned from countries as far away as Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia. Literature was sent to 400 enquirers who replied, and visits were made to those nearby who requested further information.

The climax of the conference was a public meeting in the village of Fiesch attended by 1,500 enquirers of various backgrounds.

An estimated 200 accepted the Cause during the conference.

Source: Baha'i World, vol. 15, pp.336-8