The old order is crumbling and affecting children and youth of today more than any other sections of our society.  The debris of our civilization is displaying the result of prejudices of caste, race, political ideology, religion and what-have-you.  Dissatisfied with the present world conditions and out-worn institutions, teenagers and youngsters have begun to think and investigate for themselves, discarding out of date customs and choosing for their standards a few truths applicable to this age.

If the purpose of life is defined as the fulfilment of individual materials needs, the resulting value set will be very different from one that sets higher humanistic goals or that defines the real purpose of life as the acquisition of spiritual qualities. 

Judging from the accelerating trends in present-day society there has been a lack of political will at governmental level, lack of incentives in the private sector, and lack of sufficient willingness to change individual behaviour.  Schools and colleges have the responsibility together with parents and religious groups, to provide ways to stimulating reflection by the students on their identity and purpose in life. 

No aspect of contemporary civilization is more directly challenged by Bahá’u’lláh’s conception of the future than is the prevailing cult of individualism, which has spread to most parts of the world.  Nurtured by such cultural forces as political ideology, academic elitism, and a consumer economy, the “pursuit of happiness” has given rise to an aggressive and almost boundless sense of personal entitlement.  The moral consequences are so conspicuous and devastating that it hardly needs mention with its attendant fallout in terms of disease, drug addiction and other all-too-familiar blights of this day and age.

Children reared in an environment of respect for their own rights and the rights of others would be prepared, as adults, to assume responsibility for acting to the long-term interest of the planet and humanity as a whole. 
Therefore, an appreciation of the family unit, on the part of parents and children alike, will instill in all its members a respect for their own worth as individuals and their obligations and responsibilities to others.  The family provides ongoing practical or informal education about the mutually interdependent right and corresponding responsibilities of its members.

 The concept of world citizenship and attitudes that foster world unity must permeate current lifestyles in order to move society to sustainable development.  Empowering children and youth to become conscientious, environmentally aware consumers is to contribute to the ‘humanising’ of development and individual attainment must be subservient to humanity’s collective needs.