A sixth generation Baha'i girl paid a visit to Bermuda this week, the hope of spreading the message of Baha'u'llah to residents of the Island.

Marjan Sabet-Kassouf, 11, who lives in Montreal but is of Kuwaiti descent, arrived last Saturday to meet followers of the Baha'i faith in Bermuda.

Her mother, Naghmeh Sabet, accompanied her and hosted a series of lectures and meetings at the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is on Cedar Avenue in Hamilton.

She said: "Travelling like this is a tradition based on a principle of the Baha'i faith which says we should go out, learn about different countries, integrate with different peoples and try to bring across our message by living and participating in their cultures.'' Ms Sabet also explained that this type of trip could take a long or a short term form.

"Whether the person chooses to spend years in the place,'' she continued, "or just a week or so, this is how the healing message of our faith is spread.

"This is a short term trip and it came about because I promised to take Marjan on a one-on-one trip to the place where she wanted to go.'' Ms Sabet added that this was the first trip for Marjan and explained that it would help her make the decision of whether to join the Baha'i faith that every child in such a family makes at the age of 15.

"My responsibility is to teach her about the prophets,'' she said.

"Religions are a part of God's education and, as humans grow, God sends messages with the teaching that are appropriate for the child's particular age.'' Ms Sabet said that the lessons of the Baha'i faith included teaching "that all people on the planet are members of one family''.

Asked why she chose Bermuda as the place to come on her first voyage, Marjan said: "Because a lot of people told me that Bermuda was a nice place to visit.'' She continued: "I also watched a lot of movies about people who have come here and really liked it.'' Ms Sabet, who is a mother of three, said the experience of taking her children on trips "doesn't give them culture shock but instead makes them thirsty to learn about the place''.

Asked if she likes travelling herself, she said: "Oh yes, I do. We go to these places to share something and end up being enriched ourselves.'' Ms Sabet also emphasised the importance members of the Baha'i faith placed on the parent-child relationship.

She said: "We believe people are created noble and that children are like gems we have to discover and enrich.''