The Rays of Light Foundation was formally established in 2008 as a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation. 

The foundation works to provide social and economic development to Papua New Guinea, focusing on the education of children and youth.  The main aim of the foundation - to provide educational opportunities for those without access to schooling - is illumined by the teachings of the Baháí Faith which espouses the principle of universal education for all people.

The organisation aims to expand and consolidate the Preparation for Social Action (PSA)  programme and the Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) course in Papua New Guinea.  (For more information about PSA and ETT click the links or contact us).

Rays of Light has begun to conduct the PSA programme and ETT course with a focus on rural education in several provinces in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.  Our vision is to provide through both training activities, more elementary schools and high school PSA groups in supplement to the government and denominational schools already existing, in particular to areas where there are no educational institutions available to the people of the area. 

Once the programmes become well established in the areas being trialled, such as Western Province, Madang Province, Morobe Province and Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea and in the Solomon Islands, the Rays of Light Foundation will gradually oversee the systematic spread of the programmes to other regions.  The work of the foundation is supported by a system of coordinators at a regional and national level who oversee the quality of the schools and groups founded, and assist them in their development and ongoing training.

The PSA programme seeks to provide access to high school education and learning to Year 8 leavers of the primary school system who may not be able to continue their schooling because of a lack of finances, lack of schooling facilities in proximity to their home, or the fact that their previous academic performance has forced them to leave school prematurely due competition for the available spots in high schools around the country.  As the name Preparation for Social Action suggests, the course promotes not only the attainment of knowledge but also an application of learning in service to the local area (or microregion).

The educational content taught in the elementary schools and PSA groups are of a high academic standard but also address the important spiritual and moral foundation of education which is the framework for progress in both the material and spiritual spheres.  The curricula of both the PSA programme and the Elementary schools are embracing of people from all cultures, backgrounds and religions and the Rays of Light Foundation operates in service to the whole community in the regions it works within.

The Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) course seeks to empower communities by training members of the community to work as elementary teachers for their local village and surrounding area.  The community will build, own and run their own elementary schools with the training for teaching staff, curriculum and educational resources provided by the Rays of Light Foundation.  As with the PSA groups, these elementary schools are provided for all of the children in the community of the appropriate age.