Editing Baháʼí Faith (section)

=== Socio-economic development ===
{{Main|Socioeconomic development and the Baháʼí Faith}}
[[File:Tarbiyat School, Tehran, ca 1911.jpg|alt=A black-and-white photograph of several dozen girls seated in front of a school building|thumb|upright=1.15|Students of ''School for Girls'', [[Tehran]], 13 August 1933. This photograph may be of the students of ''Tarbiyat School for Girls'' which was established by the Baháʼí Community of Tehran in 1911; the school was closed by government decree in 1934.{{sfn|Baháʼí International Community|2005}}]]

Since its inception the Baháʼí Faith has had involvement in [[socio-economic development]] beginning by giving greater freedom to women,{{sfn|Momen|1994b|ps=: Section 9: Social and economic development}}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}} promulgating the promotion of female education as a priority concern,{{sfn|Kingdon|1997}}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}} and that involvement was given practical expression by creating schools, agricultural co-ops, and clinics.{{sfn|Momen|1994b|ps=: Section 9: Social and economic development}}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}}

The religion entered a new phase of activity when a message from the Universal House of Justice dated 20 October 1983 was released. Baháʼís were urged to seek out ways, compatible with the Baháʼí teachings, in which they could become involved in the social and economic development of the communities in which they lived. Worldwide in 1979 there were 129 officially recognized Baháʼí socio-economic development projects. By 1987, the number of officially recognized development projects had increased to 1,482.{{sfn|Smith|Momen|1989}}

Current initiatives of social action include activities in areas like health, sanitation, education, gender equality, arts and media, agriculture, and the environment.{{sfn|Baháʼí Office of Social and Economic Development|2018}}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}} Educational projects include schools, which range from village tutorial schools to large secondary schools, and some universities.{{sfn|Momen|2007}} By 2017, the Baháʼí Office of Social and Economic Development estimated that there were 40,000 small-scale projects, 1,400 sustained projects, and 135 Baháʼí-inspired organizations.{{sfn|Baháʼí Office of Social and Economic Development|2018}}