In the Name of the Absolute Power, Allah"
The eighth session of the 84th round of Congress 60 educational workshops, dedicated to travelers and co-travelers, commenced on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The session was led by Mr. Hossein Dezhakam as the master of the ceremony, with Traveler Jafar as the secretary, focusing on the topic of "Nowruz Holidays.
Hello, friends. I am Hossein, a traveler.
I hope you are all doing well; I am doing very, very well. I wish you all a happy and blessed Nowruz. Hopefully, your prayers and fasting have been truly beneficial, and you have been able to make good use of them.
In Congress 60, the month of Ramadan has a unique atmosphere. We all gather together, break our fast together, share meals, and participate collectively. This is a very admirable practice.
The Wednesday sessions during Ramadan are led by Master Amin, but I requested to speak briefly for about 10 to 15 minutes before handing the session over to him.
I will provide reports on the past year in the coming year. Thankfully, we achieved great success in many areas. We established numerous branches; many of them became the property of Congress 60, with the land purchased, and some buildings were constructed.
The university building’s first floor has been fully completed, covering an area of 10,000 square meters. The second and third floors are mostly finished, with only the doors remaining to be installed. The fourth floor is also nearly complete, with some wiring and ductwork left. In total, about 80% of the university building, which has a 10,000-square-meter foundation, has been completed—at a very high cost.
What’s interesting is that we haven’t taken a single cent from the government, foreign countries, the European Union, or any outsiders. We didn’t even use internal resources unrelated to Congress 60. Everything was handled by our own efforts. If someone offered a donation claiming to be a philanthropist, we didn’t accept it unless they were a member of Congress 60.
This demonstrates the immense potential of individuals recovering from addiction. If they find themselves, they can achieve incredible things. Coming out of a severe crisis is like crossing an ocean. Once they’ve made it through, the challenges of life become as manageable as crossing a small stream or river. If they truly discover their potential, they can transform and excel in any field—whether economic, artistic, athletic, or otherwise.
God willing, I will receive the financial reports and present all the details comprehensively. This year, the number of individuals who completed their treatment exceeded 8,000. We currently have between 17,000 and 18,000 people on OT, and the number of issued ID cards is approaching 190,000, with systematic increases happening regularly.
The women travelers’ group is working strongly and effectively in new cities, and the companions’ group is also making great progress. The companions now have their own dedicated building, operating completely independently and managing everything smoothly. One of the steps we implemented seamlessly was appointing assistants for the female companions, ensuring their work is handled collectively. Likewise, we assigned an assistant for the women travelers, allowing them to manage their own affairs.
The final examination papers were completed last night around 8 or 9 PM, and the results were announced. Some passed, though the passing criteria were notably more challenging this time. The women travelers who manage the exam department consist of at least 14 or 15 members. They dedicated six full months of effort to this task, and most of them are highly educated.
They conducted multiple levels of examination reviews. For example, in some cases, the test papers were placed in one location while the answer sheets were stored separately. These had to be meticulously checked to ensure accuracy—verifying the assigned scores, confirming that the border guards and assistants had stamped them, and identifying any oversight or negligence. Some border guards were a bit inattentive, but overall, it was an extensive process.
Even on holidays, a team of 10 to 12 people would start working from 6 AM to review the papers. Every step of our work went through multiple rounds of verification to prevent errors and avoid potential issues. One person would check, then another, followed by a third, and finally, the papers would be graded by a computer. However, the computer broke down midway, so the remaining corrections had to be done manually.
Of course, we wish that everyone could pass, but that wouldn’t be a fair system, and it could create issues. The participants studied very hard, and those who put in the most effort were ultimately the ones who succeeded in the exams.
God willing, we aim to implement even better initiatives in the future. One of our goals is that, upon completing the four-year guide training program, we can issue a certificate acknowledging their service as a guide in Congress 60.
Currently, most Congress 60 members—both men and women—are studying psychology, a field closely related to our work. If we can design a proper system for this, it would be highly valuable. We already have such structures within our university, but if Congress 60 itself can issue an internal certificate, it would hold significant merit, as Congress 60 is widely recognized.
Once a guide successfully completes four years of dedicated service and takes their oath, they would also receive this certificate, confirming their apprenticeship within Congress 60. It would certify that they have studied, trained as a guide, and completed the necessary stages.
With this qualification, they could potentially work in clinics, as the Ministry of Health recognizes psychologists as one of the key pillars of addiction treatment centers. Therefore, members who pursue psychology degrees within Congress 60, upon receiving this certificate, would be able to utilize it for work in various clinics, addiction treatment facilities, or other relevant institutions.
This is one of the steps we plan to take in the future, ensuring that our members receive the certificate.
The next issue I want to address is holidays. Sometimes, we become so deeply engaged in our work—morning, noon, and night—without any breaks, that we completely forget about taking time off. The idea that we should occasionally turn off the system, let things quiet down, and go on holiday is something many of us haven’t learned properly.
However, with the approach I implemented, I’ve actually seen positive results. In Congress 60, we have two 15-day breaks—one during Nowruz and another in the summer—when the entire organization completely shuts down.
There are two main objectives behind this decision:
1. Teaching members the importance of taking breaks—Learning to go on vacation, even if it’s to a small destination, is essential. Members should take their families along, spend time together, and step away from Congress 60 for a while. This way, family members won’t feel that their loved ones are constantly occupied with Congress 60. At the very least, these two weeks allow them to be fully present with their families.
2. Another key objective of the holidays, … (Chuckles) Fasting makes me forget things all of a sudden!
So, the first goal was to encourage members to take a break and go on vacation. But the second and more important objective we set is to prove that Congress 60 members can go 15 days without their guide.
In many similar organizations, they insist that individuals must attend meetings no matter what—even if they travel to another city, they’re expected to join a session there. But in Congress 60, we’ve proven that members can go on vacation without seeing their guide, and nothing will happen.
During these two weeks: Guides and their students should not call each other. They should not meet outside Congress 60. No unofficial gatherings should be arranged. (No "let’s meet in such-and-such park" with legion members.)
Let them be completely free. And if someone does relapse, it’s okay—because those who are bound to relapse in the future will do so eventually, so better for it to happen sooner rather than later. Don’t stress about it.
The key takeaway here is that we have built the strength and ability within our members. They have received proper training, and they can be away from Congress 60 for two weeks without any issues.
Even first travelers can take trips—domestic ones, of course. Traveling abroad isn’t possible, but they can still enjoy their time off.
I truly hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
I usually don’t give speeches during Ramadan because of the way I fast. I don’t wake up for Suhoor—meaning, last night I had Iftar, and after that, when I went to bed at 9 PM, I didn’t eat anything until the next Iftar. That’s a 21-hour fast.
So right now, as I’m sitting here, I haven’t eaten anything since last night’s Iftar, and it’s been about 13 or 14 hours since then. That’s why, when I fast, my blood sugar drops, nutrients don’t reach my system properly, and I suddenly struggle to speak.
Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful New Year and a great holiday. (Tell Amin to come down and get ready.)
Back in the day, I used to tell the guys, "If you can’t travel for the New Year, at least go to Shah Abdol-Azim and have some kebab with basil." But now, even that’s out of the question—since it’s Ramadan! (Laughs) Yeah, and as you said, even if it weren’t, we couldn’t afford it anymore!
That’s Ramadan for you—no kebabs, no Ash-e Sholeh Ghalamkar! (Laughs)
But seriously, try to make the most of this break. If you can’t travel anywhere, at least cook a pot of food, take it to Karaj Dam—where there’s no water! (Laughs from Mr. Dezhakam and the audience)
And Latian Dam? Well, that’s even worse! (More laughter)
At least, back in the day, the dams had water. Now, they’re all dry—though maybe there's still a little left!
Anyway, if you find a good spot, take your food early in the morning and head out. And if you’re traveling, leave early!
Always travel early in the morning—never at night, never at 9 or 10 a.m. If you’re going on a trip, leave at 4, 5, or 6 a.m.—as soon as it gets light outside.
For example, when I travel to Hidaj, it’s about a three-and-a-half-hour drive. I leave at 5 a.m., arrive by 8 a.m., get all my work done there, and be back home by 5 p.m.
So, if you’re planning a trip, make sure to leave early in the morning.
Alright, before I slip up too much, as they say nowadays (laughs from me and the audience), or before my brain freezes, I’ll wrap it up.
I’m handing the session over to Amin—Amin, come take over! (Applause)
Typed by: Companion Nasrin, from Sohrevardi Branch
Translated by: Companion Marjan
3/23/2025
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