Breaking Boundaries: The Afghan Footballer and the Iraqi Archaeologist; Two Women’s Quest for Freedom

This International Women’s Day, join Initiatives of Change UK and Creators of Peace UK in hearing from two women and their inspiring quests for freedom.

Two incredible guest speakers, Kawser Amine and Rana Ibrahim, will join host, longterm IofC member and Creators of Peace Facilitator, Mary Lean in an online conversation and Q&A.

This event will take place on Zoom, beginning at 15:00 GMT. Please see a time zone converter if you plan to attend overseas to ensure you have the correct time.

Please note, that there is a content notice for possible discussion of war, displacement and violence against women.

Around 1/4 of all people worldwide live in countries affected by conflict.

With this in mind, it’s time we started investing more in peacebuilding.

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers (QSP-online) is a course of five short modules, each based on a film about outstanding peacemakers and acts as an introduction to an approach to peacemaking that was developed by Frank Buchman, the founder of what is today known as Initiatives of Change. To unpack these various approaches, the five films below have been selected. Those which have trailers available have been linked.

‘The Man Who Built Peace’

A film about Frank Buchman himself. The facilitated analysis focuses on the principal phases in his life, from founding a hostel for street kids in the early 1900s; to creating an international network for moral and spiritual renewal; to contributing to reconciliation between France and Germany, as well as between Japan and the Philippines after the Second World War, for which he was decorated by their respective governments.

‘For the Love of Tomorrow’

Set in the international context, it takes a particular example of Buchman’s approach, which took place in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The analysis after the film focuses on the roles of four people including Buchman, who worked together to help an embittered French politician become a significant agent for post-war reconciliation with the Germans.

‘The Imam and the Pastor’

Set in a community in northern Nigeria divided by religious conflict, this film shows how a change of heart in individuals led to initiatives which had a far wider impact. It relates how two former rival militia leaders came together to train imams and pastors to mediate in flash points across the country and beyond. The analysis focuses on how the two men reconciled, and what the strategies they used in helping to bring about reconciliation in two key towns.

‘An African Answer’

Sequel to the previous film, it focuses on healing ethnic conflict. ‘Here we see the imam and the pastor in Kenya after serious post-election violence in 2007-8, applying the mediation approach that they developed in Nigeria. After the film, participants will analyse the mediation process step by step.

‘Beyond Forgiving’

In the period after the end of Apartheid and the multi-party elections, the South African Defence Force killed a group of black youths. A black guerrilla commander ordered a revenge shooting in which a white girl died. Some years later, the girl’s mother finds an opportunity to confront the guerrilla commander, and they speak of the painful realisations for both of them as they begin to journey together. The analysis will focus on the steps each took on that journey, and what they did together as a result.

The films show examples of reconciliation after conflict in a variety of contexts: inter-national, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and post-colonial. After an introduction and viewing of the film, participants take part in an interactive analysis facilitated by Dr Omnia Marzouk and/or Peter Riddell (see bios below). The main aim of the course is to absorb as much wisdom as possible about the healing of broken relationships from these remarkable stories, and to reflect on our own peacemaking.

Additional Information

On the morning of each module, you will receive direct links to the Zoom meeting, the film itself, and note sheets designed for your personal use while watching the film.

To enhance the course’s effectiveness, your feedback is invaluable. Following the final module, we kindly request you to complete an online evaluation form for our internal improvement efforts. With your permission, we may use some of your insightful quotes for publicity purposes, highlighting the impact of our program.

Upon attending all modules and submitting the evaluation form, you’ll be awarded a well-deserved Certificate of Completion. If life’s demands make you miss a module or two – you’re welcome to participate in a future course to catch up and still be eligible for the certificate.

We highly value individual preferences and circumstances. While we understand that some participants might prefer not to appear on video or might have bandwidth constraints, we encourage you to consider keeping your video on as it enhances the interactive experience and fosters meaningful connections among participants.

QSP is for anyone over the age of 18, in particular those who want to respond to past or present instability in their countries.  Click here for a time-zone converter to see what time the course will be running from where you are.  It aims to enrich their understanding of peace-making and stimulate new ideas for ways forward.

QSP is free of charge, but voluntary donations to extend the programme are appreciated.

THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY AT FULL CAPACITY FOR THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND IN PERSON AT 24 GREENCOAT PLACE.

YOU CAN REGISTER TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM ONLY. 

For those who are looking for a deeper context and to gain more clarity about the current nightmare in Israel and Palestine, we are privileged to host Dr Peter Shambrook, who has recently published a major work on the background of Britain’s involvement in the conflict in his new book Policy and Deceit. Britain and Palestine, 1914 – 1939.

‘The most comprehensive and incisive exposure of the origins of the British betrayal of Palestine.’ – Ilan Pappe (Israeli historian and political scientist)

Our January National Outreach Meeting is in partnership with The Balfour Project. Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East and IofC UK Trustee, will host the event, joined by Dr Peter Shambrook and Sir Vincent Fean and Mike Scott-Baumann, trustees of the Balfour Project.

Dr Peter Shambrook is an independent scholar and historical consultant to the Balfour Project, which works to advance equal rights for all in Palestine/Israel. He holds a PhD in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Cambridge. Throughout his career, he has held several research positions, including at Durham University and the Centre for Lebanese Studies in Oxford. He worked full-time with MRA (now known as IofC) from 1969 to 1987 before he became a school teacher.

His book, Policy and Deceit. Britain and Palestine, 1914 – 1939, is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, revealing a hidden chapter of British deceit and shedding light on the ongoing tensions in the region. This book is available to buy from our online shop HERE

This event will be held at the IofC UK Head Office, 24 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1RD. It will also be available to watch live via Zoom.

For those attending via Zoom, please join from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. 

Around 1/4 of all people worldwide live in countries affected by conflict.

With this in mind, it’s time we started investing more in peacebuilding.

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers (QSP-online) is a course of five short modules, each based on a film about outstanding peacemakers and acts as an introduction to an approach to peacemaking that was developed by Frank Buchman, the founder of what is today known as Initiatives of Change. To unpack these various approaches, the five films below have been selected. Those which have trailers available have been linked.

‘The Man Who Built Peace’

A film about Frank Buchman himself. The facilitated analysis focuses on the principal phases in his life, from founding a hostel for street kids in the early 1900s; to creating an international network for moral and spiritual renewal; to contributing to reconciliation between France and Germany, as well as between Japan and the Philippines after the Second World War, for which he was decorated by their respective governments.

‘For the Love of Tomorrow’

Set in the international context, it takes a particular example of Buchman’s approach, which took place in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The analysis after the film focuses on the roles of four people including Buchman, who worked together to help an embittered French politician become a significant agent for post-war reconciliation with the Germans.

‘The Imam and the Pastor’

Set in a community in northern Nigeria divided by religious conflict, this film shows how a change of heart in individuals led to initiatives which had a far wider impact. It relates how two former rival militia leaders came together to train imams and pastors to mediate in flash points across the country and beyond. The analysis focuses on how the two men reconciled, and what the strategies they used in helping to bring about reconciliation in two key towns.

‘An African Answer’

Sequel to the previous film, it focuses on healing ethnic conflict. ‘Here we see the imam and the pastor in Kenya after serious post-election violence in 2007-8, applying the mediation approach that they developed in Nigeria. After the film, participants will analyse the mediation process step by step.

‘Beyond Forgiving’

In the period after the end of Apartheid and the multi-party elections, the South African Defence Force killed a group of black youths. A black guerrilla commander ordered a revenge shooting in which a white girl died. Some years later, the girl’s mother finds an opportunity to confront the guerrilla commander, and they speak of the painful realisations for both of them as they begin to journey together. The analysis will focus on the steps each took on that journey, and what they did together as a result.

The films show examples of reconciliation after conflict in a variety of contexts: inter-national, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and post-colonial. After an introduction and viewing of the film, participants take part in an interactive analysis facilitated by Dr Omnia Marzouk and/or Peter Riddell (see bios below). The main aim of the course is to absorb as much wisdom as possible about the healing of broken relationships from these remarkable stories, and to reflect on our own peacemaking.

Additional Information

On the morning of each module, you will receive direct links to the Zoom meeting, the film itself, and note sheets designed for your personal use while watching the film.

To enhance the course’s effectiveness, your feedback is invaluable. Following the final module, we kindly request you to complete an online evaluation form for our internal improvement efforts. With your permission, we may use some of your insightful quotes for publicity purposes, highlighting the impact of our program.

Upon attending all modules and submitting the evaluation form, you’ll be awarded a well-deserved Certificate of Completion. If life’s demands make you miss a module or two – you’re welcome to participate in a future course to catch up and still be eligible for the certificate.

We highly value individual preferences and circumstances. While we understand that some participants might prefer not to appear on video or might have bandwidth constraints, we encourage you to consider keeping your video on as it enhances the interactive experience and fosters meaningful connections among participants.

QSP is for anyone over the age of 18, in particular those who want to respond to past or present instability in their countries.  Click here for a time-zone converter to see what time the course will be running from where you are.  It aims to enrich their understanding of peace-making and stimulate new ideas for ways forward.

QSP is free of charge, but voluntary donations to extend the programme are appreciated.

Around 1/4 of all people worldwide live in countries affected by conflict.

With this in mind, it’s time we started investing more in peacebuilding.

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers (QSP-online) is a course of five short modules, each based on a film about outstanding peacemakers and acts as an introduction to an approach to peacemaking that was developed by Frank Buchman, the founder of what is today known as Initiatives of Change. To unpack these various approaches, the five films below have been selected. Those which have trailers available have been linked.

‘The Man Who Built Peace’

A film about Frank Buchman himself. The facilitated analysis focuses on the principal phases in his life, from founding a hostel for street kids in the early 1900s; to creating an international network for moral and spiritual renewal; to contributing to reconciliation between France and Germany, as well as between Japan and the Philippines after the Second World War, for which he was decorated by their respective governments.

‘For the Love of Tomorrow’

Set in the international context, it takes a particular example of Buchman’s approach, which took place in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The analysis after the film focuses on the roles of four people including Buchman, who worked together to help an embittered French politician become a significant agent for post-war reconciliation with the Germans.

‘The Imam and the Pastor’

Set in a community in northern Nigeria divided by religious conflict, this film shows how a change of heart in individuals led to initiatives which had a far wider impact. It relates how two former rival militia leaders came together to train imams and pastors to mediate in flash points across the country and beyond. The analysis focuses on how the two men reconciled, and what the strategies they used in helping to bring about reconciliation in two key towns.

‘An African Answer’

Sequel to the previous film, it focuses on healing ethnic conflict. ‘Here we see the imam and the pastor in Kenya after serious post-election violence in 2007-8, applying the mediation approach that they developed in Nigeria. After the film, participants will analyse the mediation process step by step.

‘Beyond Forgiving’

In the period after the end of Apartheid and the multi-party elections, the South African Defence Force killed a group of black youths. A black guerrilla commander ordered a revenge shooting in which a white girl died. Some years later, the girl’s mother finds an opportunity to confront the guerrilla commander, and they speak of the painful realisations for both of them as they begin to journey together. The analysis will focus on the steps each took on that journey, and what they did together as a result.

The films show examples of reconciliation after conflict in a variety of contexts: inter-national, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and post-colonial. After an introduction and viewing of the film, participants take part in an interactive analysis facilitated by Dr Omnia Marzouk and/or Peter Riddell (see bios below). The main aim of the course is to absorb as much wisdom as possible about the healing of broken relationships from these remarkable stories, and to reflect on our own peacemaking.

Additional Information

On the morning of each module, you will receive direct links to the Zoom meeting, the film itself, and note sheets designed for your personal use while watching the film.

To enhance the course’s effectiveness, your feedback is invaluable. Following the final module, we kindly request you to complete an online evaluation form for our internal improvement efforts. With your permission, we may use some of your insightful quotes for publicity purposes, highlighting the impact of our program.

Upon attending all modules and submitting the evaluation form, you’ll be awarded a well-deserved Certificate of Completion. If life’s demands make you miss a module or two – you’re welcome to participate in a future course to catch up and still be eligible for the certificate.

We highly value individual preferences and circumstances. While we understand that some participants might prefer not to appear on video or might have bandwidth constraints, we encourage you to consider keeping your video on as it enhances the interactive experience and fosters meaningful connections among participants.

QSP is for anyone over the age of 18, in particular those who want to respond to past or present instability in their countries.  Click here for a time-zone converter to see what time the course will be running from where you are.  It aims to enrich their understanding of peace-making and stimulate new ideas for ways forward.

QSP is free of charge, but voluntary donations to extend the programme are appreciated.

Around 1/4 of all people worldwide live in countries affected by conflict.

With this in mind, it’s time we started investing more in peacebuilding.

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers (QSP-online) is a course of five short modules, each based on a film about outstanding peacemakers.

The films show examples of reconciliation after conflict in a variety of contexts: inter-national, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and post-colonial. After an introduction and viewing of the film, participants take part in an interactive analysis facilitated by Dr Omnia Marzouk and/or Peter Riddell.

Please click HERE to get a more in depth understanding of the content and layout of the course. 

QSP is for anyone over the age of 18, in particular those who want to respond to past or present instability in their countries.  Click here for time-zone converter to see what time the course will be running from where you are.  It aims to enrich their understanding of peace-making and stimulate new ideas for ways forward.

QSP is free of charge, but voluntary donations to extend the programme are appreciated.

The ChangeMakers Collective will bring together young changemakers (aged 18-35) from around the world to explore, in community, the issues of the world and their role in finding solutions. Rooted in the ideas of Initiatives of Change, the conference will focus on inner transformation towards outer impact with a strong focus on reflection.

This conference marks the starting point of this journey that will bring together a diverse group of youth working in various fields in their communities and collaborate with them to create a space where they can co-design their learning, challenge one another, learn from others experiences and to go back with clear tools that can transform the trajectory of their changemaking journey.

Conference Overview: 

This 6-days residential conference is designed for youth who are interested in inner work and committed to creating an impact in society.

The conference will have spaces of learning through, learning circles, personal reflection, workshops and plenaries that surfaces the wisdom present in the community by creating peer learning spaces and dialogue. We are building a community of youth that are committed to challenging the norm and creating a difference through inner work and collective leadership.

We will explore, together, the future, shape and implementation of community-based leadership and what is our way forward in creating an equitable and just society.

Our hope is that this conference strengthens your relationship with self, creates a global community of changemakers, redefines or refines your understanding of leadership and enables you with practical tools to make change sustainable and accessible.

Conference Themes:  

Inner Work: Inner transformation towards community change

Leadership: Building our practice of community centered leadership through tools exploring purpose in life, diversity, conflict transformation etc

Agency: Activating our purpose, decision making and amplifying voices of the underrepresented

Sustainability: Creating personal and collective practices in changemaking

Elements of the Conference: 

Early morning reflection/inner listening time

Plenaries and speakers

Bespoke workshops-School for Change Makers, UK will run a leadership track during the conference

Music and play, dialogue and small group interactions

About IofC India:

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a worldwide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds committed to transforming society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own. Our mission is to inspire, equip and connect people to address world needs, starting with themselves. We work worldwide on many initiatives through a network of individuals, groups and organisations.

About Panchgani & Asia Plateau:

Panchgani is located at an altitude of 1293 meters above sea level. This popular hill station is at a distance of 100 KMS from Pune and 280 KMS from Mumbai. You can reach Panchgani from either of these locations via public buses, private cars or cabs.

The programme will take place at the Asia Plateau campus, just at the start of Panchgani town. This 68-acre campus is well-equipped with residential buildings, conference rooms, trees, gardens, forests and hills. The entire campus is strictly a no-smoking and no-alcohol zone. Violation of this guideline is taken very seriously.

The weather is pleasant all year round, and light woollen clothes are recommended. We suggest you bring your walking shoes as well as rain gear along.

Programme Details:

Fees: ₹12,000 + ₹2,160 (GST@28%) = ₹14,160 (Programme cost including meals, accomodation and  wifi)

This programme is subsidised by the Trust to enable wider participation. To meet the basic workshop costs, you are requested to pay the participation fee as above including GST, per participant. If you wish to contribute to support someone else’s participation, please write to us at  cmc@iofc.org

Click here for information on how to reach Asia Plateau.

Contact Details:

Email:- cmc@iofc.org

Around 1/4 of all people worldwide live in countries affected by conflict.

With this in mind, it’s time we started investing more in peacebuilding.

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers (QSP-online) is a course of five short modules, each based on a film about outstanding peacemakers and acts as an introduction to an approach to peacemaking that was developed by Frank Buchman, the founder of what is today known as Initiatives of Change. To unpack these various approaches, the five films below have been selected. Those which have trailers available have been linked.

‘The Man Who Built Peace’

A film about Frank Buchman himself. The facilitated analysis focuses on the principal phases in his life, from founding a hostel for street kids in the early 1900s; to creating an international network for moral and spiritual renewal; to contributing to reconciliation between France and Germany, as well as between Japan and the Philippines after the Second World War, for which he was decorated by their respective governments.

‘For the Love of Tomorrow’

Set in the international context, it takes a particular example of Buchman’s approach, which took place in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. The analysis after the film focuses on the roles of four people including Buchman, who worked together to help an embittered French politician become a significant agent for post-war reconciliation with the Germans.

‘The Imam and the Pastor’

Set in a community in northern Nigeria divided by religious conflict, this film shows how a change of heart in individuals led to initiatives which had a far wider impact. It relates how two former rival militia leaders came together to train imams and pastors to mediate in flash points across the country and beyond. The analysis focuses on how the two men reconciled, and what the strategies they used in helping to bring about reconciliation in two key towns.

‘An African Answer’

Sequel to the previous film, it focuses on healing ethnic conflict. ‘Here we see the imam and the pastor in Kenya after serious post-election violence in 2007-8, applying the mediation approach that they developed in Nigeria. After the film, participants will analyse the mediation process step by step.

‘Beyond Forgiving’

In the period after the end of Apartheid and the multi-party elections, the South African Defence Force killed a group of black youths. A black guerrilla commander ordered a revenge shooting in which a white girl died. Some years later, the girl’s mother finds an opportunity to confront the guerrilla commander, and they speak of the painful realisations for both of them as they begin to journey together. The analysis will focus on the steps each took on that journey, and what they did together as a result.

The films show examples of reconciliation after conflict in a variety of contexts: inter-national, inter-religious, inter-ethnic and post-colonial. After an introduction and viewing of the film, participants take part in an interactive analysis facilitated by Dr Omnia Marzouk and/or Peter Riddell (see bios below). The main aim of the course is to absorb as much wisdom as possible about the healing of broken relationships from these remarkable stories, and to reflect on our own peacemaking.

Additional Information

On the morning of each module, you will receive direct links to the Zoom meeting, the film itself, and note sheets designed for your personal use while watching the film.

To enhance the course’s effectiveness, your feedback is invaluable. Following the final module, we kindly request you to complete an online evaluation form for our internal improvement efforts. With your permission, we may use some of your insightful quotes for publicity purposes, highlighting the impact of our program.

Upon attending all modules and submitting the evaluation form, you’ll be awarded a well-deserved Certificate of Completion. If life’s demands make you miss a module or two – you’re welcome to participate in a future course to catch up and still be eligible for the certificate.

We highly value individual preferences and circumstances. While we understand that some participants might prefer not to appear on video or might have bandwidth constraints, we encourage you to consider keeping your video on as it enhances the interactive experience and fosters meaningful connections among participants.

QSP is for anyone over the age of 18, in particular those who want to respond to past or present instability in their countries.  Click here for a time-zone converter to see what time the course will be running from where you are.  It aims to enrich their understanding of peace-making and stimulate new ideas for ways forward.

QSP is free of charge, but voluntary donations to extend the programme are appreciated.