We are celebrating the publication of IofC Switzerland’s new book 75 Years of Stories; Caux 1946 – 2021! 

This book tells 75 stories – one for each year between 1946 and 2021 – of some of the lives which have been touched by Caux. They include far-reaching encounters, such as those between French and Germans after World War Two or between Somalis of warring communities in 2005; heart-stopping moments, such as in 1981 when Agnes Hofmeyr spoke from the stage with a man who had sanctioned her father’s murder; and stories from the corridors, offices and kitchens of the many volunteers who have made the conferences possible.

Join us at Greencoat Place in London for light refreshments and the opportunity to meet some of the authors and some of those whose stories are told. There will then be an opportunity for your questions.

Register today and we hope to see you there!

This gathering calls upon educators worldwide to seek inspiration, exchange ideas, and create strategies that instil hope and purpose in our lives, as well as in the lives of our students and communities. Through introspection, we will address the challenges of our evolving role in a world undergoing rapid technological advancements and shifts in values-based living. Through storytelling and active listening, we will explore ways to safeguard human dignity, fostering trust and compassion as the cornerstones of peace in a divided world. By committing to the preservation of our planet, we will generate ideas and take action for sustainable living. Let’s join forces as change-makers, embarking on a collective journey to create a just, peaceful, and compassionate world, starting within our classrooms.

Who may attend: 

This workshop is open to Educators.

The last date for registration:  4^th December, 2023.

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. 

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:

Date: 8th January to 12th January 2024 (Arrival by 2 pm on January 8th and ends at 12.30 pm on January 12th)

Participation Fee: ₹ 17,700 inclusive of 18% GST. This fee includes your stay on twin sharing basis, all meals, programme material and facilities like Wi-Fi.

Venue: Asia Plateau, Panchgani

Click here for information on how to reach Asia Plateau.

Contact Details:

Email: etst@iofc.org

Phone: +91 7387775700 (9 am – 5 pm)

Did you know that 220,000 people lost their lives in the civil war in Colombia over 50 years?

Or that 5 million civilians were forced from their homes – the second largest number of internally displaced people?

Or that a peace agreement was signed in 2016?

Dr Catalina Montoya Londoño, who grew up in Colombia and has written extensively on the subject, will give a presentation and answer questions on:

Negotiating Peace in Colombia: What were the pivotal changes that needed to take place for progress to occur?

Dr Catalina Montoya Londoño is senior lecturer in International Relations, and Director of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies at Liverpool Hope University.

During her time as a student in Colombia, she interned on the Programme of Development and Peace of Middle Magdalena led by Francisco de Roux, the Jesuit priest who was to become the director of the Colombian Truth Commission after the peace process was signed between the Colombian Government and FARC guerrillas in 2016.

Catalina has been a full-time lecturer since 2001, first in Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogata and since 2013, at Liverpool Hope University.

Her research interests focus on the area of political communication including relationships between states, civil society and media in the context of conflict and peacebuilding, and communication and international relations with an emphasis on Latin American politics.

She has written books, chapters and articles in English and Spanish on: the impact of event-driven news in the projection of US foreign policy in Colombia; the use of media by civil society organizations to foster democracy and human rights in Colombia and Latin America; the relationships between political and media systems, political and media debates regarding transitional justice in Colombia; and international cooperation, mediated diplomacy and peacebuilding in Colombia.

This event is free of charge, but contributions greatly appreciated, click here to donate (specifying Agenda for Reconciliation).

Qualities and Strategies of Peacemakers is a training programme of IofC UK’s Agenda for Reconciliation.

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.

Westminster Quakers host this exciting event offering a unique opportunity to meet with Letlapa Mphahlele, a former commander of the South African, Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA), during apartheid times.

Letlapa, who is on a visit to the UK, is the main protagonist in the award-winning film Beyond Forgiving, a film produced by Initiatives of Change which depicts the journey of two South Africans to bring healing and reconciliation to their country. Letlapa’s anger and passion were such that he ordered high-profile retaliatory massacres of white civilians. But after a radical transformation, he now sees the whole of humanity as ‘My people’.

To see the trailer for this film Beyond Forgiving, click HERE.

Event Location: Friends Meeting House, Westminster, 52 St. Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4EA

Facilitated by Anton Smith, this series of Business Circles will centre around Leadership Values with reference to the Initiatives of Change’s Core Values identified below.

The question will be how Leaders can incorporate these values into their organisations. Of course, all 6 Values are interrelated – we can’t have Honesty without Trust Building but within each topic there are distinct aspects that matter.

1. HONESTY
2. UNSELFISHNESS
3. LOVE
4. PURITY OF MOTIVE
5. TRUST BUILDING / COOPERATION
6. QUIET TIME

Business Circle 3 – TRUST BUILDING AND COOPERATION

Trust is a two-way dynamic. Trust won’t be possible if those we intend to put our trust in prove to be untrustworthy. As with all aspects of human interaction, words are superficial unless substantiated by actions. It’s an aspect of authenticity and the concepts of congruency and genuineness.
How many times in your life experience have you come across a lack of authenticity? How is it possible for cooperation to be achieved if justifiable scepticism of Leadership exists?

Lack of Trust > Lack of Cooperation/Collaboration > Poor Outcomes and Productivity.

This is what we’ll be looking at in this month’s Business Circle.

Spaces are LIMITED for this session; first come, first served. Please note that all sessions are held on Zoom – we advise that you ensure your Zoom application, whether on desktop, browser, or mobile device, is the most current version. Please see Zoom Updates for more details.

This event is for anyone who’d like to share their experiences of Leadership, whether as a Leader, a Leadership Trainer or as one who has observations to make of their Leaders.

In our next book club, we will be reading the latest book from renowned author, Dr Ruth Harris.

Q&A with Author: Ruth will be joining us for part of our journey!

Guru to the World: The Life and Legacy of Vivekananda is Dr Harris’ arresting biography of the renowned Indian monk, Vivekananda, who changed the course of history by influencing the Western relationship to meditation and spirituality. Ruth’s depiction shows how his thought spawned a global anticolonial movement and became a touchstone of Hindu nationalist politics a century after his death.

Our sessions: 

Tuesday 21st February 2023 | 6:30pm: Introduction and scene setting

Tuesday 7th March 2023 | 6:30pm: Our first touch-base forum discussion

Tuesday 21st March 2023 | 6:30pm: Our final book club forum discussion

Please purchase the book ahead of the first session.

Register today to get a special code before purchasing! 

Registration is currently full for this session, but if you are interested in learning more about Creators of Peace please email them at creatorsofpeace.uk@iofc.org.

A quiet day hosted by Creators of Peace UK and Initiatives of Change Oxford, based on the idea that effective peace is created in the world around us when we start the process of peace within ourselves. This day is an opportunity for a deeper exploration of IofC’s core practices, tested over generations: ways to access reflective, healing and inspirational space. Guided by experienced practitioners, come and settle into quiet time; consider values as a source of truth and renewal; reflect on what it means to commit to integrity.

This quiet day is for people of all faiths and beliefs, each seeking to deepen our own truth. The day will start with a guided session exploring IofC’s practice, with time to experience and reflect; lunch together; a longer space to be alone in silence (in a corner of the house, garden or the local park); finally regathering to hear from one another.

Facilitated by Su Riddell and CoP UK.

Coffee will be served from 10:00 am and lunch will be provided.

We can’t offer parking but can advise on travel. 

Join the heads of Creators of Peace UK Miranda Shaw and Elizabeth Lasker of Creators of Peace for a Friends Talk at Westminster Cathedral Hall!

Tickets: £10 at the door

Creators of Peace (COP) is a global network of people on each continent making a difference. Creators of Peace Circles are small gatherings of (usually) women who meet weekly or over a weekend with trained facilitators to explore what it means to create peace in the heart, home and community. It is a series of deep conversations that build community and connection, develop resilience, and ignite our capacities to build peace. Creators of Peace Circles guide participants through personal reflection and dialogue to an awareness of the needs in their own lives and communities. It encourages participants to explore paths toward creating peace. Peace Circles invite participants to move beyond blame to responsibility and creativity to find their unique contribution.

Participants connect with each other on a deep level and are guided toward the possibility of individual or joint action that they can take to meet the needs of their selves, families or communities. The Peace Circles are facilitated and create a space where women from diverse backgrounds or faiths can share their life stories in an atmosphere of trust and respect. Each Peace Circle intentionally seeks to reflect the diversity of the community from which it comes. Impact assessments have shown that our Peace Circles can be deeply healing and transformational to both individuals and communities. Through personal transformation, individuals experience inner peace and find a voice, sometimes for the first time, which leads to an awareness of a shared humanity with the ‘other’.

Facilitated by Anton Smith, this series of Business Circles will centre around Leadership Values with reference to the Initiatives of Change’s Core Values identified below.

The question will be how Leaders can incorporate these values into their organisations. Of course, all 6 Values are interrelated – we can’t have Honesty without Trust Building but within each topic there are distinct aspects that matter.

1. HONESTY
2. UNSELFISHNESS
3. LOVE
4. PURITY OF MOTIVE
5. TRUST BUILDING / COOPERATION
6. QUIET TIME

In this series of Circles, we’ve covered Honesty, Unselfishness, Love, Purity of Motive and Trust Building/Cooperation.

In the final Circle of the current series, we’ll be reflecting on the discussions we’ve had and the importance of Quiet Time – the space we all need for reflection away from activity, to be a Human Being rather than a Human Doing.

Decision-making can be crucially affected by giving insufficient attention to thoughtful and mindful disciplines. We need this quiet time to self-reflect and consider if we’re acting with honest motivation in accordance with the ethical principles we’ve discussed in this series.

Spaces are LIMITED for this session; first come, first served. Please note that all sessions are held on Zoom – we advise that you ensure your Zoom application, whether on desktop, browser, or mobile device, is the most current version. Please see Zoom Updates for more details.

This event is for anyone who’d like to share their experiences of Leadership, whether as a Leader, a Leadership Trainer or as one who has observations to make of their Leaders.