Peacemakers in the Making: Learning to be a Peacemaker 2021
8th September 2021
‘I am super happy to have been part of the Learning to be a Peacemaker course – we learned the true colours of Islam!’ wrote 18-year-old high-school graduate Nma Dahir, from Erbil, capital of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. ‘After attending it, I am totally immersed in this field, and want…
Initiatives of Change’s Contribution to Peacemaking
6th September 2021
by Dr Karen Abi-Ezzi, Lecturer in Peace Studies at the Bradford University’s Department of Peace Studies and International Development. I first learnt of Initiatives of Change in 2000. I was preparing to travel to Lebanon for a research project looking at what was being done after the civil war that…
Uncovering your calling
19th August 2021
The following piece is by Gemma Perkins who is in the School for Changemakers alumni. Here, she shares her thinking around transformation and what exciting things can come from being inspired by a moment of personal change. One of the things that I enjoy the most about the School for…
Ken Noble's memories of volunteering in Malta in the 1970s
19th July 2021
The following piece is by Ken Noble, who has worked and volunteered with MRA/Initiatives of Change in various capacities for 50 years. Here he shares his memories of how he started volunteering, his early days in Malta, and what this experience taught him… I finished my university exams in early…
How accompaniment brings change
16th February 2021
Thursday’s I love Thursday mornings! Why? From 10 to 11 the IofC UK staff get together to share how we are doing, what we are doing, and take time to reflect. Stories of accompaniment, pastoral care, and other works of service pour out – that is a blessing to us…
Building trust in a digital world
9th February 2021
Social media has increasingly played a major role in the development of many modern-day movements, whose aims range from combatting sexual assault (#MeToo) and equal rights (#BlackLivesMatter), to conspiracy theories involving child sex-trafficking (#pizzagate) and vaccination safety (#vaccinescauseautism and #antivax). Now, we see and experience the the rise of polarization…
The recent decision on UKAID reduction
1st December 2020
Is the UK losing its moral stance by not keeping up with its overseas aid contribution?
Coping with loss
1st December 2020
With COVID-19 changing how we observe the passing of loved ones, how can we cope with grief or care for someone who is grieving in todays environment?
The worst form of government?
23rd November 2020
Winston Churchill famously said that democracy was the worst form of government…. except for all the others.
Unlocking potential during lockdown
11th November 2020
Quakers and Business invited Michael Smith to represent Initiatives of Change during their two-day international online forum on ‘Making Values Visible’. He spoke to the forum of some 40 people on 6 November. His words inspired a lively discussion during the meeting!