Initiatives of Change International
ANNUAL REPORT 2019
Building trust across the world’s divides Initiatives of Change International | Annual Report 2019
CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP
INITIATIVES OF CHANGE INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMMES CREATORS OF PEACE FOUNDATIONS FOR FREEDOM INITIATIVES FOR LAND, LIVES AND PEACE FARMERS’ DIALOGUE INTERNATIONAL
TRUSTBUILDING PROGRAM
LIVING THE CHANGE AROUND THE GLOBE
INITIATIVES OF CHANGE CENTRES
WHAT CAN I DO?
2019 FINANCES
2 Global Assembly July 2019 Initiatives of Change International | Annual Report 2019
MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP
At the end of 2019 we bade farewell to an entire decade. Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, we may well have said goodbye to the world and society as we knew it. What is the new normal that we will face when the outbreak is over?
What new society and world do we want to see after the pandemic? Are we willing to go back to a world characterized by greed, conflict, inequality and environmental degradation? Or can we use our creativity and determination to contribute to creating a more humane society? What is our role as individuals, and as a movement of changemakers, in shaping Suresh Vazirani our new normal? President
Our movement, which has seen the passing of many decades, is beginning a new chapter as we seek to adapt to changing circumstances. We are finding innovative ways to inspire, equip and connect changemakers in the pursuit of a just, peaceful and sustainable world to which everyone, responding to the call of conscience, can make their unique contribution.
As we reflect on what 2019 gave us and on the magnitude of the challenge of rebuilding our lives and communities, we are proud of the resilience of our global network. The rise in populism, divisiveness, and mistrust in systems has created a darkness in our society. Now, more than ever we Imad Karam need to turn our light outward and show examples of how trust can bridge Executive Director all that divides us.
OUR HISTORY IofC began as a spiritual and social movement more than 80 years ago, drawing on the ideas of founder Frank Buchman, a Lutheran minister. Buchman’s work began with university students in the US and the UK and spread out to people in all walks of life and in all parts of the world. He believed that by applying guiding values of absolute honesty, unselfishness, purity and love in daily life, and being open to the divine spark within, anyone could help create a better society.
As Europe prepared for war in the 1930s, Buchman called for ‘moral and spiritual re-armament’ to build ‘a hate- and greed-free world’. Following World War II, Moral Re-Armament (MRA), as it became known, promoted trustbuilding and reconciliation among former enemies, based on changes in individual motivation and character.
Over the years his work expanded to include people of different religions and none, and in 2001 MRA changed its name to Initiatives of Change.
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INITIATIVES OF CHANGE INTERNATIONAL
What is Initiatives of Change?
Initiatives of Change (IofC) International is a non-profit organization registered in Switzerland, existing to serve a global community. The 36 national teams and international programmes which comprise its formal membership each operate autonomously but work together in these focus areas:
Trustbuilding: Peace and social cohesion through trust and reconciliation. Ethical Leadership: Leadership based on integrity, compassion and selfless service. Sustainable Living: Economic justice and environmental sustainability.
FULL MEMBERS: Australia – Brazil – Canada – Denmark – Finland – France ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: African Great Lakes – Argentina – Austria – Cameroon – Côte d'Ivoire – Egypt Initiatives IofC Germany – India – Japan – Kenya – Malaysia – Netherlands – New Zealand – Nigeria Ghana – Indonesia – Lebanon – South Korea – Switzerland – Tanzania – International Programmes: CENTRES Our startingof Cha ngpointe isNo thatrway – So ucreativeth Africa – Sweden – Ssocialwitzerland – Tai changewan – Uganda – UK –depends USA Creato onrs of P eapersonalce (CoP), Farmers’ Dialogue change. International (FDI), Everyone Foundations For Freedom can (F4F) examine their lives and align their actions with their values, thus ‘being the change’ they want to see in the world.
Greencoat Place London, UK
Caux Conference Centre Caux, Switzerland
Asia Plateau Panchgani, India
Initiatives of Change International is a global Sitio São Luiz network active in over 60 Petrópolis, Brazil countries, which are listed below as full or associate members, programmes, and informal teams. To the Armagh Melbourne, Australia left, our international centres are represented by the orange icons.
African Great Lakes – Argentina – Australia – Austria – Brazil – Cameroon – Canada – Côte d’Ivoire – Denmark – Egypt – Finland – France – Germany – Ghana – India – Indonesia – Japan – Kenya – Lebanon – Malaysia – Nepal – Netherlands – New Zealand – Nigeria – Norway – Palestine – South Africa – South Korea – South Sudan – Sri-Lanka – Sweden – Switzerland – Taiwan– Tanzania – Uganda – UK – USA
What Drives Us Forward lofC International works worldwide through a network of individuals, groups and organizations. Vision: a just, peaceful and sustainable We have special consultative status with the world to which everyone, responding to Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC), the call of conscience, makes their unique participatory status at the Council of Europe as contribution. well as a seat at the International Organization Mission: to inspire, equip and connect for Migration (IOM). people to address world needs, starting with themselves. ECOSOC
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PROGRAMMES Initiatives of Change formally recognizes certain programmes as members of our network. We partner with these programmes to provide visibility and support for their global reach.
Creators of Peace (CoP) which for the last seven years has brought In 2018, over 1,000 women and some men together policymakers with farmers, activists and took part in 89 Peace Circles in 21 countries. researchers to build a community of practice. The outreach was similar in 2019. Peace Circles or facilitation training took place in The opening session of CDLS 2019 in June was Australia, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, India, addressed by Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister Lebanon, Mali, Nepal, Romania, South Sudan, of Meghalaya, in north-east India. He spoke of Switzerland, Syria, Uganda and the UK. his state’s commitment to building a low-carbon economy, with full community involvement. He In February 2019, 12 teenagers from Nepal’s also launched the first Summer Academy on Land, least developed districts took part in a Creators Security and Climate, organized in partnership of Peace Circle in Surkhet, Nepal. These young with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and people, who had been badly affected by the designed for the next generation of policymakers armed conflict of the last 10 years, voiced their and researchers. One who took part described the concerns about child marriage, alcoholism and programme as ‘self-transformational’. domestic violence. ILLP was represented at the Conference of By the end of the weekend the participants had the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat come up with plans to form peace circles in Desertification (UNCCD COP14) in Delhi in schools, take problems to the school principal September. for action and raise funds to build girls’ toilets. In October, it co-convened a one-day multi- One concluded, ‘We can help to create peace stakeholder meeting in Kenya, which brought by looking for solutions.’ together government, grassroots activists and Foundations for Freedom (F4F) experts to brainstorm on how to work together to tackle the environmental challenges facing F4F, the Initiatives of Change network in Ukraine, their country. Mukhtar Ogle, Director of Strategic has been promoting citizen engagement in local Initiatives in the Executive Office of the President, government through ‘participatory budgeting’. spoke of ‘regreening linked to peacebuilding Under this programme, a town or city council through ILLP’ as an encouraging development. invites its citizens to propose how a part of ‘By joining the dots and working together, we will their budget should be used. After a vote, the make Kenya green again.’ most popular projects are implemented. Over 230 Ukrainian towns and cities are involved, Farmers’ Dialogue International (FDI) and the programme has spread to Moldova and Georgia. Leonid Donos, Executive Director of the The Centre Kitumaini in South Kivu in the Association of Communities for Participative Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has formed Development, comments, ‘Cooperation with a partnership with AFDI, a French farmers’ IofC has led to improvements in trustbuilding, association specializing in overseas development cohesion and social inclusion in the participatory projects. Their aim is to encourage the agricultural budget process.’ activities undertaken by the women survivors of war who the Centre Kitumaini supports. A Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace (ILLP) French delegation went to DRC in March to meet the women and in July the centre’s coordinator, Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace focuses on Pierre Lokeka, came to France to conclude the the link between environmental regeneration partnership. This partnership was the fruit of and conflict resolution. Its flagship is the contacts made through the Farmers’ Dialogue Caux Dialogue on Land and Security (CDLS), over the last five years.
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TRUSTBUILDING PROGRAM At a time of increasing fragmentation, trust is diminishing around the world. Communities face racial and religious divides, intergenerational conflict, the rise of extremist attitudes, social divisions and the legacy of war. IofC’s Trustbuilding Program (TP), in partnership with the Fetzer Institute, builds on decades of trustbuilding work around the world, to mobilize IofC’s resources to address global divides. The Program Three national teams, Kenya, Canada and France, took part in the first year of the Trustbuilding Program, each with their own project. The internationally based programme supports these teams with project management, fundraising, communications, evaluation and training. Each project is building counter- narratives to hate and segregation in their local contexts. The programme is also helping to develop IofC’s capacity internationally and locally.
Kenya The project addresses the causes of tension and mistrust between faiths and communities in a country which has witnessed multiple terror attacks and inter-ethnic clashes. It focuses on the coastal city of Mombasa and the north-eastern city of Garissa, where 148 students were killed by the terrorist group Al Shabaab in April 2015. The team is conducting interfaith dialogues and workshops in the two cities and their regions. Kenya
Canada The project in Canada focuses on Quebec and aims to create safe spaces for honest conversations between Quebecois from diverse origins, faiths and backgrounds. It provides methodologies to address polarized subjects and build joint action through understanding the historical and socio-political realities which have shaped the province. The project was launched in 2019 with a roundtable on racial discrimination attended by 47 people. Canada France OUI ACT is a response to the deep unease among young people living in low-income suburbs of Paris. They do not feel accepted and respected by French society, and this can lead to a fracture with it. OUI ACT holds weekly workshops in schools, discussing discrimination, critical thinking, violence, civic engagement. Over 750 students have taken part, and have been encouraged to speak for themselves, think about their values, understand the society they live in and become more active and responsible
citizens. France
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‘Building trust is the essential foundation for building healthy communities. Social action and legislation without accompanying changes in individual lives and rela- tionships are unlikely to be effective over the long haul. The most-needed reforms in communities require political courage and trust-based collaboration that can only be achieved by individuals who have the vision, integrity and persistence to call out the best in others and sustain deep and long-term efforts.’ Rob Corcoran, Founder of Hope in the Cities and Trustbuilding Program trainer
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LIVING THE CHANGE AROUND THE GLOBE Visit our homepage to connect with all our teams and sign up for our Web Updates to learn more about our team’s successes throughout the year. In forums in four cities, Pastor James praised New AUSTRALIA Zealand for ‘giving a gift to the world’ in the way People of 188 nationalities live in the Sydney communities had come together to support and suburb of Blacktown. In May 2019 this was protect Muslims after the atrocity. ‘The shooter the site of a forum on ‘Australians sharing was full of fear, believing in an untrue story of the a new story’. Some 250 people participated danger from another culture,’ said Imam Ashafa. in a weekend of discussions, film shows and ‘Rather than negative solidarities where we drive other events, with the aim of breaking barriers, our group against the other, we have to nurture challenging old narratives and finding a new story new narratives of inclusive solidarity.’ They called for our shared humanity. Many told their stories for people to confront two types of corruption: of struggle and achievement. Speakers included the societal corruption of greed and hate and the a Chief Inspector of Police, a former child soldier inner corruption of fear and division. from South Sudan and a local Imam. SOUTH AFRICA NETHERLANDS On 21 June 2019, 300 young women (and Initiatives of Change Netherlands was one of the some men) came to the Soweto Theatre, in organizers of the 12th Interreligious Conference Johannesburg, South Africa, to celebrate their which took place at the Institute of Social Studies graduation from a five-month empowerment in the Hague in November. This annual event programme run in partnership between started as a small-scale interreligious meeting Creators of Peace South Africa and the City of for international students and has now grown Johannesburg. The holistic programme, now in its into a conference which draws people of many fifth year, focuses on health, occupational skills, nationalities from all over the Netherlands. rights and responsibilities, empathy and spiritual well-being. Since 2018, its ‘inner healing’ module The students had chosen the theme of ‘Gender, has been provided by IofC through Creators of Spirituality and Religion: Endangering or Peace Circles. Engendering?’ During the preparation meetings female and male students spoke of how their The programme focuses on six of Johannesburg’s personal views on feminism and gender diversity toughest regions. Many of those who took part often clashed with the more traditional views of suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. their religious communities. At dialogue tables Follow-up after the Peace Circles found that over people discussed their personal struggles in two thirds had made changes in their lives and relation to religion and gender. ‘I listened to a attitudes as a result: including better parenting, Muslim woman who shared the beauty and reducing substance abuse, returning to school inspiration she gains from her religion,’ said one or finding work. ‘I was badly abused and lost my participant. ‘My eyes were opened.’ personal value,’ said one. ‘Today I am starting to love and accept myself as I am.’ NEW ZEALAND Five months after the shootings which killed 51 Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of IofC people at two mosques in Christchurch, IofC and Creators of Peace, Cleo Mohlaodi said, ‘We New Zealand hosted a tour by two pioneering believe that by creating platforms for all people to peacebuilders from Nigeria. Imam Muhammad tell their stories, we will be able to heal the past Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, once the leaders and harness the future.’ of rival militias, shared their vision of secular and faith communities working together to create ‘a country where there is no room for hate’.
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SWEDEN Among the speakers were Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, the first state in India to For 18 months in 2018 and 2019, a brightly draft a comprehensive state water policy, and painted minibus toured the Swedish counties Bogdan Klich, Leader of the Opposition in the of Stockholm and Gothenburg, offering cultural Polish Senate, who highlighted the ways that activities focussed on well-being to newly arrived nationalism and social exclusion are eroding asylum seekers. The project was coordinated democracy. by IofC Sweden and funded by the county authorities. Several programmes for younger people ran parallel to the main conferences. These included In 2018, 21,502 people applied for asylum in Learning to be a Peacemaker, at which young Sweden: a third of them women. But most efforts Muslims and non-Muslims from across Europe to help people settle and integrate have attracted explored Islam’s teaching on peace. ‘We were men. The IofC project focused on women. taught to work for the societies we live in to become more inclusive, understanding and The project offered study circles, a Peace and tolerant,’ said Maryam Shah, a law student from Culture Café and a wide range of cultural the UK. activities. It helped to organize three festivals, This was the fifth year that young Turks and including the Light in the Darkness festival in Armenians met at Caux to search for ways of Skeppsholmen, near Stockholm, in autumn 2019. building bridges between their communities, ‘It’s about finding a home in yourself and in the divided since 1.5 million Armenians died under new place you end up, becoming a light carrier the Ottoman Empire during World War I. ‘For us, for yourself as well as others,’ said its initiator, Turks were always the enemy,’ said Arshalouys Nik Dee-Dahlström of IofC Sweden. Tenbelian, an Armenian ‘fourth-generation genocide survivor’ from Lebanon. At Caux she In all about 800 asylum seekers have taken part had discovered that ‘if I can learn to hate, I can in the project. learn to unhate’. Kurds have now joined the dialogue. SWITZERLAND UNITED KINGDOM The theme of the Caux Forum 2019 was ‘Trustbuilding: a forgotten factor in today’s In February 2019, Refugees as Re-Builders™ divided world?’ Its five conferences drew (RRB™) embarked on regular training courses politicians, experts, activists and young people after completing a two-year pilot phase. The from all over world to discuss such issues as trust course offers training in dialogue facilitation in the digital age, the relationship between peace for social cohesion, ethical governance and and the environment, just governance, inclusive sustainable livelihood to members of refugee and peace and tools for changemakers. diaspora communities who hope to contribute to the rebuilding of their countries.
Thirty-six people – from Azerbaijan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Uganda and Zambia – took part in one of two consecutive Foundation level courses and/or an Intermediate course during the year. Their feedback contributed to the design and development of the course curriculum, which is in the process of being written. Initiatives of Change International | Annual Report 2019
INITIATIVES OF CHANGE CENTRES
IofC has five international centres where we host a variety of conferences, dialogues, and programmes.
You can learn more about our centres for change at https://www.iofc.org/centres.
ARMAGH Melbourne, Australia Since 1956, the Australia-Pacific Centre for Initiatives of Change in Melbourne has hosted IofC conferences, events and training courses, notably the Life Matters workshops which draw participants from all over the Asia Pacific region. Indigenous Australians often contribute their culture, spirituality and stories to programmes at Armagh, which is situated on the land of the Wurundjeri nation.
ASIA PLATEAU Panchgani, India Some 4,000 people attend programmes at Asia Plateau in India’s western hills every year. Created in 1967, the IofC centre runs training courses in character development for people in industry, government, the armed forces and NGOs, as well as for school and university students and for families. Its rural development and environmental centre, Grampari, teaches communities to protect their water sources, reduce and manage waste, and to farm sustainably.
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CAUX PALACE Caux, Switzerland Caux Palace is IofC’s global centre for excellence in peace and reconciliation. More than 1,500 people came in 2019 to engage in a programme of conferences, training and dialogues aimed at inspiring, equipping and connecting individuals, groups and organizations to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
GREENCOAT PLACE London, United Kingdom IofC’s centre in central London is the hub for IofC UK’s work in empowering refugees, building trust between and within communities, and promoting ethical leadership. Public events take place throughout the year.
SITIO SÃO LUIZ Petropolis, Brazil Sitio São Luiz, the conference and training centre of Initiatives of Change in Latin America, was acquired through the sacrifice of many people in 1965 and has offered a range of programmes and events over the years.
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WHAT CAN I DO?
Be the change. Initiatives of Change has a distinctive approach to generating change. It includes:
Starting with yourself We believe that personal and global change go hand in hand. Each individual has the power and the responsibility to self-reflect and align their actions with their values, thus ‘being the change’ they want to see in the world.
Leading through values Our core values of purity, honesty, unselfishness and love create a strong basis for dialogue, decision- making and self-development.
Reflecting in silence IofC places the search for inner wisdom at the heart of our approach. When people listen to what is deepest in their hearts, insights often come which lead in unexpected directions. Many understand this experience as guidance from God, others as the leading of conscience or the inner voice.
Volunteer Until the turn of the century, our operations were carried out entirely by volunteers, and that is still a large part of how our work continues today. Our teams rely on volunteers to advance the mission and provide support in their communities. Tens of thousands of hours have been given in the spirit of service, by passionate and caring individuals like you. If you have time and talents you would like to give, then please reach out to us!
Donate When you give to IofC, you are directly supporting change at work. Your gift enables our programmes and initiatives across the globe. Our teams are working tirelessly in their local communities to carry out the mission of IofC, and every donation provides them with the necessary resources to support their efforts.
Partner Spotlight ‘The Fetzer Institute (Fetzer) and IofC have been working together over the past year to build and launch the Trustbuilding Program, which serves to strengthen the IofC network. Here at Fetzer we have long been inspired by IofC’s mission and work, and now we are pleased to be part of the IofC family. Both our organizations aim to nurture personal spiritual transformation and realize that once it reaches a critical mass of people and creates a community of like-minded souls, it can be the catalyst of social change. ‘IofC asks us to measure our own actions by four values — honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love — as a means to that end. These are consistent with Fetzer’s values of love, trust, authenticity, and inclusion. IofC’s trustbuilding work is a great example of how inner work translates to outer action – a key focus of Fetzer’s work organizationally and programmatically. In order to have the collective impact that we desire, it’s critical that we connect with fellow changemakers and spiritually-grounded organizations who are working towards the common good.’ Shakiyla Smith, Director of Organizational Culture – Fetzer Institute
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2019 FINANCES
Thank You!
Initiatives of Change could not continue its work without the thousands of individuals, on all continents, who have committed themselves to be the change they want to see in the world. From the very beginning, IofC has been supported by generous individuals – who have given accommodation, financial resources or time – because they are inspired by our mission and our people.
We are grateful to all those who have contributed to furthering our work. Thank you to everyone – past, present and future – who’s taken the initiative to be the change with us!
2019 2018
INCOME
Membership Fees 38,824.24 CHF 38,408.03 CHF Donations from IofC/MRA Bodies 98,266.81 CHF 145,027.26 CHF Committed Giving 21,500.00 CHF 2,065.10 CHF Fees for Web Services 25,882.71 CHF 28,895.03 CHF Other Donations Received 42,355.97 CHF 43,906.85 CHF
Total income 226,829.73 CHF 258,302.27 CHF
EXPENDITURE
Work with International Organizations 12,021.38 CHF 35,768.00 CHF International Website and Communications 73,928.03 CHF 61,354.00 CHF President’s Budget and International Council 47,480.14 CHF 49,231.00 CHF Operations, Administration and Coordination 91,282.84 CHF 80,347.00 CHF Total Expenditure 224,712.39 CHF 226,699.78 CHF
Earnings before Financial Result 2,117.34 CHF 31,602.49 CHF
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@iofc_international initiativesofchange @IofCIntl Initiatives of Change International
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We must awaken the ability of people to launch their own initiatives. Each of us should look at the people around us to see what they need, what we need and how we can support each other in achieving this.
— Hélène de Cherisey, President, Initiatives et Changement France (IofC France) www.iofc.org Editor: Tracie Mooneyham Copy-editor: Mary Lean Design: Nahom T Haile Photos and Content: We thank everyone who contributed by writing, editing, proofreading and sharing photographs. [email protected] Rue de Varembe 1, CH-1202, Geneva, Switzerland ©IofC International 2020