Jitka Hromek-Vaitla has an interesting name that reflects a history full of stories. Born in Czechoslovakia, she grew up under the communist regime and was 11 when the “Velvet Revolution” ushered in a new era of democracy in 1989. Jitka brings her personal experience to her role as the new Program Director of The Caux Scholars Program. “It is so important for young people from emerging democracies to meet the world at Caux and learn skills that they can apply to post conflict societies,” she says.

The Communications Assistant is a volunteer position with the Caux Forum for Human Security, working closely with the Communications Director.

The 4th CAUX-Initiatives of Change conference on ‘Learning to live in a multicultural world’ will take place from 1 - 6 July 2012 in Caux. This year’s programme builds on the outcomes of the 2011 conference on Diaspora and peacemaking. It aims to equip those who wish to embrace a multicultural vision of Europe. An outline of the programme is now available.

Thanks to the international farmers’ meeting organised by the Rwandan Initiatives of Change team, in November 2011, I was able to make a third trip to Rwanda and meet with people who are warm-hearted, generous, hard-working and forward-thinking despite the ever-present traces of the past.

The Caux Interns Programme is looking for a new Director and new Logistics Coordinators. At the same time, the conference 'Exploring the Vital Link between Personal and Global Change: The Essence of Initiatives of Change' is recruiting a conference coordinator.

A detailed report about the conference 'Learning to Live in a Multicultural World: Diaspora and Peacemaking in Europe', that took place from 26 to 31 July 2011 in Caux, is now available.

Originally from Egypt and having lived most of her life in Australia and Britain, Omnia Marzouk (known to many as ‘Mona’) has been working as Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine for 15 years at the UK’s busiest Children’s Emergency Department – Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. She served as Clinical Director of the Emergency Department for seven years during which time it was twice recognized as hospital ‘Team of the Year’ for innovation.

The 2012 conferences will run from 1 July to 8 August at the Initiatives of Change centre in Caux, above Montreux, in Switzerland.

A new book of experiences of peace-building in the African Great Lakes region has been launched in Geneva, with the title Beyond Hate, Building Peace (‘Dépasser la haine, construire la paix’).

A 20-page full-colour report about the International Caux Conferences 2011 is available online. Also available: a separate report about the Caux Forum for Human Security.