Resolving conflicts in different Muslim contexts requires an understanding of the dynamic relationship between the Islamic tradition that unites Muslims and the unique geographical, cultural, historical and political contexts of each Muslim community. A seminar on ‘Peace building and Non Violence from Islamic Principles’ – organised by Initiatives of Change, The Cordoba Foundation and Islamic Relief Worldwide on 22 January – gave an insight into these questions.

After over 20 years of civil war and numerous failed peace-conferences, Somalis and the international community are daring to believe that a reborn Somalia might just be possible. Fourteen flights a day are bringing members of the Somali diaspora back from all corners of the globe, to reclaim property, to start new businesses, to take posts in the new government. In January, Fauzia Yusuf Haji Adan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Somalia – a former refugee in London – visited IofC’s London centre to meet members of Somali Initiative for Dialogue and Democracy (SIDD), the network of Somalis which has been associated with IofC since its inception in 2005.

Twenty five people gathered in Beirut, Lebanon to take part in the first consultation of representatives of Initiatives of Change Arab teams. The meeting, which took place 8-10 March, included representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia as well as Arabs living in France and the UK.

‘Forgiveness cuts public opinion down the middle like a guillotine. People are inspired by it or they are affronted by it.’ This is how Marina Cantacuzino, founder of the Forgiveness Project, introduced the concept of forgiveness when she gave a Greencoat Forum on 19 March in the London centre of Initiatives of Change.

En marzo, las comunidades Pokot, Ilchamus, Tugen y Turkana se reunieron durante dos días en Baringo, Kenia busando los medios para lograr una paz duradera. Joseph Karanja reporta.

"Wenn du dich nicht verändert hast, kannst du dein Land nicht verändern!" Mit dieser Aussage forderte Erzbischof Daniel Deng Bul der Episkopalen Kirche des Sudan die 200 Friedens- und Aussöhnungsaktivisten während einer Fortbildungsveranstaltung am 29. April 2013 heraus. Er sprach über die Gefahr, die Südsudanesen nach ihrer Stammesangehörigkeit Schubladen zuzuordnen, anstatt sich für die Einheit und Gleichheit aller Menschen des Südens auszusprechen und wandte sich an die Mitarbeiter, zuerst sich selbst unter die Lupe zu nehmen, wenn sie sich für Veränderung einsetzen

Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of Sudan challenged 200 peace and reconciliation mobilisers and facilitators during their training on the morning of 29 April, saying, ‘If you have not changed, you cannot change your country.’

Auch dieses Jahr gibt es wieder die Möglichkeit, eine Woche im internationalen Konferenzzentrum von Initiatives of Change in Caux/Schweiz zu verbringen, um gemeinsam mit Menschen verschiedener Nationalitäten, Herkunft und Generationen zusammenzuarbeiten. Ziel dieser Woche ist es, das Haus für die internationalen Sommerkonferenzen vorzubereiten, die seit 1946 jeden Sommer dort stattfinden.

Pokot, Ilchamus, Tugen and Turkana communities came together over two days in March in Baringo, Kenya seeking the means to finding lasting peace. Joseph Karanja reports.

Quebec City - March 2, 2013 A moving testimony on forgiveness and reconciliation from Francine Lemay, sister of Corporal Marcel Lemay of the Sûreté de Quebec, killed during the 1990 Oka crisis, was one of the most powerful moments at the Citizen Project Forum organized by Initiatives of Change and Espace Art Nature. Click here to read more.