Initiatives of Change
Encyclopedia
Initiatives of Change is a global organization dedicated to "building trust across the world's divides" of culture, nationality, belief, and background. The organization is committed to transforming society, beginning with change in individual lives and relationships.
These tenets are a continuation of those of the organization's explicitly Christian
predecessor, Moral Re-Armament (MRA)
, launched in 1938. The name "Initiatives of Change", adopted in 2001, reflects the emphasis of the organization in effecting social change beginning with personal change. Initiatives of Change has spiritual roots but no religious affiliation. It invites "those with a faith...both to explore the roots of their own tradition, and to discover and respect the beliefs of others."
Initiatives of Change programs are active in many countries. In the United States
, Hope in the Cities promotes honest conversations on race, reconciliation and responsibility. In Switzerland
, the Caux Forum for Human Security brings together people working for peace and human security. In India, Centre for Governance works with development experts, policy makers, social activists and others to strengthen role of citizens in governance. Asia Plateau in Panchgani
, India is another international conference centre, created in 1967. In Sierra Leone
, Hope Sierra Leone is active in reconciling and rebuilding the country ravaged by civil war.
based in Caux, Switzerland
. It is the legal and administrative entity that federates the national bodies of Initiatives of Change in its cooperation with the United Nations
. As an NGO, IofC-International holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
, and Participatory Status at the Council of Europe
. Its first President was Cornelio Sommaruga
, formerly President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He was succeeded by Mohamed Sahnoun, formerly Senior Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
. In 2009 Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi
, was elected President.
, the IofC's conference center in Caux, Switzerland became an international meeting place in 1946. At that time the hotel was derelict, and about to be pulled down. It was bought by 50 Swiss families, who set to work to restore it and make it a place where the warring nations of Europe could meet. In the following years thousands came, including German Chancellor Adenauer
and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman
. Its work was described by historians Douglas Johnston and Cynthia Sampson as an 'important contribution to one of the greatest achievements in the entire record of modern statecraft: the astonishingly rapid Franco-German reconciliation after 1945.'
In the following decades Caux welcomed people from African and Asian countries moving towards independence from colonial rule. In 1956, soon after Morocco
became independent, King Mohammed V of Morocco
sent a message to Frank Buchman: 'I thank you for all you have done for Morocco in the course of these last testing years.' In 1960 Archbishop Makarios and Dr Kucuk, President and Vice-President of Cyprus, jointly sent the first flag of independent Cyprus to Caux in recognition of the center's help. More recently, groups of opposing factions in the Great Lakes area of Africa, Sierra Leone and other areas of conflict, have met there.
Also prominent in the center's programs have been meetings between management and unions from many industries. The Caux Round Table
was launched there in the 1986, and its Principles for Business are being applied by businesses in many countries. R
Today the center's summer program consists of a continuous series of sessions dealing with specific subjects, attended by a wide range of individuals from throughout the world, both minors and adults. In 2008 the first Caux Forum for Human Security, initiated by Mohamed Sahnoun, brought together 300 people working for peace and human security at all levels and from varied sectors around the world.
These tenets are a continuation of those of the organization's explicitly Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
predecessor, Moral Re-Armament (MRA)
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
, launched in 1938. The name "Initiatives of Change", adopted in 2001, reflects the emphasis of the organization in effecting social change beginning with personal change. Initiatives of Change has spiritual roots but no religious affiliation. It invites "those with a faith...both to explore the roots of their own tradition, and to discover and respect the beliefs of others."
Initiatives of Change programs are active in many countries. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Hope in the Cities promotes honest conversations on race, reconciliation and responsibility. In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the Caux Forum for Human Security brings together people working for peace and human security. In India, Centre for Governance works with development experts, policy makers, social activists and others to strengthen role of citizens in governance. Asia Plateau in Panchgani
Panchgani
Pānchgani is a town and municipal council in Sātārā district in Mahārāshtra, India .-History:Scenic Panchgani was discovered by the British during the British Raj as a summer resort, and a superintendent named John Chesson was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s...
, India is another international conference centre, created in 1967. In Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, Hope Sierra Leone is active in reconciling and rebuilding the country ravaged by civil war.
Initiatives of Change International
Initiatives of Change International is a non-governmental organizationNon-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
based in Caux, Switzerland
Caux, Switzerland
Caux is a small village in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It looks out over Lake Geneva from an altitude of 1000 meters.The former Caux-Palace Hotel in the village is the home of Initiatives of Change's conference centre, which can accommodate up to 450 people...
. It is the legal and administrative entity that federates the national bodies of Initiatives of Change in its cooperation with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. As an NGO, IofC-International holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
, and Participatory Status at the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. Its first President was Cornelio Sommaruga
Cornelio Sommaruga
Cornelio Sommaruga is a prominent Swiss humanitarian, lawyer and diplomat who is best known for being President of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 1987 to 1999. Today, he chairs the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining in Geneva...
, formerly President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He was succeeded by Mohamed Sahnoun, formerly Senior Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
. In 2009 Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi
Rajmohan Gandhi
Rajmohan Gandhi is a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.Gandhi's maternal grandfather was C...
, was elected President.
Mountain House, Caux, Switzerland
Formerly the Caux-Palace Hotel near MontreuxMontreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
, the IofC's conference center in Caux, Switzerland became an international meeting place in 1946. At that time the hotel was derelict, and about to be pulled down. It was bought by 50 Swiss families, who set to work to restore it and make it a place where the warring nations of Europe could meet. In the following years thousands came, including German Chancellor Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
. Its work was described by historians Douglas Johnston and Cynthia Sampson as an 'important contribution to one of the greatest achievements in the entire record of modern statecraft: the astonishingly rapid Franco-German reconciliation after 1945.'
In the following decades Caux welcomed people from African and Asian countries moving towards independence from colonial rule. In 1956, soon after Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
became independent, King Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...
sent a message to Frank Buchman: 'I thank you for all you have done for Morocco in the course of these last testing years.' In 1960 Archbishop Makarios and Dr Kucuk, President and Vice-President of Cyprus, jointly sent the first flag of independent Cyprus to Caux in recognition of the center's help. More recently, groups of opposing factions in the Great Lakes area of Africa, Sierra Leone and other areas of conflict, have met there.
Also prominent in the center's programs have been meetings between management and unions from many industries. The Caux Round Table
Caux Round Table
The Caux Round Table is an international organization of senior business executives aiming to promote ethical business practice. It was founded in 1986 by Frits Philips, president of Philips, and Olivier Giscard d'Estaing, along with Ryuzaburo Kaku, president of Canon...
was launched there in the 1986, and its Principles for Business are being applied by businesses in many countries. R
Today the center's summer program consists of a continuous series of sessions dealing with specific subjects, attended by a wide range of individuals from throughout the world, both minors and adults. In 2008 the first Caux Forum for Human Security, initiated by Mohamed Sahnoun, brought together 300 people working for peace and human security at all levels and from varied sectors around the world.