Initiatives of Change (IofC) has been involved in the African Great Lakes region since 2000. It is within this context that in June 2012, IofC offered the opportunity to leading Burundian political figures from all sides to come together for a week in Caux, Switzerland, to reflect on the ethics of leadership and how to develop the skills needed in order to play a constructive role in peacebuilding.

'The gift of quiet time is the most valuable asset I have acquired this year' are the words of Estella, a young medical student from Cameroon, as she shares of her revolutionizing experience during the All Africa Conference in Cameroon back in May 2012.

Initiatives of Change Kenya team went back to Meru, courtesy of International Peace Initiative, in March 2012 to continue implementing the initiative they had earlier started- this time round addressing the issues of idleness among the youth, alcoholism and domestic violence.

Rev Motlalepula June Chabaku passed away in her home on 11 May, with more than a 1000 people attending her State Funeral. Speaking on behalf of the President of South Africa, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, described Motlalepula as 'one of the greatest our country has produced.'

On 2 March Nombulelo Khanyile, Pieter Horn and Abiodun Owoseni, members of the Initiatives of Change Africa Coordination Group, visited Tanzania, accompanied by Mediatrix Masava from Kenya .

In March the Africa Coordination Group (Pieter Horn and Nombulelo Khanyile from South Africa and Abiodun Oweseni from Nigeria), joined by Mediatrix Masava from Kenya visited three countries, i.e. Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo in the spirit of encouraging and supporting the Initiatives of Change (IofC) teams in those countries.

Leon Marincowitz, a young man from South Africa and an alumni of Harambee Africa 6 in Nigeria, won an award after participating in the Raven Foundation sponsored contest on an essay that best communicates the theme of Violence and Religion. Leon wrote an essay titled 'Unravelling Nigeria's Violence!' drawing a lot from his experience in Nigeria during Harambee programme.

In the month of March, the Africa Coordination Group (Pieter Horn & Nombulelo Khanyile from South Africa and Abiodun Oweseni from Nigeria) joined by Mediatrix Masava from Kenya visited three countries i.e. Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo in the spirit of encouraging and supporting the Initiatives of Change (IofC) teams in those countries.
Click here to read the Tanzania report

Pastor James Wuye, Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Dr Alan Channer were invited to Chad by the United Nations from 24 March – 2 April. Their visit, under the theme ‘Media and Mediation’, was part of a bid by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build skills in mediation and peace-building amongst a newly-forged network of Chadian mediators.

A team from Initiatives of Change Kenya travelled to Meru, Eastern Kenya, to join a partner organization, International Peace Initiatives (IPI), in a series of activities - among them the celebration of the International Women’s Day.