Between July 2013 to December 2013, All Federal Government Academic Institutions in Nigeria embarked on a 5 Month Strike Activities which had significant effect on Undergraduates in Nigeria as students were made to stay at home for these periods. Initiatives of Change, Nigeria recognized these periods as vital and crucial moments and needed to get something done to empower the youths.

The Fourth Eastern Africa Youth Forum (EAYF) came to a close on 22 February, 2014 where young people from across the region met for a week that had been so informative and educative.

In the month of February 2014, two Peace Circles took place in two areas within Nakuru County, Kenya. The issue of searching for inner peace, forgiveness and inner healing remain a highlight in the programme.

Enthusiastic IofC activists from across Africa met in Ethiopia to plan for the future. Forty-two people from 12 countries, representing national boards, teams and programmes, gathered in the town of Debre Zeit near Addis Ababa, from 5-9 March 2014. During the five days of consultation the participants deliberated on the challenges of Africa and the context of each national team.

What does peace mean in a country where a people’s revolution has ended in disillusionment, bloodshed and polarisation? The 20 women who took part in Egypt’s first Creators of Peace circles in February came heavily burdened by the events of the last three years, and their effect on their families, friends and relationships.

Joseph Karanja has never forgotten the poor and dispossessed in his home area of Eldoret, which in 2007 was the epicentre for inter-tribal violence following presidential and parliamentary elections. Under Joseph’s initiative, solar lights were trialled in Munyaka, a very poor part of Eldoret. Solar lights have been one of the tools used to help transform this community. Remarkable progress has been made in addressing the need for education, employment and income generation, but most significantly this would not have been possible without a strategy to create peace and reconciliation within the community.

‘Peace Begins with us’ said Mrs Goretti Bukombi, the Chairperson of Creators of Peace (CoP), Uganda in her opening remarks at the workshop in Kampala in November 2013.

The African Coordination Group (ACG) wishes to inform you and ask your prayers for a consultation of Initiatives of Change (IofC) bodies in Africa from 5 to 10 March 2014 at Bonita Youth Development Centre – Debre Zeit in Ethiopia.

The planning team for the upcoming Eastern Africa Youth Forum has announced the close of applications for the forum due in Feb 17-24, 2013 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Joseph Wainaina fled from Eldoret in 1992, when his house was burnt to the ground in ethnic clashes. Some years later, whilst researching where to buy weapons to take revenge, a friend challenged him with the line 'forgive those who sin against us'. Wainaina was overcome by a spirit of forgiveness. Since then he has been working with Initiatives of Change for reconciliation between Kenya's different ethnic groups.