Rajmohan Gandhi has written a New Year Message to the global IofC network.
It has been translated into 13 languages - Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English,
French, German, Khmer, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and
Vietnamese. Most of these translations can be found at http://www.iofc.org/gandhi-new-year-2010-message.
Click here to read it in English
The next Action for Life - starting 1 November in India - will no doubt be life-changing,
as previous participants have found. The first round of applications closes on 01 March.
Please click here to find out more info.
Join the conversation.
Initiatives of Change is a partner of the Charter for Compassion
PROGRAMS
INTERCULTURAL
Intercultural Purification Ceremony, Canada
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New and Ongoing Initiatives
A Caravan of Dialogues for Peace
A Caravan of Dialogues for Peace will begin travelling in Quebec in the Spring of 2010
click here to read more.
Calgary
Three women spoke to a mixed group of sixty people at an event planned by Bridges to a Common Future, on the topic Hijab, Nigab & Western Values. To read an article about the event click here.
Edmonton hosts events for National Day of Healing and Reconciliation May 26th
NDHR May 26 2009
Maggie Hodgson, the passionate and charismatic chairperson for the May 26 National Day of Healing and Reconciliation movement, who partnered with IofC at last year’s Quebec City gathering, has recruited a whole new core group from the younger generation for this year’s campaign. Their energy and all out enthusiasm has inspired activities in many communities across the country. In Edmonton three separate NDHR events took place on May 26.
Healing Ceremony
Lewis Cardinal and aboriginal elders led an outdoor healing ceremony for former residential school students in the centre part of the city. The Edmonton Journal reported about the ceremony that “It was modeled after a tradition in some aboriginal cultures of burning an individual’s clothes, books and papers after their death as a way of letting go,” organizer Terry Lusty said. “This is a way of discarding all those hurts and pains,” he told the audience, encouraging them to write any hurt, no matter how trivial on their sheets of paper. “We’ll (burn) it spiritually and symbolically.”
Interacting with students
A teacher of Cree and Aboriginal Studies at Norquest College in Edmonton took NDHR as the focus for two of his classes on May 26. Jack and Mary Jean Freebury, who have helped organize NDHR events in Edmonton for the past eight years, took part in the discussions. Jack shared how he applied lessons learned through IofC to find reconciliation and to build effective relationships with others from whom he had been divided. Mary Jean shared the story of how her father, a country doctor in northern Alberta, had saved the lives of many First Nations people during the 1929 smallpox epidemic. Dr Carlisle purchased vaccine using his own funds since there were no government funds available and vaccinated all the members of a nearby reserve except for eleven of them who, out of fear, hid under a bridge and refused to be vaccinated. All those who had been vaccinated lived and all eleven of those who were not, died. One of the students was very moved by that story since she was a member of that First Nation.
High School Students involved
An inspiring four-hour event took place at Ross Sheppard High School. Various groups shared their messages of cultural strength and caring through drumming, song and dance. Creative and challenging presentations were made by students from two Edmonton high schools, the Kitohtakaw Education Centre on the Alexander reserve, and Kings University College.
Jack Freebury, Edmonton, Alberta
News
Calgary - Bridges to a Common Future In June of last year, The Imam & the Pastor film was shown to a multi-faith group at a local
community centre. The response was so positive that a follow- up pot-luck supper was held in February.
Now this group, known as the Bridges to a Common Future group, is planning for a
third public event on the first weekend of October. In an attempt to deepen the friendships that are already forming across cultural divides, the group is planning for a discussion time, when people from different backgrounds will discuss common themes.
For further information contact Regional Coordinator Keith Newman
Quebec - Citizen Project One initiative emerging since the gathering in Quebec City in May 2008, is a Citizen Project aimed at addressing the deep wounds in people as a result of the Indian Residential Schools. Click here to read more about this.
Toward a Community of Communities : From Solitudes to Partnerships
The program focuses on dialogue and trust-building between First Nations, Francophones, Anglophones and the many other communities who have chosen to make Canada their home. Through this program individuals and groups are encouraged to take initiatives locally, thereby contributing to a countrywide citizens’ movement, free of any partisan agenda, which could bring about greater recognition, understanding and appreciation of each others’ identities and cultures.
To read more about this click here.
Past Events and Initiatives
Ottawa held the first public screening of L'Imam et le Pasteur at Saint Paul University, January 2009. To read a full report click here.
Over 300 people came together on June 14th at the Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue for an evening hosted by IofC and representatives from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other faith communities.
Click here to read more
A Gathering in Quebec City organized by Initiatives of Change - May 2008
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"Invest in the future" says Benoît Charlebois, Montreal, the IofC Council chair.
He writes..."I urge you not to forget about an investment in the work of
Initiatives of Change Canada (IofC Canada)...... We know our challenges are many. We are carefully putting in place the building blocks to carry forward the work towards global harmony, a world free of corruption, discord, greed and hate...."
To read the full text in English and French click here
Imam and Pastor DVD
At a time when many in the world are wondering whether friendly relations are possible between those of Muslim and Christian background, the...
...read more!
In July/August 2010: Four week-long conferences on Multiculturalism, Human Security, Business ethics, Intergenerational relationships and two week-long training programmes in Caux. >> Read more...
We want to express our solidarity with the people of Haiti, and all Haitian-born Canadians at this tragic time for their country, and to assure them of our prayers.
The fellowship of Initiatives of Change Association (Canada) are deeply moved by the suffering in Haiti and want to assure the Haitian people that our hearts are with them at this severely testing time.
It is our wish that even closer links will be formed between the Canadian,
Haitian and other communities, so that, together, we can build a more just world.