Buchman, an American Lutheran minister of Swiss descent, has a spiritual experience of release from bitterness in crucial relationships against people who have hurt him. His new found sense of freedom has a knock-on effect and others begin to find similar experiences.

Buchman becomes convinced that moral compromise damages human character and relationships and that change in individuals is the only effective way to start 'remaking the world'. His ideas take root in Oxford and some American universities and his work becomes known as 'the Oxford Group'.

Through the 1930s Buchman's ideas spread around the world. Alcoholics Anonymous is established in 1935 as a direct result of the liberating experiences which some people find through their contact with the Oxford Group.

As European nations re-arm for war, Buchman calls for 'moral and spiritual re-armament' as the way to build a 'hate-free, fear-free, greed-free world'. He rebrands this work as Moral Re-Armament (MRA).Following World War II, Buchman launches a programme of moral and spiritual reconstruction to foster change in private and public life based on a change in motivation and character. He emphasised the importance of faith, believing that God has a purpose for people's lives and for mankind as a whole. He encourages people to seek God's wisdom in regular times of silence and reflection. Buchman, himself a Christian, describes Moral Re-Armament as 'the good road of an ideology inspired by God upon which all can unite. Catholic, Jew and Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Confucianist - all find they can change, where needed and travel along this good road together.'

Through the generosity and hard work of hundreds of Swiss citizens, MRA purchases a run-down hotel and turns it into a high quality an international conference centre in Caux, Switzerland.

Almost immediately, when Germany is still deeply resented by many, Buchman and his colleagues invite Germans to Caux. Over the next four years growing numbers of Germans and French meet there and these encounters become the basis of a decisive move towards reconciliation. Buchman is later decorated by both the German and French governments for his contribution to European reconciliation.

Conferences in Caux and Mackinac Island in the US, make other major contributions to international developments These include playing a key part in the reconciliation of Japan with her South-East Asian neighbours, and in the achievement of independence without major bloodshed by several African countries.

By the 1950s, casts of plays presenting MRA's ideas are travelling all over the world. Centres are established in Latin America, India, Japan and several countries in Africa.

When Buchman dies in 1961, the former British political journalist Peter Howard assumes the leadership of MRA, but four years later he too dies. There follow several difficult years during the course of which a new international structure gradually emerges.

Throughout this period, MRA owns the Westminster Theatre in London. Many of the plays are by Peter Howard and others who write with a message of reconciliation, forgiveness and the importance of truth.

1968 sees the opening of Asia Plateau - a major international centre for the training of people from industry, education, the armed forces and civil society in Panchgani, India.

With reconciliation a primary need in many parts of the world, much of MRA's work concentrates on supporting peace-making initiatives in Africa and Asia. For example, IofC is credited with playing a key role in the peaceful transition to independence of Zimbabwe.

During this period in Britain much of the work is focused on improving human relationships in industry, particularly in some of the big car and steel manufacturing plants. There is also a focus on building bridges across some of the racial and cultural divides in several cities.

The collapse of Communism triggers new needs and opportunities for the rebuilding of democracy in the post-Soviet world. This becomes one of the major focal points in the 90s with the launching of the Foundations for Freedom training courses..

Other initiatives that develop throughout the 90s are Hope in the Cities, which is created to bridge the racial divide in the US; Clean Election Campaigns in Taiwan, Brazil and Kenya; and a continuing concern for the creation of moral and spiritual infrastructure for development in both rich and poorer nations.

In 2001 the new name Initiatives of Change (IofC) is adopted – a recognition of the need to rebrand the message for a different era.

Today

Initiatives of Change continues to emphasise that the best way of addressing global issues is to inspire individual people to start the change process within themselves. In the UK, IofC focuses on:

• Building good relations between different cultural and religious groups;
• Bringing a new spirit of honesty and integrity into business and financial institutions;
  
• Equipping potential future leaders with the values and spiritual discernment to deal with the challenges of a globalised world.
  

An African Answer

Another important thread is film-making. The Imam and the Pastor (two Nigerian former adversaries) and An African Answer bring a powerful message on how anyone can become a peace-maker to the UK, Kenya, Sudan and many other countries.