About Us

Initiatives of Change Indonesia (IofC-Indonesia)

is a part of the global network of Initiatives of Change, which is committed to building trust across the world's divides. It comprises people of many cultures, nations, beliefs and backgrounds who are committed to transforming society through changes in individuals and relationships, starting in their own lives. To achieve its goals and ideals IofC Indonesia has been conducting workshops and conferences on youth leadership and multiculturalism.

Initiatives of Change

is a diverse, global network committed to building trust across the world's divides. It comprises people of many cultures, nations, beliefs and backgrounds who are committed to transforming society through changes in individuals and relationships, starting in their own lives.

It was first known as The Oxford Group, arising from its work among university students in the late 1920s. In 1938, as European nations re-armed military, its originator, Frank Buchman, called for ‘moral and spiritual rearmament’ as the way to build a ‘hate-free, fear-free, greed-free world’.

Following World War II, Moral Re-Armament (MRA), as it had become known, launched a programme of moral and spiritual reconstruction to foster change in private and public life based on a change in motivation and character. It worked for reconciliation between France and Germany, and between Japan and many other Asian neighbours. It was involved in the process of decolonisation, and in forging industrial teamwork and harmonious race relations. It was also active in inter-religious relations and in the struggle for the rights of indigenous peoples.

More recently, it has been involved in the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern Europe and in the quest of ‘good governance’.

National bodies are financed by individual gifts and by foundations, and for certain specific programmes, by institutional grants.

In 2001, Moral Re-Armament changed its name to Initiatives of Change.

Initiatives of Change International

Based in Caux, Switzerland, Initiatives of Change International is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and Participatory Status at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The association Initiatives of Change International is the legal and administrative body that federates the national bodies of Initiatives of Change and which seeks to make their experience and knowledge available to the United Nations and other international institutions.

The Association is governed under the civil code of Switzerland. Members of the Association subscribe to the fundamental principles of the Initiatives of Change movement as summarized in the Preamble to the Articles of Association.

The specific purposes of the Association are:

1. To promote the principles and purposes of the Initiatives of Change movement, as described in the Preamble;

2. To represent the universality and multi-faith character of the movement;

3. To facilitate relationships with international institutions and organizations;

4. To provide a common point of reference for all national organizations;

5. To regulate the international use of the name “Initiatives of Change” and of the movement’s prior names, Moral Re-Armament and the acronym “MRA”.

Its President is Mohammed Sahnoun, Executive Vice President is Richard Ruffin, and the Treasurer is Chris Evans. Tehmina Siganporia is Secretary to the Association. Danielle Maillefer is IofC International's representative (chargée de mission) to the United Nations and related International Organisations, based in Geneva.

Current Members of the Association are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States.

The Association has operational responsibility for the Movement's United Nations Offices in Geneva and New York, for IofC's global websites and for facilitating collaboration between IofC National Societies in some forty countries.