It’s an honour to receive this Luxembourg Peace Prize on behalf of the many colleagues, volunteers and friends of Initiatives of Change — past and present — whose courage and commitment have made this work possible. This award belongs to all of them.
And this is truly a Legacy Award.
Our story began in the 1920s. In the 1930s, as nations across Europe rearmed for war, our movement became known as Moral Re-Armament — calling instead for moral and spiritual rearmament.
After the devastation of the Second World War, our focus increasingly turned toward reconciliation: helping former enemies rebuild trust and imagine a shared future.
In 2021, we became Initiatives of Change — or IofC —the heart of our work has remained the same.
For over a century, we have been guided by one simple but deeply challenging belief: that change starts with oneself. That societies change when people are willing to reflect honestly, and take responsibility for the role they can play in healing division.
Today, in a world marked by polarisation, fear and violence, this message feels more urgent than ever.
Peace is not built only through treaties or institutions. It is built in human relationships. It is built when people who distrust one another choose to listen instead of condemn.
When communities acknowledge historical wounds instead of denying them. When people move from blame to responsibility.
