Ilene Andersen tells journalist Peer Rødal Haugen, 'God called me, He led me, and He used me, an ordinary girl from California.' Read her fascinating story of 'Taking part in changing the world', – what turned her life upside down and launched her into global adventures, serving and above all singing.

Suresh Mathew meets a hydro-geologist working with Grampari, the rural ecology development initiative attached to Initiative of Change’s Asian conference centre in Panchgani, India, who aims to avert a disaster on our doorstep.

Samuel Muiruri, a participant of Harambee Africa Leadership Programme from Kenya, has been putting into practice one of the things that he learnt during the sixth Harambee programme that took place end of last year in Nigeria - building houses out of plastic bottles.

Suresh Mathew meets with Dr Nagia Abdelmoghney Said, a 62-year-old Egyptian, born to a family who for generations were liberal intellectuals and freedom fighters. She discusses with him the current situation in Egypt, saying ’many challenges are being faced, perhaps the greatest of which is to fight corruption and achieve justice without residual bitterness.'

Teng Koytry, one of the participants of the third annual youth camp which took place in Pailin Province in 2009 and was hosted by Cambodia Initiatives of Change Association (ICA), shares how it changed his life for ever.

What is an HR person to do? The doctor and I stood outside and realized that we would have to go back in to find people. Other colleagues were at hand to assist and went in selflessly, not afraid to die in pursuit of the living. So we did. It's something you have to do in spite of the fact that you do not really know how safe the building is - would the structure hold? Would there be another bomb? Ranya Kargbo shares what her job means to her, working as a United Nations International Civil Servant.

Why would an 80-year-old English grandmother keep coming to Switzerland, every year for 50 years, travelling to arrange flowers at the Initiatives of Change international centre in Caux? And why does she remember that hug from a one-armed Afghan? Barbara Down talked with Elizabeth Loy when they were both in Caux this July.

The Black Heritage Today 2010-2011 magazine features Kojo Jantuah walking along the slave routes of West Africa, on an epic journey to finding healing and reconciliation and discovering his identity - and his destiny.

My tears and screams were too much for me to bear. I remember even wishing to die rather than to stay in this condition… That morning I had woken up early, prepared my son to go to school and given my loving wife a big hug. I had told her as usual that I would take her for a special treat as I had done before, not knowing what was awaiting me.

They say we all have a duty to forgive our parents; no parent has ever been perfect!