A Youth Meeting took place, 6-9 September, in Sitio Sao Luiz, the Latin American Initiatives of Change (IofC) Centre in Petropolis, Brazil, with 35 people of all ages from different parts of Rio de Janeiro. The aim was to make the ideas of IofC a reality in their personal lives.

There was useful discussion and a chance to consider personal initatives. The young people were very interested, keen to know more about IofC and how they could have a part in building a world free from hate, fear and greed. Older participants were asked to share their experience and following the first meeting groups were seen all over the Sitio talking about the ideas discussed.

One workshop was on teamwork and communication and how the individual can best contribute to the group to achieve better results. A second workshop was about evaluating one’s communication skills, about sharing different realities, skills and life experience.

The Brazilian group who had been in Caux at the Tools for Change session reported on their visit and gave a broad picture of the work of IofC in the world as well as expressing their convictions on returning home.

The theme on the last day was the quiet time, with every participant taking time to go off alone and be quiet. Some found this quite hard but some amazing ideas and life-changing convictions came out of it. The final event was a showing of the documentary The Imam and the Pastor (by IofC’s FLTfilms) about conflict and reconciliation.

One participant commented: 'Since this meeting my mind is brimming with the ideas presented at the weekend and I have been reflecting very much on what we can do to improve the quality of life of everyone in the world. I am eagerly looking forward to the next meeting.'

Another said. 'This meeting planted in my heart the hope for a better and fairer world through small steps made by people of good will. I am sure that other young people will become involved and that IofC will find how to use the great energy and unlimited communication channels of this human resource which is YOUTH.'