Asia Plateau, in Panchgani, Maharashtra, is the international training and conference centre of IofC in India. On 20th January, 2018, IofC India marked its 50th anniversary with the theme “Celebrating Differences, Melting Divisions”. A unique outreach initiative of one year was launched, wherein the core IofC values were shared with communities across India and her neighbouring countries. A group of volunteers from different cultures, religions and communities came together to give their time, to serve taking this theme to various parts of India and beyond, in inter-generational teams.

The outreach to Bangladesh brought home to us the strength of all connections, and that one never really knows when a seed will sprout, and how it might grow, but the importance of nurturing and giving care to it anyway.

We were looking at this monstrous construction that had happened in the village of Vivar where we had enclosed all the gutters and giving the village a very clean look.

Every day, we, the Grampari team, hear stories of change that are a result of inner listening. But  this story is unique: the entire village of Jarewadi has decided to have quiet time every Thursday in front of the temple.

Suresh Vazirani from Mumbai, India was unanimously appointed by Global Assembly of the International Association as the new President for IofC International.

The 4th Dialogue in the beautiful Siloam campus by Initiatives of Change was held in early June in the wake of violence and unrest in the nearby capital city of Shillong. While this did affect attendance at the dialogue, the lives of the 34 participants from 9 countries or states were emboldened in their spirit to do away with divisions, even as the tense atmosphere continued, hardly 50 km from the Siloam campus.

Three hundred people from 41 countries gathered at Asia Plateau on 17 January 2018 for the 50th anniversary of the Initiatives of Change centre. They included some who had been present at the opening in 1968, and many citizens of Panchgani, the hill town where Asia Plateau is situated.

The links continue to strengthen between Asia Plateau and New Zealand. Following the eight New Zealanders attending the AP 50th Anniversary in January, Ajay and Ameeta Patel from Bangalore have now started to reverse the direction. Their visit to NZ this month brought an interesting development with potential to increase the flow of support between our countries.

275 women clad in beautiful colourful saris from 15 villages from Wai, Mahabaleshwar and Jaoli block of Satara district gathered at Grampari on the 8th of March to celebrate Women’s day at Grampari. Represented also were women Sarpanchs, Deputy Sarpanchs, Members, Anganwadi teachers, assistants, Asha Worker etc.

India’s Department of Post has commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of Asia Plateau, the IofC conference centre in Western India, with the publication of a Special Cover envelope, on sale in post offices.