The renowned historian, journalist and author Mammo Wudneh, a member and friend of IofC Ethiopia, died on 2 March, aged 77. He was buried the following day, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Kenyatta University Students Association (KUSA) had a student leaders' forum on Youth and Leadership on 17 February 2012. Kenya I Care group was invited to talk on 'the role of youth in governance and development of the country.'

Is the best of peace or the worst of conflict coming to Africa? After five days of deliberations, the 2nd Eastern Africa Youth Conference (EAYC) closed its curtains on Sunday 12 February 2012 with a call to the delegates present to be ambassadors of peace wherever they go.

Over 60 delegates from Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, as well as friends of good will from Cameroon and USA attended the opening day of the second Eastern African Youth Conference, taking place in Uganda.

On 26 January 2012 Parramatta Council, Australia announced Rosemary Kariuki-Ffye as it's Citizen of the Year. Rosemary is originally from Kenya and is actively involved with the Creators of Peace programme.

Inspired to change the fortunes of African youth in the Eastern Africa region, Initiatives of Change (IofC) Uganda together with the EAYC planning team will host the second Eastern Africa Youth Conference to be held in Kampala, Uganda. The forum opens on Wednesday 8 February and runs through to 12 February 2012.

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.

Giving the keynote address on day 2 of the Dialogue on Making Democracy Real, Dr Riek Machar Teny, Vice-President of the newly formed republic of South Sudan, outlined challenges his country now faces to heal the wounds left by decades of war.

Thanks to the international farmers’ meeting organised by the Rwandan Initiatives of Change team, in November 2011, I was able to make a third trip to Rwanda and meet with people who are warm-hearted, generous, hard-working and forward-thinking despite the ever-present traces of the past.