From the Solomon Islands to South Korea, 136 delegates from over 17 countries gathered on Phillip Island, near Melbourne, Australia, for the 17th in a series of Asia Pacific Youth Conferences (APYC) organized by Initiatives of Change, 18-24 July 2011.

Keith Mills tells the story of two young men from Afghanistan who have been staying at Asia Plateau, the Initiatives of Change centre in western India. Despite the great suffering they have endured, along with their fellow countrymen and women, they have returned to Afghanistan with hope and a vision for the future.

For the 21 young adults who participated in the Life Matters course in Melbourne, Australia, it was a life-changing experience. Over nine days in February, they examined issues of culture and identity, the wounds of history, forgiveness, conflict transformation and the moral and spiritual qualities needed to become a change-maker.