To mark my 30th birthday I would like to 'donate my birthday' to sponsor someone to participate this summer to Caux Peace and Leadership programme (http://www.caux.ch/caux-peace-and-leadership-programme ). That means that instead of gifts, cards and celebratory meals I would like to ask my friends and family to donate the money they would spend on celebrating me to the Caux Peace and Leadership programme. I am lucky enough to have everything I need and even more, so why not spread the love and luck?

The Caux Peace and Leadership Programme is an Initiative of Change (IofC) initiative and is part of the Caux Forum, which aims to inspire, equip and connect people and organisations to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world. IofC’s values are those of respect for human dignity, truth, solidarity and care and people connected to Initiatives of Change believe that in order to change the world you need to start with yourself. From personal experience Caux is about creating a safe space for reflection and honest conversation where change can begin. It’s about practising love through accepting different views, cultures or faiths.

I was fortunate to join the programme in the past and was truly a life changing experience. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many extraordinary people from around the world who challenged and changed my perspective on the world and myself, and helped me grow as person. You've probably heard me speak about my experience (as I speak a lot about it and I am happy to talk more), and I ardently believe that everyone should experience Caux at least once in their lives.

One of the greatest things and essential things about the programme is the diversity of people. Caux will not be the same if everyone who attends it would come from one place, one culture. As the programme is organised in Switzerland for anyone outside Europe can be difficult to join due to visa and travelling costs. I worked behind the scenes and it was heartbreaking to see that amazing people who have been selected for the programme had to drop out due to incredibly high travelling costs. The programme covers all the meals and accommodation costs for everyone attending, for it’s duration (1 month), but unfortunately due to being a charity it cannot cover the travelling costs as well.

The recruitment for this year’s programme has already happened and I want make sure that history will not repeat itself this year, and that everyone who has been selected has the chance to attend the programme regardless of their financial situation.

So, if you want to celebrate me this year or just help please donate as much as you like or can afford, any sum can make a difference.

Thank you all for your kindness.

Love,

Andra