Economic life is about meeting the needs of people. But all too often it seems that the basic needs of people take second place to other imperatives – whether it is economic dogmas, political ideologies, or the selfish interests of shareholders, executives or trades unions. Where selfish interests dominate corruption follows, undermining a societies democratic and legal protections and impoverishing everyone.

From the earliest days of Initiatives of Change, people from all sides of industry – workers, management, farmers and financiers have found common cause in working together to meet the needs of humanity. There is a change that happens when people look beyond their own self-interest, or the narrow interests of their group, which releases new energies and creative teamwork.

With our growing knowledge of the environmental impact of our economic activities, there is a further shift that needs to be made: how to meet the needs of people, not just today but for the future. Activities which degrade the environment are stealing from future generations for the sake of today's unsustainable lifestyles.

Initiatives of Change programmes aim to bring about these changes and to help build sustainable economies based on ethical values and industries which seek to serve humanity and the communities they are part of.

Caux Initiatives for Business (CIB) aims to engage business-people and decision-influencers in honest conversations on the broad issues associated with globalization and the human face of economics.

Farmers Dialogues build farmer to farmer links across national boundaries and across set ways of thinking, creating fresh perspectives for our planet's largest industry and renewing the calling of farmers to feed the world.

Centre for Ethical Training Leadership (CENTREL), based in India, runs short residential programs for business and civic leaders. Participants discover what constitutes ethical behaviour in their personal, organisational and social lives; understand the relevance and benefits of ethical behaviour; learn approaches to respond ethically to challenges; and discover the source of awareness, courage and inspiration to live a full life.