Pilar Griffin in Paris
International Council member Pilar Griffin has just travelled from her home in Seattle to Paris to deliver a series of workshops hosted by IofC France as part of the Learning Planet Festival 2026 in partnership with UNESCO. Thirty participants—young people and adults alike—engaged in an intensive and deeply human learning experience entitled « Être humain, énergie en transformation » - “Human being, energy in transformation”.
Mounir Beltaifa, one of the participants, writes:
At a time marked by profound economic, social, moral and environmental crises, and by the worrying rise of extremism, polarization and disregard for the rule of law—locally and internationally—many individuals and communities are seeking simple, reliable and empowering tools to make conscious choices and regain a sense of agency. This is precisely what Pilar Griffin’s approach offers. (See Pilar’s own account at Leadership in Action.)
Based on a 12-step accompaniment process, the workshop guides participants through a structured yet accessible journey of self-knowledge, acceptance, healing, choice, creativity, and contribution. Rooted in the core values of Initiatives of Change—integrity, responsibility, reconciliation, and service—this methodology places each human being at the center of their own transformation, while explicitly linking personal growth to community impact and planetary care.
Participants reported greater clarity about their identity, stronger emotional awareness, renewed confidence in their capacity to choose, and a deeper connection with others. The process does not promise abstract answers; instead, it equips individuals with a practical inner compass—one that can be mobilized in daily life, leadership roles, education, civic engagement, or intergenerational dialogue.
We express our deep gratitude to Initiatives of Change International and Initiatives of Change France for creating the conditions for such learning spaces to exist, and our sincere appreciation to Pilar Griffin for her clarity, humility, and pedagogical rigor. Her work demonstrates that transforming the world begins with transforming the energy we embody—and that learning, at any age, can truly help us take care of ourselves, others, and the planet.