Agents of Change: Rediscovering Hope in a Community of Young Leaders

Reflection written by Ioli Charalampopolou, a participant in the Million Minutes Agents of Change: Youth Leadership for Peace and Justice programme. 

The Million Minutes Agents of Change leadership residential retreat from the 6th to the 8th of March 2026 was an unforgettable experience, not only because of the progress we made on our final project (more information to come about this soon), but also because of the remarkable people I encountered. Over those few days, I met an array of thoughtful and like-minded young people whose ideas, conversations, and perspectives taught me far more than I could have expected.

Our discussions were guided by several inspiring speakers, including Lucy and Clare from Durham University, Aisling from Pax Christi, and Tom from Million Minutes. Each of them generously shared their knowledge and encouraged us to explore new perspectives on passion, hope, justice, and peace. One particularly fascinating discussion focused on the subtle historical symbolism found in the Bible and how actions can be interpreted in different ways depending on cultural context. For instance, the well-known verse, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, offer them the left also,” is often interpreted purely as a message of humility. However, when understood within its historical setting, the way a person struck another carried social meaning: a strike with the right palm implied equality, while one with the left suggested disrespect. This deeper understanding challenged me to reflect on how people’s actions are often shaped by their own interpretations of justice.

This conversation led us to consider how individual passions, formed by memories and imagined ideals of the world, can influence how people act on what they believe is right. For example, some individuals may believe that going to war in defence of their religion is justified, while others view even peaceful protest as an extreme measure. Exploring these contrasts encouraged us to question how passion, belief, and memory shape the ways people pursue justice.

During Lucy’s philosophical and theological seminar, we explored the roots of fear and reflected on whether relief can truly be experienced without first knowing fear. This idea draws on the philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas, who argued that good cannot be fully understood in the absence of evil. Building on this, we discussed how hope can be understaff as a powerful human passion or as a theological virtue and considered how meaningful change requires us to “agitate without irritating.” This phrase stayed with many of us and became a guiding idea as we began planning how to structure our event in the summer term.

A passage that resonated deeply throughout the retreat was Matthew 20:25–28: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Guided by Bernie and Kate from Million Minutes, we explored how our event could represent, educate, and serve people. Through ‘conversations in the spirit’, I was able to hear incredibly thoughtful, honest, and real ideas from my peers. Their openness and sincerity filled me with hope that together we could create something truly meaningful. By sharing our experiences as Christians, discussing the importance of inclusion, recognising that if you exclude someone, you also exclude all of their ideas and encouraging one another’s contributions, we gradually shaped what began to feel like a genuinely empowering and liberating event.

If I had to choose a single moment that stood out above the rest, it would undoubtedly be the walk to and from Mass, as well as the Mass itself. Before attending the retreat, I hoped that it would help me rediscover a sense of hope in God’s world around me and it truly did. Seeing so many young people deeply committed to their faith yet also open to discussion and reflection was really moving. The peaceful walk through the village that evening sparked beautiful conversations that allowed me to connect more deeply with these inspiring young leaders. It was a moment of genuine connection that I will always remember.

I am immensely grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in this retreat. It not only strengthened my faith but also reminded me of the power of thoughtful conversation and hopeful passion.