Hello , my fellow pioneer

As we navigate the familiar December rush - juggling work deadlines with festive preparations - I wanted to share something special with you.

I finally managed to get our Christmas tree up this weekend and among our decorations, one piece tells a particularly powerful story: a tear gas canister, transformed with ribbon into a symbol of hope.

We acquired it during a stay in the West Bank a few years ago, where local churches collect these remnants of conflict, clean them and reimagine them as decorations and jewellery. I also wear a beautiful bracelet crafted by refugees in Bethlehem, made from the same materials. These pieces represent something profound - the human capacity to create beauty from pain, to transform tools of oppression into symbols of resilience.

As Christmas approaches, my thoughts turn to our friends in the West Bank, particularly to Daoud Nassar, my first ever guest on Making The Difference podcast. The episode tells of his story of cultivating hope and peace while farming under challenging conditions - without running water or electricity, living in caves surrounded by settlements - speaks to the extraordinary power of human spirit. You can read some of the takeaways and see some images here. Sadly, he has had to leave his farm, and the army has started building on it. But you can see on his website he is still pursuing justice. He has not given up.

Looking ahead to 2025, we face challenges that will require us to think differently wherever we live. But these transformed tear gas canisters remind us that even in difficult circumstances, we can find creative ways to support each other and nurture change. We need brave, imaginative solutions to help build a better world for those most vulnerable.

As you celebrate this season, I invite you to listen to Daoud's pre-October 7th interview. His message of hope and long-term vision feels more relevant than ever.

Listen to We Refuse to Be Enemies here

Wishing you a good week, restful holidays and looking forward to reconnecting in the New Year.

Here’s to your brilliance

Kirsty