The Caux Democracy Forum, taking place in Caux, Switzerland from 15 to 19 July 2024, aspires to inspire, equip, and connect individuals, groups, and organizations in the pursuit of stronger democracies and human rights across Europe and the world.

The Caux Democracy Forum is co-organised by Caux Initiatives of Change and Initiatives of Change International, in partnership with the Geneva Diplomatic Club for the Opening Ceremony. Please note that registrations are open until 3 June 2024.

The Caux Democracy Forum is part of a three-year programme running until 2026 which includes the Geneva Democracy Dialogues in May and October, regional events, and the Caux Democracy Forum from 8-12 July, 2025 and from 22 - 26 June, 2026.

How can democracy be revitalised across Europe and the world?

Democracy is retreating across the world, and millions are denied the freedoms that they struggled to achieve. Much of the world is separating into camps. Conflict grows and cooperation shrinks, setting back global efforts to combat climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. And even in democracy’s heartlands, citizens see the disconnect between democratic ideals and their practice, and lose faith.

If democracy is to be revitalised, we need to bridge this disconnect. This Forum will focus on this challenge – how to imbue our nations with the values of democracy such as integrity, accountability, transparency and inclusiveness of all, majorities and minorities. Democracy can only thrive where these values motivate families and workplaces as well as politics and government.

The Forum will hear from people who are working to make these values the bedrock of policy and practice in governance, business, industry, education, the media and the environment. They have started in their own lives, and are confronting corruption and injustice, building trust across social divides, healing wounded relationships, developing inclusive economic approaches – the underlying work which enables trust and cooperation to grow, and democracy to thrive.

Each of us has a unique role in revitalising democracy. The Forum will offer the space to explore that role, and to develop joint initiatives. It will launch a three-year programme, in partnership with like-minded organisations, which aims to revitalise democracy and help turn back the authoritarian tide.

Discover the Caux Democracy Programme 2024 - 2026

About the Event

This four-day residential forum will look at what we can do to contribute to revitalise democracy across Europe and the world. Part of a three-year programme (2024 – 2026), it is designed to enhance democratic governance, human rights and sustainable economic development.

The event is articulated around three workstreams (detailed below) set as priorities to feed into existing ongoing agendas and processes, from local to global. 

• Workstream 1: Healing the Wounds of the Past - Forgiveness and Restitution
• Workstream 2: People-centred Economics
• Workstream 3: Civil Society fostering Dialogue – From Polarization to Participation

Each of the workstreams will discuss cross-cutting issues:

• Narratives used - “Words matter”
• Equity – “Double Standards”
• Needed capabilities and attitudes - “Inner Development”

Challenges will be further explored through plenaries, community groups and workshops.

The event has been designed to allow participants the time to gain some perspective, retreat from the bustling routine and find a space that allows for silent reflection, creative collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

What Practical Outcomes are Envisioned?

The Caux Democracy Forum aims to facilitate interaction among participants, providing inspiration, tools, courage, and effective strategies for enabling, facilitating, and encouraging the capabilities and attitudes considered necessary to strengthen democracy across the world.

The Forum will:

• Bring people together around collective exploration and action.
• Provide first-hand experiences of a wide range of people active in the key selected issues.
• Learn, innovate, prototype, practice and share application of tools.
• Create opportunities to support further activities within the Caux Democracy Programme and organisations.
• Ally with partner organisations
• Share stories, arts, event designs and presentations.

Who is attending the Caux Democracy Forum?

Over 200 people are expected to participate in the full residential program and 300 for the Opening Ceremony

The Forum will commence and conclude with the voices of those most impacted, positively and negatively, from civil society. We will also hear from representatives of people’s movements, NGOs, governmental bodies, media, United Nations agencies, and unconventional actors. Speakers will be chosen based on their relevant personal experiences.

Departing from conventional protocols, the Caux Forum provides participants with an opportunity for interaction regardless of seniority.

Our sponsoring initiatives will ensure the Caux Democracy Forum to be an inclusive event, bringing together creative and innovative minds from all regions of the world.

We will continue to update this page with information on speakers and workshops in the weeks to come.

The Caux Democracy Forum at the Caux Palace, near Montreux

The Caux Democracy Forum takes place in our centre for dialogue - the Caux Palace, a former Belle Époque Grand Hotel nestled in the mountains 1000m above sea level.  With its breathtaking view over the Léman and the Alps, it provides a unique and inspiring setting.

PROGRAMME

15 July: Opening Ceremony

• Time: 16:00 à 17:45 CEST
• Venue: Caux Palace, Switzerland

In collaboration with the Geneva Diplomatic Club, the opening ceremony of the Caux Democracy Forum will take place at the Caux Palace on 15 July from 16:00 CEST, followed by a reception and concert organised with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation.

With an expected in-person attendance of three hundred people, the event will also be streamed online.

If you only wish to attend the Opening Ceremony, please make sure to secure your place by kindly filling out the online registration form.   

Find the detailed programme here.

15-19 July: Full Residential Caux Democracy Forum

The full residential Caux Democracy Forum, including the Opening Ceremony, will take place at the Caux Palace and starts with the Opening Ceremony at the Caux Palace on Monday, 15 July at 16:00 CEST.

Attendees who have booked the full Forum packages (15 - 19 July) are asked to check in from 15:00 CEST on the 15 July. For participants who arrive early on 15 July and would like to drop off their luggage at the Caux Palace before official check-in times a luggage room will be available.

Details on the specific workstreams can be found below.

• Download the daily schedule
• Stay tuned for the detailed programme coming up soon

Speakers & Contributors

NADA AL-NASHIF, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Appointed United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights effective February 2020, Nada Al-Nashif has over 30 years of experience within the United Nations as an economist and development practitioner. Previously, Ms. Al-Nashif served as Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO (Paris), as Assistant Director-General & Regional Director of the International Labour Organization's Regional Office for Arab States (Beirut) and at the United Nations Development Programme in various headquarters (New York) and field assignments. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Balliol, Oxford University and a Master's in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University.

SENATOR BOGDAN KLICH, Chair Foreign and European Union Affairs Committee, Polish Senate

Senator Bogdan Klich is the Chair of the Foreign and European Union Affairs Committee at the Polish Senate. He is from Krakow, where he also lectures in the Jagiellonian University. From 2007 to 2011 he served as Minister of Defence in the Government of Donald Tusk. As a student he was active in the struggle for a democratic country, and was interned in 1981 by the communist regime. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017.

• RAJMOHAN GANDHI, Historian, biographer, former President of Initiatives of Change International
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• Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian, biographer and former President of Initiatives of Change International. He was born in 1935 and has worked as a journalist, writer, politician and professor of political science. Rajmohan Gandhi is unique in that he is both one of Mahatma Gandhi's grandsons and a grandson of C. Rajagopalachari, an Indian National Congress leader and the only Indian to have served as Governor General of India (from 1948 to 1950). Like Gandhi and Rajagopalachari, Rajmohan Gandhi is committed, including in politics, to a peaceful democracy with integrity and respect for the dignity of every individual. He is the author of numerous works on the figures of the struggle for Indian independence, the drama of the partition of India and the relations between Hindus and Muslims.

JO BERRY, Founder of Building Bridges for Peace and Public Speaker

Jo Berry, an inspiring speaker and founder of the charity Building Bridges for Peace, emerged from a profound personal tragedy to become a global advocate for reconciliation. In 1984, her father fell victim to an IRA bomb, igniting a journey that led her to engage with the ex-combatant who planted the bomb, Patrick Magee. Their unprecedented relationship, documented in the BBC's "Facing the Enemy" and featured in films like "Beyond Right and Wrong" and "The Bomb," encapsulates Jo's belief in unbounded empathy as the key to transforming conflict. Jo's impactful message of hope resonates in international conferences and seminars on reconciliation, conflict resolution, and sustainable peace. She has shared her insights worldwide, from Lebanon to South Korea, contributing to panels, radio, and TV discussions. Her work has become a vital resource in peace studies and conflict transformation education globally. As a TEDx speaker and Visiting Fellow at the University of Nottingham, Jo's influence extends beyond speeches. She has crafted workshops on conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and navigating uncertainty, both in-person and virtually. Jo Berry's journey exemplifies the power of empathy in overcoming deep divisions and fostering understanding.

DR PATRICK MAGEE, Author and Public Speaker

Dr Patrick Magee was released from prison in 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Shortly after his release, he completed a PhD examining the representation of Irish Republicans in ‘Troubles’ fiction. For 27 years he was a committed member of the IRA. In November 2000 he agreed to meet Jo Berry, whose father had been killed along with four others in the IRA’s attack on the Grand Hotel, Brighton in 1984. Since then they have met on more than 200 occasions, in Ireland, the UK and overseas. Although Pat carries the burden of knowing he had caused Jo profound hurt, they continue to explore their common humanity, recognising that war robs combatants of what it is to be human, of an essential capacity to empathise and to see the world through the eyes of others. Patrick Magee's memoir 'Where Grieving Begins - Building Bridges after the Brighton Bomb' was published by Pluto Press in 2021. 

LEWIS CARDINAL, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue, Canada

Lewis Cardinal comes from the Woodland Cree people in northern Alberta, Canada. His long track record of public service includes founding Board Member of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Commission for Human Rights and Justice, and Trustee of the Parliament of World Religions. He has received QE II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service, the IndSpire Award for Public Service, the Province of Alberta’s Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grant MacEwan University, and an Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Sacred Letters” from the University of Alberta.

REV DR. JAMES MOVEL WUYE, Pentecoastal Pastor and Co-Executive Directorof the Interfaith Mediation Centre Kaduna, Nigeria

Rev Dr. James Movel Wuye is a Pentecostal Pastor with Assemblies of God Northern Nigeria (AGNN), and Co-Executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria. During the 1980s and 1990s he was involved in Christian activities targeted at protecting the Church from ethno-religious violence. He has served as Secretary General of the Kaduna State chapter of the Youth Christian Association of Nigeria, and the Assistant Secretary for the parent body, an umbrella organization for all Christian groups in Nigeria. He served in various committees for peace and reconciliation in Kaduna State, national and international level and was a member of the African Union (AU) Interfaith Committee. He is Assistant District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Northern Nigeria (AGNN), Secretary-General of the North-Western States of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and also a member of the National Executive Council of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He co-authored the book The Pastor and the Imam - Responding to Conflict and also co-authored Forgiveness and Reconciliation - Islam and Christian Perspectives. Rev. James Wuye mediated in several intervention in Nigeria and other countries around the globe. His peacebuilding effort has earned him numerous awards, including the Peace Activist Award of the Tanenbaum Center of Interreligious Understanding. He is the subject of several documentary films, like The Imam and the Pastor; a moving story of forgiveness and a case-study of a successful grass-roots initiative to rebuild communities torn apart by conflict, Loving the Enemy by BBC World in 2000, Heroes of Peace by Tim Wise( Australia), Pastor and Imam by ARD (Germany), An African Answer,  For the love of tomorrow (UK) and Belief, a seven-part document
ary series hosted by Oprah Winfrey which travels across the globe to explore the traditional practices of religion and spirituality, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Atheism.

IMAM DR. MUHAMMAD NURAYN ASHAFA, Co-Executive Directorof the Interfaith Mediation Centre Kaduna, Nigeria

Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa is the Co-executive Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria, a faith-based non-governmental organisation he co-founded in 1995, working to end violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. His work has spread beyond Nigeria to Ghana, Burundi, Chad and Kenya, among some other countries in Africa, and he has featured in documentary films promoting forgiveness and reconciliation. Imam Ashafa's work has earned him numerous honours, including a honorary doctorate degree of Interfaith Development by the University of Glasgow in 2010, an honorary doctorate degree of law by the  University of Massachusetts 2012, and he has received a wide range of international awards. Imam Ashafa took an active role in several  documentary films, like The Imam and the Pastor, Loving the Enemy by BBC World in 2000, Heroes of Peace by Tim Wise( Australia), Pastor and Imam by ARD (Germany), An African Answer,  For the love of tomorrow (UK) and Belief, a seven-part documentary series hosted by Oprah Winfrey which travels across the globe to explore the traditional practices of religion and spirituality, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Atheism. He is also co-author of several books with Pastor James Wuye: The Pastor and the Imam - Responding to Conflict and also co-authored Forgiveness and Reconciliation - Islam and Christian Perspectives. Together with James Wuye, Iman Ashafa is the Ambassador of the Golden Rule of the United Religions Initiative (URI) and presently an Advisor on the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) programme, a USAID funded project under the lead of the Mercy Corps. He is recognized as one of the 500 Islamic influential figures around the world for his efforts in development in line with his peacebuilding efforts across the globe.

PETER SHAMBROOK, Independant Scholar & Historical Consultant, Balfour Project

Peter Shambrook is an independent scholar and historical consultant to the Balfour Project, which works to advance equal rights for all in Palestine/Israel. He holds a PhD in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Cambridge. Author of French Imperialism in Syria, 1927-1936 and Policy of Deceit. Britain and Palestine, 1914-1939  He lives in Durham, UK.

ASSAAD CHAFTARI, Founder of Fighters for Peace

Assaad Chaftari from Lebanon took an active part in the Lebanese civil war where he worked in the security and intelligence services of the Christian Lebanese Forces (LF). In 1985 he co-negotiated the Tripartite Agreement on behalf of the LF and co-created the WAED - National Secular Democratic party in 1990. When he met Initiatives of Change, he experienced a change of heart and wrote a public letter of repentance and apology to his victims in February 2000. In 2012 he co-created Fighters for Peace, an NGO of ex-civil war fighters from all denominations working together for civil peace, healing and immunising against violence. In 2016 he wrote an autobiography with the title The truth even with a trembling voice. Assaad has a long experience in public speaking, training and organising dialogues, conferences and mediation. Since 2016 he is a member of the Global Peace Builders Network. He is also a council member of Initiatives of Change International.

MARK GOYDER, Founder Director of Tomorrow’s Company

Marc Goyder is the Founder and Director of Tomorrow's Company, a London-based think-tank focusing on rediscovering the human purposes of business.

FARAI MAGUWU, Executive Director, Centre for Natural Resource Governance, Zimbabwe

Farai Maguwu founded the Centre to improve governance of natural resources in Zimbabwe. He has done extensive research and documentation on human rights abuses and illicit trade in diamonds. In 2011 Human Rights Watch honoured him with the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

DR MUNA ISMAIL, Programme Manager Refugees as Re-Builders™, IofC UK

Dr Muna Ismail is the Programme Manager of IofC UK's Refugees as Re-Builders™. Refugees as Rebuilders is a British capacity-building training programme, accredited by UK training authorities, which provides innovative learning opportunities for settled refugees. 

RICHARD WERLY, Journalist - France & Europe correspondant for Blick

Richard Werly is the France and Europe correspondent for Blick, Switzerland's largest newspaper. He appears frequently in TV news programmes in France and Switzerland, and has been awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Republic. He is also senior strategic advisor to the Swiss Diplo Foundation, which aims to improve global governance and international policy development, especially by increasing the power of small and developing states to influence their own futures.

WORKSTREAMS

Each participant is invited to select and follow one of the three workstreams for the duration of the forum with two dedicated workshops per day. Plenaries, community groups, the evening programme and other activities bring all participants together.

The Caux IDG Forum, taking place in Caux, Switzerland from 9 to 13 July 2024, aspires to inspire, equip, and connect individuals, groups, and organisations in the pursuit of constructing a just, peaceful, and sustainable world aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Caux IDG Forum is co-organised by Caux Initiatives of Change, Initiatives of Change International and the Inner Development Goals Foundation. Please note that you can apply to for an invitation to register until 27 May 2024.

About the event

Leveraging the Inner Development Goals Framework and Initiatives of Change methodologies honed over 75 years, the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum provides a platform for participants from diverse backgrounds to collectively address contemporary challenges. Embraced within an atmosphere of trust, care, solidarity, and respect, the Caux IDG Forum encourages open and deep discussions, fostering self-reflection on how personal transformation can initiate broader and collective change.

In alignment with the workstreams, the Caux IDG Forum facilitates a unique convergence of the SDGs and IDGs, addressing challenges that demand inner capacities in our complex world.

Participation in the Caux IDG Forum entails unlocking individual and collective potential, urging reflection on roles, exploration of resources, and a connection with responsibilities as change-makers—believing that every individual can contribute significantly. It involves actively embodying the Inner Development Goals Framework in daily practices. The interaction between participants will help many find inspiration, tools, courage and effective strategies for their efforts and may lead to the launch of initiatives beyond the Caux IDG Forum.

The Inner Development Goals Framework

Rooted in interdisciplinary research, the IDG Framework consists of 5 dimensions with 23 skills of human inner growth and development. The framework is an attempt to simplify a complex field of inner development into a framework that helps to develop, identify, understand, integrate and communicate the inner skills needed for sustainable development.

The Inner Development Goals Framework was developed through the belief that there is a pressing need to increase our collective abilities to face and effectively work with complex challenges. It is based on the conviction that without a foundational shift in human values and leadership capacities, external solutions to our global challenges may be limited, too slow or short-lived.

The framework offers an essential roadmap that can assist us in navigating and developing our inner lives to catalyse outer change.

Discover the full framework

What practical outcomes are envisioned?

• Bring people together around collective exploration and action.
• First-hand experiences of a wide range of people active in the key selected issues.
• Learn, innovate, prototype, practice and share application of tools.
• Create opportunities to support further activities within the IDG Hubs and organisations.
• Ally with partner organisations to scale the development of IDG.
• Share stories, arts, event designs and presentations.

Who is attending the Caux IDG Forum?

We expect some 200 participants and speakers drawn from the Inner Development Goals and Initiatives of Change communities, civil society, government, youth movements, academia and business.

Participating in the Caux IDG Forum is about unlocking ones potential: it encourages individuals, groups and organizations to reflect on their roles, explore their resources, and connect with their responsibilities as changemakers, on the basis that everyone can make a difference. It is about putting in practice the Inner Development Goals Framework.

The Caux IDG Forum programme has been designed to allow participants the time to gain some perspective, retreat from the bustling routine and find a space that allows for silent reflection, creative collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

The Caux IDG Forum is on invitation only. Participants wishing to attend the forum should apply for an invitation via our online applications form. As spaces are limited, we strongly encourage you to apply early to secure your invitation. If your application is successful we will send you a link to register for the event within 14 days. 

The Caux IDG Forum at the Caux Palace, near Montreux

The Caux IDG Forum takes place in our centre for dialogue - the Caux Palace, a former Belle Époque Grand Hotel nestled in the mountains 1000m above sea level.  With its breathtaking view over the Léman and the Alps, it provides a unique and inspiring setting.

The Opening Ceremony will take place in Geneva on 9 July at the Maison de la Paix, close to the UN Palais des Nations. This provides the opportunity to inform and create awareness amongst the diplomatic, political, economic and academic worlds of International Geneva. In addition to the event being broadcast online, we also expect three hundred participants to attend the Opening Ceremony in person.

Registration for the Caux IDG Forum includes attendance of the Opening Ceremony in Geneva. If you are unable to attend the full forum, it is possible to register for the Opening Ceremony separately here.

The Strategic Partnership

The Inner Development Goals Foundation is a non-profit organisation for inner development. The organisation researches, collects and communicates science-based skills and qualities that help us to live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives, providing an essential framework of transformative skills for sustainable development. The Inner Development Goals Framework, open source and free for all to use, is fundamental in the work to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

The organisation has stimulated the development of over 500 hubs and networks comprising groups of people and/or organisations supporting the Inner Development Goals Initiative.

The Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is a Swiss private charitable foundation with its center for dialogue, the Caux Palace, in Caux, above Montreux, Switzerland. The Caux Palace has become a historic venue bringing together a diverse range of people to address the world’s political, economic and societal challenges together. 

Caux Initiatives of Change mission is to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organisations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. 

Initiatives of Change International is a voluntary, donation- and grant-funded nonprofit association of national legal bodies (national teams) and international programmes. Registered in Caux, Switzerland, they coordinate the world-wide Initiatives of Change people’s movement, uniting a community of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own.

Initiatives of Change International have special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC), participatory status at the Council of Europe as well as a seat at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Programme Overview

9 July: Opening Ceremony

• Venue: Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène Rigot 2, Geneva, Switzerland  
• Time: 14:30 - 17:00 CEST 
• Attendance: free

The Opening Ceremony for the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum will be held this year in the heart of International Geneva at the Maison de la Paix.  

Bringing together 200 participants and distinguished speakers drawn from the Inner Development Goals and Initiatives of Change communities, civil society, government, youth movements, academia and business, the ceremony promises to be a vibrant convergence of ideas and perspectives.   

Following the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to network and engage further during a coffee break.  

Transport will be arranged to take registered participants from Geneva to the Caux Palace for the full residential four-day event. More information will be communicated on this nearer the date.

If you only wish to attend the Opening Ceremony, please make sure to secure your place by kindly filling out the online registration form here.    

Full details of this event, including the agenda and featured speakers, will be announced in the coming weeks.  

9-13 July: Full residential Caux IDG Forum

The full residential Caux IDG Forum will take place at the Caux Palace. The Caux IDG Forum is on invitation only. Participants wishing to attend the forum should apply for an invitation via our online applications form. As spaces are limited, we strongly encourage you to apply early to secure your invitation. If your application is successful we will send you a link to register for the event within 14 days. 

Stay tuned for the detailed programme coming up soon.

Download the daily schedule

Speakers & Contributors 

JACQUELINE COTÉ, President Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Jacqueline Coté was the Director of Public Relations and previously Head of Communications at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva from 2009 to 2021. In that role she was instrumental in building the new campus of the Institute, the Maison de la Paix, as a vibrant centre of conferences and seminars, thus solidifying the reputation and outreach of the Institute in International Geneva and beyond. Prior to that Ms Coté was the Permanent Representative to the UN of the International Chamber of Commerce and also served as Senior Advisor Advocacy & Partnerships to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.  In the early part of her career, Ms Coté practiced as an international lawyer in Canada and Switzerland and held management positions with multinational companies SGS and DuPont. Jacqueline Coté believes that the global agenda can best be tackled by linking the public, private and non-profit sectors, and that dialogue and empathy are essential tools to achieve the sustainable development goals.  She recently trained as a mediator at Harvard Law School and joined the board of several associations to continue her engagement with International Geneva. Jacqueline Coté has Swiss, Canadian and British nationalities, is a member of the Bar of Quebec and has two grown-up children who share her passion about tackling today’s global challenges in their areas of work.

IGNACIO PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation

Ignacio Packer was appointed as Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation in May 2023. Until March 2023, he served as Executive Director of ICVA, the global consortium of humanitarian NGOs. ICVA is a global network of non-governmental organisations whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective by working collectively and independently to influence policy and practice. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He served a five-year term as Secretary General of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, and previously worked for the Terre des Hommes Foundation, the Swiss Tropical Institute, the European Association for Development and Health, Medecins Sans Frontieres, KPMG and the European Bank for Latin America. He is an expert on human rights and social issues. He has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth. Passionate for long-distance challenges, he is also an enthusiastic ultra-trail runner.

RAJMOHAN GANDHI, Historian, biographer, former President of Initiatives of Change International

• Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian, biographer and former President of Initiatives of Change International. He was born in 1935 and has worked as a journalist, writer, politician and professor of political science. Rajmohan Gandhi is unique in that he is both one of Mahatma Gandhi's grandsons and a grandson of C. Rajagopalachari, an Indian National Congress leader and the only Indian to have served as Governor General of India (from 1948 to 1950). Like Gandhi and Rajagopalachari, Rajmohan Gandhi is committed, including in politics, to a peaceful democracy with integrity and respect for the dignity of every individual. He is the author of numerous works on the figures of the struggle for Indian independence, the drama of the partition of India and the relations between Hindus and Muslims.
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LEWIS CARDINAL (CANADA), Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue

Lewis Cardinal comes from the Woodland Cree people in northern Alberta, Canada. His long track record of public service includes founding Board Member of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Commission for Human Rights and Justice, and Trustee of the Parliament of World Religions. He has received QE II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service, the IndSpire Award for Public Service, the Province of Alberta’s Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grant MacEwan University, and an Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Sacred Letters” from the University of Alberta.

MUSICIANS

GÖKSU SANDIKCI, Singer and Musician (Concert 12 July, 20:00 CEST)

Born in Istanbul, Göksu Sandıkçı's journey is a captivating blend of two worlds: the structured realm of Electronics Engineering and the soul-stirring realm of music. From her earliest days, she found herself drawn to melodies, serving as the lead singer in orchestras during her primary school years. It was there that her passion for music first took root, blossoming into a desire to explore the depths of jazz. In 2014, Göksu's jazz odyssey truly began when she attended Sibel Köse’s Jazz Workshop, marking the inception of a lifelong love affair with the genre. Fueling her ambition, she completed the Jazz Certificate Program at Bahcesehir University, solidifying her commitment and quest for musical excellence. This led her to traverse Europe, studying under the tutelage of esteemed jazz mentors. Each chord progression and improvisation became a brushstroke on the canvas of her artistry, shaping her unique voice and style. Her thirst for knowledge and artistic growth has taken her across the globe, getting various education in Poland, Italy, the UK, and the USA. Göksu had opportunities to showcase her talent not only at prestigious jazz clubs and festivals in Turkey, but also international ones such as Veneto Jazz in Italy, Mau Mau in London, San Diego Art Museum and recently in jazz clubs of Switzerland. Now residing in Switzerland, Göksu brings her eclectic music taste to the forefront, blending jazz standards with elements of funk, blues, R&B, and soul. As she takes the stage in Caux, her music will accompany the softness of the sunset. (photo: Iremnur Demir Esen)

Workstreams

The Caux IDG Forum is organized into 4 designated workstreams (see below). Each participant is invited to select and follow one of the four workstreams for the duration of the Forum with two dedicated workshops per day. Plenaries, community groups, the evening programme and other activities bring all participants together.

We welcome applications from individuals and organisations interested in becoming Workshop Organisers. Further information on the Workstream Organiser Applications and Responsibilities can be found here: Information regarding the call for applications for workshop organisers. Please note that applications for the Workshop Organisers are now closed!

We will continue to update this page with information on speakers and workshops in the weeks to come.

Workstream 1: Conscious Food Systems

SDG 2, "Zero Hunger" targets ending hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. It advocates holistic food systems that are environmentally friendly, socially fair, and economically viable to align with broader global sustainability goals, emphasizing the need for conscious and sustainable practices in food production and consumption.

WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS 

After 20 years managing large projects in industry, sustainable development, and technology in 45 countries, NADENE CANNING created a boutique consulting agency. Today her strategic foresight and laser focus supports leaders to navigate strategic imperatives that accelerate possibility and impact. In 2012 the book she wrote La force le l’Équilibre - Vie familiale, vie professionnelle which led to a decade of teaching and consulting on leadership, management, systems thinking, change and negotiation. In 2019 Nadene was one of 400 facilitators selected from 10’000 applicants to train with Dr Brené Brown and believes that the four skills sets of building courage in the Dare to Lead™ program is at the cutting edge of leadership thinking. Her continued personal leadership development journey over the past decade sparked the realization that deep change needs integration into all aspects of our being. Here the Inner Development Goals come into the mix as an activator. For the past 2 years Nadene has had the privilege to design and co-host monthly IDG Global Practitioner Network sessions. These interactive, intimate virtual sessions provide a unique deep moment of connection bringing together many of the 700 practitioners to learn, share their challenges, be inspired, and make sustainable impact. The IDG Global Practitioner Network gatherings I co-facilitate monthly nurture inspiration and activate energy within the community and I  leave feeling deep gratitude – this is the best!  Nadene is part of the IDG Global Coordination Team and a member of the core team of the IDG Lemanic Network.

IGNACIO PACKER is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss private charitable foundation with the mission to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.

Workstream 2: A more climate-friendly lifestyle

SDG 13, "Climate Action" strives for urgent measures against climate change, emphasizing awareness, capacity building, and practical steps to mitigate and adapt. It promotes climate-friendly lifestyles, reducing emissions, and sustainable practices, urging individuals, communities, and businesses to embrace behaviors that foster a lower carbon footprint and enhance climate resilience.

WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS 

SIDDHARTH SING is the Director of the Initiatives of Change centre Asia Plateau in Panchgani, India. 

IGNACIO PACKER is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss private charitable foundation with the mission to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.

Workstream 3: Cultivating Peaceful Societies: Embracing Conscience, Peace and Love

Promoting a culture of peace, conscience, and love aligns with various SDGs, notably SDG 16, "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions." SDG 16 aims for inclusive societies, justice for all, and effective institutions. Target 16.7 specifically emphasizes fostering a culture of peace and non-violence through responsive, inclusive decision-making and robust institutions. While not explicitly stated, the values of conscience and love are integral to building a peaceful and just society, fostering empathy and understanding for a more harmonious world.

WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS

INES MOKDADI is a University Agrégée Professor of English at ISEAH in Tunisia and specializes in Applied Linguistics. Her research focuses on critical discourse analysis and power dynamics. She also works as a freelance translator and interpreter and has served as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Alumna at the University of Notre Dame, USA (2020-2021). In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Ines is deeply passionate about civic engagement, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding. She volunteers as the Lead Content Strategist for the Creative Leadership team, dedicating her free time to youth-based causes. Furthermore, she recently expanded her involvement by joining the faculty of IofC UK as a trainer for the Refugees for Re-Builders (RRB) programme, demonstrating her commitment to supporting refugees and promoting community rebuilding efforts on a broader scale.

ROWEIDA SALEH is a Lebanese educator with a wealth of experience in conflict resolution, peace education, and fostering cross-cultural understanding. She is dedicated to building communities rooted in peace and trust. With over 20 years of volunteer and peace education experience, she has fostered dialogue, collaboration, and positive change for a more just world. Roweida is passionate about empowering others to become active peacebuilders to build bridges and nurture a culture of trust.

SARAH NOBLE is the Head of Global Engagement at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. She is passionate about showcasing people's stories about how we build peace with each other and the planet. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience and has held leadership positions at international organisations focused on peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and independent media. Sarah is co-founder and curator of the Peace Talks at Interpeace and also served as Director of External Relations at The New Humanitarian, a non-profit newsroom that puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. In her TEDx talk, Storytelling is Our Real-Life Superpower, she invites us to embrace this ability to take on the existential issues of our time and create a better future.

Workstream 4: Partnership Accelerator

SDG 17, "Partnerships for the Goals" focuses on strengthening global collaboration and support mechanisms to achieve the other 16 Sustainable Development Goals. It underscores the importance of fostering partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to enhance the overall effectiveness of sustainable development initiatives worldwide.

WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS

RAFAELA ROLIM aims to host safe spaces of exchange and learning that inspires people and organisations to co-create a better world. She is the founder of Brazilian Experience, with 18+ years of experience in program design, facilitating international learning journeys and human development projects. Rafaela is a IDG enthusiast and started the IDG Florianópolis HUB - Experiences in Nature. She is currently part of the Global Coordination Team for HUBs and Networks and also launched the first IDG Immersion, called ID-X I Inner Development Experiences.  Rafaela believes in the power of community to foster collaboration towards common goals, creating transformative impact beyond individual capacity. She is currently also the Co-chair of the Sustainability Interest Group of NAFSA (Association of International Educators) and Vice-President of the CANIE (Climate Action Network for International Educators) America´s Chapter.

SARAH NOBLE is the Head of Global Engagement at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. She is passionate about showcasing people's stories about how we build peace with each other and the planet. She brings with her more than 20 years of experience and has held leadership positions at international organisations focused on peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and independent media. Sarah is co-founder and curator of the Peace Talks at Interpeace and also served as Director of External Relations at The New Humanitarian, a non-profit newsroom that puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. In her TEDx talk, Storytelling is Our Real-Life Superpower, she invites us to embrace this ability to take on the existential issues of our time and create a better future.

PONTUS HOLMGREN is a licensed psychologist and a trained UrbanTantra breath guide. He is an organsiational transformation facilitator and an actor, conductor and teacher in improvised Playback theatre. Pontus has worked with leadership, teams, cross collaboration  and transformational processes in a multitude of organisations and communities globally since the mid 1990s. Currently focusing on the need for inner development for individuals and for the collective in order deal with the current and future complex challenges of humanity. Pontus has been part of the IDG journey from the start and is a co-coordinator for the global community of Hubs and networks of the Inner Development Goals.

Workshops

 Within each workstream, the intention is to cover six cross-cutting themes aligning with SDGs, IDGs, and Initiatives of Change (IofC) Caux Values:

• Cross-cutting Theme 1 - Conflict Resolution Skills: this theme aims at using practical techniques for navigating and resolving conflicts. 
• Cross-cutting Theme 2 - Cultural Sensitivity: this theme aims at enhancing participants' understanding of cultural diversity to foster mutual respect regardless of culture-sensitive boundaries.  
• Cross-cutting Theme 3 - Mindfulness and Conscious Living: this theme takes aim to practice conscious living by making ethical choices daily. 
• Cross-cutting Theme 4 - Art: This theme takes on fostering artistic expression to express one's thoughts on peace, conscience, and love. 
• Cross-cutting Theme 5 - Storytelling for Social Change: this theme hinges on storytelling or story sharing to inspire positive change and cultivate empathy and understanding. 
• Cross-cutting Theme 6 - Global Citizenship Education Workshop: this theme targets education to foster a sense of global citizenship by emphasizing the interconnectedness of individuals and communities.  

The interconnectedness of these elements is visually clarified through the flowchart below.

• Start: 22 July, 2024 - 16:00 CEST
• End: 27 July, 2024 - 13:00 CEST

Change starts with us!

It is easy to lose ourselves and each other in all the things that are going wrong in the world today – so this is an invitation to a dialogue across cultures and generations about what really matters to us all.

The simple philosophy of Initiatives of Change (IofC) is that if you want to change anything, you need to start with yourself. It is as true in a family as it is on the international level of relationships.

Given the current wars and conflicts threatening community peace and solidarity cross borders, it is with a sense of urgency that the young and the old – children, students, professionals, families, pensioneers, and grandparents – are invited to come and take time to listen and to share, to reflect and to discuss. 

This event is organised by the Nordic Initiatives of Change team, in partnership with the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation.

What the event offers

In this historic place where Europe reconnected over 75 years ago, we will search together for what we can do for our communities and the world in great need. The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel who visited Caux several times in the aftermath of the second world war, said in his book Fresh Hope for the World that “Caux brings together a remarkable conjunction of the intimate and the global”.

As pride, greed, fear, and anger once again are tearing our continent and lives apart there is an urgent need to come together.

Honesty, Love, Purity (of motives) and Unselfishness are the values that have been the lodestars of the movement IofC since its beginnings. Together we will explore how these four values can be put to work in our lives and societies.

We will also revisit and reflect on the three duos of values that one claims are, the foundation of Europe and that keeps shaping and challenging our present and our future:  

• Freedom and Faith
• Equality and Hope 
• Fraternity and Love

How do these qualities relate, and how can they enlighten and inspire each other ? 

We will be using tools such as inner listening and reflection, sharing and storytelling and the programme will consist of community groups, plenary sessions, workshops and shared cultural events and entertainment in the evenings – with enough time in between for good conversations over meals, walks and sports – and time alone to digest!

Daily Programme

Quiet time – space for individual reflection

8.30 Breakfast 

9.30 Community-groups - a time where everyone has a chance to contribute and be responsible for shaping the content and outcome of the dialogue, a time to share, listen and discuss, and get to know a smaller group of the forum participants better.  

11.00 Plenary session

12.30 Lunch

Free Time: Open space for sports, walks, thoughts, talks or an afternoon snooze!

14.30 Workshops and sports optional

16.00 Tea

16.30 Community-groups continues

First part of the meeting – sharing and reflecting together on the theme of the day

Second part of the meeting – two of the participants in the group will have a chance to share their life story with particular emphasis on significant incidents and experiences that have shaped them into who they are today. The groups will be small enough for everybody to have the opportunity to share their stories in the course of the days we are together. 

18.30 Dinner

20.00 Evening entertainment and games 

22.00 Evening Prayer: for those who would like to join, the prayer will take place in the Chapel just outside the main building. There is also a Muslim prayer room in the main building.

Programme for Children

The children and teenagers will be divided into two groups:

• The group of those aged 12-15 years
• The group of those aged 6-11 years

Our aim for the two groups is to offer a space to share reflections, concerns and hopes – working with the theme of the day in a creative way.

No special programme will be offered for the smallest children (0-5 years old), but the kindergarten will be open with one or two responsible adults. Parents can work out among themselves, with some support of grandparents or eager young babysitters, how both children and parents can get the best out of their time in Caux.

For the children’s programme to work well, good translation is crucial, so if you have children that will need other translation than French, German, or English, we would like to hear from you as soon as possible.

If you would like to help with the children, please contact us.  

Participation Rates

The package price is fixed for the entire duration of the event

• All inclusive | Accommodation in single occupancy room: CHF 605.- /person
• All inclusive | Accommodation in shared occupancy room: CHF 455.-/person
• Teenagers from 13 - 17 | Accommodation in multiple occupancy: CHF 320.-/person
• Children from 6-12 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 230.-/person
• Children from 0-5 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 90.-/person

Prices mentioned, for single or shared accommodation, include :

• Accommodation in either shared or single room at the Caux Palace
• Participation in the Caux Intergenerational Forum
• Materials provided during the event
• Interpretation service and technical equipment
• Coffee and tea breaks as well as refreshments
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• VAT & City taxes

It is possible to arrive before 22 July (on either 20 or 21 July) but not to stay after 27 July. The additional cost is CHF 85.-/per person/night for single occupancy and CHF 55.-/ per person/night for shared occupation. Lunch or dinner costs CHF 30.- per meal/person

Attendees are asked to check-in from 14:00 CEST on the 22 July. Tea is served 16:00 CEST and first welcome meeting is 16:30 CEST in the Main Hall.

Please note that we will do our best to have the rooms ready by 14:00 CEST. However, not all rooms may be available before 16:00 CEST.  If necessary, storage space will be made available for luggage until your room is ready.

The organisers of this Forum are very grateful for the support from the Irene Prestwich Trust, the Hahnloser Foundation and the Foundation for Moral and Spiritual Renewal, which have made it possible to lower the fees for all participants.

Event Package without accommodation

If you wish to attend the event but do not require accommodation, please contact us at: caux@iofc.no 

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Useful Information

• General Terms & Conditions
• Families with children at the Caux Intergenerational Forum
• Practical Information for your stay at the Caux Palace
• More questions? - Please contact us by email 
• Please stay connected for further information by subscribing to our newsletter

REGISTRATION

Official registrations are now open until 3 June 2024. Please note that if registrations reach the maximum capacity before this date, the organisers may need to suspend registrations prior to the closing date.

                                REGISTER NOW

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Please not that for those intending to participate in multiple events in Caux this summer, packages will be offered to accommodate additional dates between events.