Peacebuilding can be a complex process, setting in place well-structured measures targeted to preventing relapse into conflict. It can require a highly institutional and sophisticated approach, through which local capacities are strengthened and conditions are created for sustainable peace.

But what if there is more to peace than this? What if everyone can play a role in promoting peace?

This was the approach offered by the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation at the fourth Geneva Peace Week in early November, in collaboration with the UN Library in Geneva, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. Four people who have worked for peace in various ways told their stories as part of a ‘human library’.

The 90 participants each chose two of the ‘human books’. They got the opportunity to hear their stories, interact with them, ‘open’ different chapters of their lives and exchange ideas with other members of the audience.  

Hassan Mohamud was one of the human books. He talked about the role of education in dealing with conflict. In his home country, Somalia, he had promoted access to education. Since seeking asylum in Sweden 35 years ago, he has worked tirelessly to bring the fragmented Somali diaspora in Europe closer together. Dialogue has been key, he says, even if it is sometimes difficult.

Dina Ionesco has worked for IOM for the past 13 years as an expert in the field of environment and migration policies. She shared her personal journey as a refugee in France after leaving her country, Romania. Her experiences made her sensitive to the impact of forced migration, which she later made one of her areas of expertise on the international level. She explained that addressing environmental issues is an effective way of preventing conflict. 

Mohamed Elsanousi, originally from Sudan, is now the director of the Washington Office of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. As an engaged and experienced advocate for interreligious affairs in the United States, especially tackling the anti-Muslim rhetoric after the 9/11 terrorists attacks, he shared the importance of dialogue between any religion, any race, any skin colour, in dealing with issues at the community level.

Shontaye Abegaz comes from the United States. She spent several years volunteering for various organizations, including Initiatives of Change, where she discovered the importance of creating a safe space for dialogue. Now she is the managing director of the Just Governance for Human Security conference during the annual Caux Forum, which allows individuals from different cultural and professional backgrounds to enjoy discussing global issues in a safe space.

After participants had heard some chapters of the human books’ lives, they were asked for their ideas on other ways to peace. The conclusion was that there is no single path to peace: everyone must find their own.

In a canton where 41% of residents are foreign (source: OCSTAT) including expatriates, refugees, asylum seekers and international civil servants, there are numerous actors working in the field of integration and migration in Geneva. Since the 2015 migrant crisis, reception and integration needs have been continuously increasing. Every organization, association and institution working in Geneva within the field of migration, regardless of their focus (welcome and accommodation, legal support and defence of the right to asylum, or social and professional integration) plays an important role and offers broad expertise to tackle the needs and challenges posed by integration.

With the goal of identifying and connecting the various roles and resources, on 16 November 2017, the CAUX-Initiatives of Change (CAUX-IofC) Foundation, the General Hospice (l’Hospice Général) and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) jointly organized a speed meeting. About 70 people from 40 different organizations and associations attended the meeting “Migration and Integration in Geneva: Who does what?”

Although many working in the asylum and migration network know each other well and have been collaborating for a long time, opportunities to bring together local, national and international actors are rare. In small groups, the representatives considered three issues: meeting migrants’ needs, available resources and skills, and next steps. The general conclusion was the same for many participants: resources do exist, thanks to the network of associations and social institutions. Nevertheless, everyone asked for greater coordination and sharing of skills and knowledge.

With the goal of identifying and connecting the various roles and resources, on 16 November 2017, the CAUX-Initiatives of Change (CAUX-IofC) Foundation, the General Hospice (l’Hospice Général) and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) jointly organized a speed meeting. About 70 people from 40 different organizations and associations attended the meeting “Migration and Integration in Geneva: Who does what?”

Although many working in the asylum and migration network know each other well and have been collaborating for a long time, opportunities to bring together local, national and international actors are rare. In small groups, the representatives considered three issues: meeting migrants’ needs, available resources and skills, and next steps. The general conclusion was the same for many participants: resources do exist, thanks to the network of associations and social institutions. Nevertheless, everyone asked for greater coordination and sharing of skills and knowledge.

“I feel more confident and equipped to approach the upcoming semesters, and the projects that lie ahead of us. The workshop helped start a web flow of ideas / motivation / inspiration. I am excited to start doing!” says a participants after the teambuilding workshop that the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation delivered at the KickOff of Just Innovate’s Collaborate for Social Impact (C4SI), an annual two-month experiential education program which challenges students and young professionals from a diversity of disciplines to engage innovatively with pressing social issues.

At the workshop, CAUX-Initiatives of Change challenged students to engage in a presentation of values, to reflect on this experience as an individual and as a group, and to plan for how they would like to work as a team, based on the idea of “being the change you wish to see in the world”. The students also engaged in an honest and open conversation about differing perspectives on elements which are important to working together as a team and about their individual motivation for participating in the project.

Over 80% of the 32 participants rated this workshop as having made a noticeable difference in the way they live their life or do their job, and 9 of them even said that it made a high or tremendous difference.

Over 14'000 people attended the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Open House Day on Saturday 7 October 2017, a unique opportunity to discover the Palais des Nations before its 5 year renovation, as well as the work of the UN and its partners.

The CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation participated in the event alongside Initiatives of Change International by running a table in the NGO tent.

Rainer Gude, Chargé de Mission for Initiatives of Change International participated in a Speed Meeting with visitors of the Palais.

Beyond Prevention: 5 Alternative Ways to Peace
- Geneva Peace Week 2018
- When: 7 Nov, 2017 - 12.30 - 14.00
- Where: UNOG Library

Speakers

Shontaye Abegaz

Just Governance for Human Security Coordinator

Born and raised in the United States, Shontaye has also lived in Europe, Africa and North America. She has been a devoted volunteer for various organizations since adolescence and her interests include:  peace building, intercultural dialog, human security and good governance. Volunteer work began for Shon with Initiatives of Change in Washington, DC in 2004 where she was immediately struck by the inclusiveness and ‘global thinking’ by everyone she met. Shon was drawn to the focus on the human factor in global change as a unique aspect of Caux and believes it is impossible to tackle the topic of human security without focusing on the human factor.

Hassan Mohamud

Initiatives of Change Sweden

Hassan is a teacher and has a great interest in education as the way to build a new society where democracy, human rights and peace are built through reconciliation and healing. In Somalia he worked on peace and development issues, such as school-building, laws and the judicial system. He is also committed to sustainable agriculture, forestry and a secure water supply. His personal journey with Initiatives of Change for the last 24 years began with his reconciliation with Ahmed Egal who was from a rival clan in Somalia. Hassan and Ahmed have been instrumental in supporting reconciliation among the Nordic and European Somali diaspora, which has also led to healing in Somalia.

Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi

Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers in Washington DC office (for Finn Church Aid)

For more than a decade Dr. Elsanousi has worked in the intersection of American Muslim communities and the government of the United States. Since 9/11, and the political turbulence following the attack, a key emphasis of his work has been in addressing radicalization and working in the field of countering violent extremism. Today, Dr. Elsanousi focuses on building bridges between grassroots religious actors and communities and international players as the director of the Washington DC office of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.

Dina Ionesco

Head of Migration, Environment and Climate Change of IOM

Dina’s passion for migration arises from her early experience as a political refugee in France, escaping with her family from the Romanian dictatorship in 1987. After studying political science, Dina has worked with Roma populations and youth in post conflict then with the OECD on local development and entrepreneurship, and joined IOM in 2004 dealing with a broad array of migration policies. She was awarded as “Inspirational woman working to protect the environment” as part of the International Women’s Day 2016, at the initiative of UNEP, the Geneva Environment Network and the Swiss Confederation.

As part of the re-structuring in the Caux Palace – Conference and Seminar Centre, the Council of the CAUX-IofC Foundation have decided to close the postal agency and the bookshop. The Caux Expo is now also closed to the public. The Foundation is aiming to develop more outside lets and receptions in the Promenoir and the splendid but under-used space of the Caux Expo.

The Council would like to express their gratitude to the many volunteers who have manned this space over the years, to begin with, only through the summer conferences. And also to the paid staff who have in more recent years, opened and run this space all the year round. We will study what seems to be an appropriate response to the needs to Forum participants for next summer, in terms of books, postcards and toiletries.

The Foundation is looking for donors in order to re-open the ex-post office and create a space to meet cultural (with information panels about the history of the Foundation and the house, as well as the national park), social (coffee/snacks to gather tourists, students and inhabitants of the village) and commercial needs (with a local shop).

We want to hear YOUR story!
Send your story to communications@cauxforum.org
#mycauxstory

The #CauxForum 2017 is over. It has been an amazing summer, full of inspiring stories, moments and encounters.

Our Forum Director Nick Foster has a special request for you! Listen to it and and share your stories with us.

‘The only way to solve hate and violence is with compassion and empathy,’ said Christian Picciolini, former white supremacist turned peace activist, during Just Governance for Human Security 2017. In the light of yet another shocking outburst of violence in Charlottesville/USA last week, Picciolini’s message is fundamental to the work of healing race relations and promoting peace and reconciliation. This is what Initiatives of Change aims to achieve through the Caux Forum.

This summer has shown that the Caux Forum is becoming a, if not the, place to discuss peace in its broadest sense. It offered a holistic approach to addressing extremism of all kinds: from tackling extremes in business, preventing violent extremism, advancing the pillars of human security and dealing with polarization in Europe to empowering children to create a more inclusive society and promoting investment in land restoration.

At the Official Opening, Kate Gilmore, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, ’We are the first generation who can decide to be the last one.’ Let us take this very seriously and start to act at all levels to make sure that there is a next generation and that they have an environment which allows them to live in dignity.

The passion and drive of young people was a distinctive feature of 2017, with young ambassadors from across Europe, Caux Scholars and Caux Peace and Leadership Programme participants adding yet another dimension to the training and empowerment that took place throughout the summer.

Many inspiring people with stories of change and initiatives all over the world interacted over the summer. A young Afghan champion of women’s empowerment inspired her fellow Caux Scholars; the Tulsa delegation continued the process of dealing with their past and addressing race relations; Jin In of 4Girls Glocal Leadership inspired young Syrians to initiate change for women in Damascus. All these powerful moments are an inspiration to contribute to a peaceful, just and sustainable world.

That is why we strongly believe that the Caux Forum must continue to grow and to position itself as the reference point for seeking solutions to issues of peace and reconciliation, ethics in leadership, just governance and the environment, be it at the personal or institutional level. We are already working towards the Caux Forum 2018 and we are excited about some of the participants and speakers who have committed to being there. I look forward to welcoming you in Caux next year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed to the organization of the Caux Forum 2017. Without you we would not have been able to organize and host such an inspiring Forum.

Barbara Hintermann

Secretary-General, CAUX-IofC Foundation

In Europe even where populists are not winning elections, their narratives of blaming immigrants and minorities dominate political debates. Many citizens are losing faith in integration as the best means of ensuring peace, security and prosperity. There is a tendency to isolate ourselves, retreating into groups based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, or class. Such polarization deeply affects the way Europeans work together for the common good.

From 17-21 July, Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business (AEUB) gathered some 150 participants from all parts of Europe and beyond, from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and generations, to explore effective ways of tackling these issues.

For the third consecutive year, the Young Ambassadors Programme (YAP), for young people aged 18-25, was an integral part of the event. Fifty-one Young Ambassadors, supported by another eight YAP alumni, went through an intensive process of self-discovery and training during the two days before the conference started. They then participated in the conference, representing the voice of the younger generation in Europe.

The main objectives of AEUB this year were to give hope and inspiration by showing concrete examples of initiatives that build trust, by exploring different methodologies for dialogue in divided societies, by enabling participants to listen to each other, and by putting people in touch with like-minded initiatives and potential new partnerships.

Jo Berry and Patrick Magee spoke powerfully together on the first morning. In 1984 Magee planted an IRA bomb in a hotel in Brighton, UK, which killed Berry’s father, Conservative MP Sir Anthony Berry. ‘I didn’t need him to apologize,’ said Berry. ‘I needed to see him as a human being.’ She advocated empathy as the strongest weapon for moving from ‘my story’ to a new, shared story, and for ending conflict. While Magee still carries the burden of knowing he caused Jo profound hurt, they both continue to explore their common humanity, recognizing that war robs combatants of an essential capacity to empathize and to see the world through the eyes of others. They have shared a platform on over 150 occasions.

Throughout the event, Lana Biba and Txema Perez from the London Physical Theatre School kept appearing to give brief, silent, unconventional performances on the theme of Mindfulness through Playfulness. They were one of eight teams who offered training tasters on programmes being offered by IofC teams and partner organizations in different parts of Europe to combat polarization and build trust.

Each day started with quiet reflection in small community groups, which also met later in the day to share their personal stories and experiences. One participant commented, ‘I loved the storytelling activities in small groups because it created that bond of trust and respect. I realized once again that we all have struggled in our lives and that being compassionate is the key to better interaction with those around me.’

The evening programmes gave participants an opportunity to find out about each other’s programmes and initiatives, and to celebrate Europe’s cultural diversity. One evening offered the European premier of The Man Who built Peace, a new film about Frank Buchman, the founder of Initiatives of Change.

‘The conference made me realize that no matter how different we are, there is always something we have in common, our humanity,’ said one participant. ‘It does not matter how major our differences are, but that there is always a line of commonality that we can use as a base for dialogue, building trust and making peace, to create the type of Europe we want to see.’ Another commented, ‘It is rare to find a place for peace of mind and soul, where people do not judge you but try to accept and love unconditionally. Caux has been that place for me.’

‘We are the citizens of today and tomorrow,’ stated Kehkashan Basu, 17, winner of the 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize, as she opened the fifth edition of Children as Actors for Transforming Society (CATS). Empowering children to become the leaders of tomorrow is what CATS is all about. CATS 2017 gathered 264 children, young people and adults of 34 nationalities to promote inclusion and to give children experiencing exclusion a voice.

The week-long event kicked off with games through which children and adults learned how to collaborate in order to reach their goals, while also bonding and having fun. Learning Spaces gave participants the opportunity to explore different types of exclusion and inclusion and where we might encounter it: in school, at home, in different institutions. In one activity participants were blindfolded so as to experience what it is like to play a sport blind and to understand exclusion. In another session participants were asked to use playdough to share their experience in Caux. Mohamed, 16, from France explained: ‘I made a heart because even if it’s the beginning of the week, I know I’m going to leave this place with a bigger heart.’

‘You need to listen to everybody in order to create spaces for everyone to feel included,’ said Gerison Lansdown, Chair of Child to Child, as she led a session on unpacking inclusion with Dutch journalist and children’s correspondent Tako Rietveld. ‘Don’t focus on the person, focus on the barrier,’ she recommended.

Participants explored diversity and inclusion during interactive Let’s Explore sessions, which included juggling, music, art, theatre, storytelling, peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue workshops. In one workshop on exploring gender and how it can be a source of discrimination, children and adults used newspapers and magazines to help them discuss gender exclusion and stereotypes.

Evening programmes offered an opportunity for everyone to have fun together. There was a disco night, enjoyed by the Kittens, aged between two to ten, as well as the older participants, and a talent night in the Caux Palace theatre.

What does an inclusive society look like? On the last afternoon of the conference, children and adults built a CATS city, where everyone feels included, out of cardboard boxes and creative materials.   

Participants worked all week to develop their project for the CATS 90 Day Challenge. ‘In 90 days, you can plant a seed, water it, watch it grow and flourish,’ said Julie Ward, children’s rights champion and Member of the European Parliament, as she encouraged participants to take action after the event. ‘You don’t have to be a billionaire or a president to make a difference, you just need motivation.’

As the week came to an end, participants shared their experiences of CATS. ‘I was a book at the human library and I thought my story was perhaps too personal and that it would not interest anyone,’ said one young participant. ‘It was quite the opposite actually. Here [in Caux], I understood that even when you are at your lowest, you must not give up because the best is yet to come.’  

‘My experience here transformed me: we laughed together, reflected together, shared together and cried together,’ said another participant. ‘But we also built hope together. I could hear how children see the world. There is no word in the dictionary to express the impact this week had on me, on my life.'