Giving: The Quiet Force That Brings Caux To Life
A blog by Ignacio Packer, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change
19/03/2026Featured Story
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A blog by Ignacio Packer, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change
In a world that feels unstable, the force that sustains places of connection and hope is often invisible. At Caux, this quiet force has a name: the act of giving. In this blog, Ignacio Packer, Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, reflects on the importance of human connection, on places of inspiration like the Caux Palace, and on what enables them, over time, to continue carrying out their mission.
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Lausanne, 15 March 2026
This morning, I am writing these lines while looking out over Lake Geneva. The water is calm, almost still, and the sun plays across its surface, gently shimmering. There is something peaceful in this light.
Sundays often have this particular quality for me: a moment to slow down, to step back, to let things settle. This morning, I took part in a gathering of members of Reso, the community created by philosopher and writer Fabrice Midal. For many years, he has explored meditation, attention, and ways of living with greater presence in an often turbulent world. I recently joined this community, and these meetings often open unexpected avenues for reflection.
This morning, one of the questions was about giving. And it came to me at a particular moment.
News from the world continues to arrive. The situation in Lebanon, which my friend Roweida spoke to me about yesterday from Beirut. A conversation with an Iranian friend who shared the reality of her country of origin. Wars that spread or stagnate. Fragile societies. Displaced people. At times, I feel that tensions exceed our collective capacity to contain them.
Faced with this, a temptation arises: cynicism. Or habit. As if, little by little, we risk becoming accustomed to the unthinkable.
I remain deeply convinced that we cannot resign ourselves to this. We can choose something else: to remain curious, attentive, open. To keep seeking, understanding, connecting. To stay engaged, capable of hope. To move forward with what I have called for more than twenty-five years a “forward balance”: a movement that keeps us connected to ourselves, to others, and to the world—even when it falters.
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At the Caux Palace, our center for dialogue and trust-building, our communications on social media are currently encouraging registrations for this summer’s Forums. Perhaps that is why I am also thinking of the entire team preparing these gatherings with considerable energy, often without counting their time.
I am also thinking of this past week, with the event “Thinking 'Art' to Heal Wounds,” organised in Geneva as part of the Caux Arts and Peace Encounters. It brought together Lebanese actor and cultural mediator, Michel Abou Khalil, and physician, writer, and gallerist Barbara Polla, in a conversation moderated by journalist Luisa Ballin.
So many voices exploring how art can open pathways toward healing the wounds of the world. So many moments where, modestly but resolutely, we try to create spaces for dialogue and listening.
This is also what inspired me to return to a blog I had left unfinished for some time, centered on a simple but essential question: what it means to give.
Because at Caux, the more I observe what has been lived here over the past 80 years, the more I realise that giving is not just a one-time gesture. It is one of the deepest elements that make possible what we are trying to build together.
Giving is not just a one-time gesture. It is one of the deepest elements that make possible what we are trying to build together..
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When you look at the Caux Forums, you see programs, speakers, workshops, arrivals and departures, posters, and long task lists. But beneath all that, there is something more discreet—and perhaps more essential: giving. It reminded me of something Fabrice Midal said this morning: “Giving is not first and foremost a moral obligation, nor a heroic effort. It arises when we feel touched, concerned, connected. It then becomes a way of inhabiting the world.”
At Caux, this idea takes very concrete forms.
First, there is the gift of speech.
Speakers who agree to come—sometimes from far away—to offer much more than expertise: an experience, a conviction forged through trial, a part of their own journey. In a world saturated with commentary, a sincere and meaningful voice is already a gift to the community.
There is also the gift of time.
At Caux, work is not measured only in hours—it comes from the heart. Our many volunteers generously give their time, energy, and attention, helping to make each event a true success. Their commitment is quiet but essential, and we are deeply grateful.
And I know I am not the only one who feels this. Here, so many people offer more than their presence: patience, care, and genuine attention to others. I remember a colleague telling me after a summer rich in events and emotions: “I know why I do this.”
There is also financial giving, without which many things would remain beautiful intentions. Making a donation to Caux is not limited to restoring a historic building—even though such work, like the restoration of the retaining wall, is essential to preserving the Caux Palace.
Each contribution helps keep this place alive—dedicated to dialogue, trust, and peace—and ensures it continues to welcome visitors, organise meaningful events, and inspire future generations.
In addition, our Solidarity Fund enables people who otherwise could not afford it to take part: committed young people, voices from fragile contexts, grassroots changemakers who have much to contribute but few resources to travel. Providing financial support is therefore far more than a material gesture—it is offering a possibility, a seat at the table, a chance to meet.
At its heart, the Caux Forum is sustained by a chain of generosity. Some give their voice, others their time, and others their means so that this shared endeavour remains open and alive. Here, giving is not reduced to a single act—it becomes a way of sustaining a community bound by curiosity, commitment, and the desire to build a more just world.
At Caux, giving becomes a way of bringing a community to life..
For more than 80 years, the Caux Foundation has sought to create this kind of space: a place where wounds can be acknowledged, where bridges can be rebuilt, where very different people can meet in new ways.
None of this exists without generosity. So to those who already give—through their presence, their listening, their work, their trust, or their resources—I simply want to say: thank you.
And to those wondering whether they, too, could take part in this journey, the answer is: yes.
Giving takes a thousand forms. Time. A skill. A network. An idea. Encouragement.
Giving takes a thousand forms. Time. A skill. A network. An idea. Encouragement.
At Caux, we have long known that a place like this does not live primarily through its walls. It lives from what women and men choose to bring to it—and what they carry away with them afterward.
In an increasingly fractured world, what still makes it possible to sustain these spaces of connection and hope? At Caux, the answer often lies in a quiet but essential force: giving.
A listening ear.
A presence.
A little time offered.
And sometimes simply that quiet gesture that reminds someone, somewhere in the world:
you are not alone.
Would you like to support our work?
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Ignacio Packer is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss charitable foundation committed to promoting trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living, and human security. With more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development, he worked at the Development Bank of Latin America and at KPMG before becoming a recognized leader of NGOs and international alliances for over 25 years. An expert in human rights and social issues, he has been particularly engaged in advocating for the protection of migrants and refugees, especially children and young people.
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WELCOME TO THE CAUX IDG FORUM 2026 - PROGRAMME
We are excited to welcome you to this year's edition of the Caux IDG Forum: The Alchemy of Forgiveness.
The programme explores the role of forgiveness in personal, relational, and societal contexts at a time of increasing polarization. Through dialogue, reflection, and interdisciplinary perspectives, together, we will examine what forgiveness means, how it is understood across contexts, and how it may contribute to constructive engagement and social repair.
The programme unfolds over five days, moving from foundational understanding of forgiveness to broader social reflection and future dialogue.
For children and teenagers, we will offer additional activities, depending on the number of young participants in the house.
We look forward to seeing you in Caux!
Please note that this programme is subject to modifications.
programme
Monday, 13 July
From 14:00 - 15:00
Reception
ARRIVALS: Welcome to the Caux Palace!
HOW TO GET TO CAUX
If you arrive by train: Trains run every hour from both Geneva Airport and Bern. For exact travel times and connections, please consult www.rail.ch.
The Caux Palace main entrance is approx. 100m from the Caux train station.
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In case you arrive by car or taxi: For those arriving from Lausanne/Vevey, make sure to adjust your GPS route passing by « Clarens » or « Montreux Gare ». Do not take the automatic recommendation going by « Les Avants » as this will take you through a longer curvy mountain road and the ride is much longer and complicated.
Free parking spots are available in front of the Caux Palace, near the station or near the tennis court.
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For guests staying at the Caux Palace - your rooms will be available from 14:00 CEST onwards. Should you wish to arrive earlier, you can store your luggage in the reception area.
15:00 - 16:00
Terrace & Gardens
DISCOVERY DAY: Entering the threshold - Exploring Forgiveness
Welcome to the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum 2026 with the opening experience of the Caux IDG Discovery Day, held under the theme “Step into the inner development.”
This first gathering is an invitation to participate in connection with ourselves, each other and nature and introduces the Forum’s exploration of forgiveness - what it is and is not, and how it relates to harm, accountability, and reconciliation in a world marked by division and polarisation.
Set in the iconic Caux Palace above Montreux, the Discovery Day invites everyone to pause, reflect, and open to forgiveness as a pathway to inner development and collective healing. Through shared stories, artistic expression, and guided reflection, it opens key themes of the Forum: healing inner wounds, restoring relationships, reconnecting with the Earth, and engaging collective trauma.
A powerful opening into a five-day journey on The Alchemy of Forgiveness where inner transformation meets societal change.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
16:00 - 16:30
Terrace (2nd floor)
TEA & COFFEE BREAK
16:30 - 17:00
Main Hall (4th floor)
SENSING INTO FORGIVENESS
With:
- Jessica BOCKLER, Applied Artist, Transpersonal Psychologist & Co-Founding Director of the Alef Trust
- Sarah NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Lou RÉMY, Violinist
17:00 - 18:30
Main Hall (4th floor)
A LOOK AT FORGIVENESS: In conversation with Metin Arditi
Jacqueline Coté, President of the Caux Foundation, will sit down with writer Metin Arditi for a heartfelt conversation on forgiveness, gently moving between the man, the writer, and the citizen of the world.
Drawing on his remarkable journey - born in Turkey to a Sephardic Jewish family, raised in Switzerland, and writing in French - Arditi will share how forgiveness has shaped his personal life, woven its way through his novels, and offered a path toward healing between peoples. It promises to be a moving and deeply human exchange, inviting us all to reflect on forgiveness as strength, as letting go, and as the quiet act of welcoming someone back home.
Metin Arditi is one of the leading literary voices of the Francophone world. The author of numerous essays and novels, his work explores themes of identity, history, memory, and the complexities of human relationships, often bridging cultures and civilizations. His acclaimed novels include Le Turquetto (Actes Sud, 2011), which received the Jean Giono Prize; L’enfant qui mesurait le monde (Grasset, 2016), awarded the Prix Méditerranée; L’homme qui peignait les âmes (Grasset, 2021), winner of the Prix de l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest; Tu seras mon père (Grasset, 2022), which received the Machiavelli Prize; and Le bâtard de Nazareth (Grasset, 2023). Most recently, he published Bosphore-Tango, the third volume of his celebrated Constantinople Trilogy, published by Grasset. In January, his latest work in the prestigious Dictionnaire Amoureux collection published by Plon, Dictionnaire Amoureux du péché (A Lover’s Dictionary of Sin), will be released. Through his writing, Metin Arditi offers profound reflections on culture, spirituality, and the human condition, establishing himself as a distinctive and influential voice in contemporary literature.
With:
- Metin ARDITI, Writer
- Jacqueline COTÉ, President Caux Foundation
Introduction:
- Sarah NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Foundation
Music:
Lou RÉMY, Violinist
18:30 - 19:30
Dining Room (2nd floor)
BUFFET - DINNER
19:30 - 20:30
FREE TIME: Enjoy the gardens & visit the Caux Palace Expos
Enjoy the gardens of the Caux Palace, meet those in the house or visit our summer exhibitions:
CAUX PALACE EXPOS
"Drawing to Break the Silence"
An exhibition of press cartoons by Hani Abbas and Emad Hajjaj, dedicated to the issues of freedom of expression and democracy
Following on from 2025, the Fondation de Caux is continuing its project to showcase press cartoonists whose work resonates deeply with the themes of our forums: democracy and security issues.This year, two cartoonists from the Middle East, Hani Abbas and Emad Hajjaj, are presenting their work. Through their drawings, they shed light on the complexity of today’s world, examine its tensions and divisions, sometimes offering a scathing or ironic perspective, whilst also opening up avenues of hope and meaning in a world that is losing its bearings.
- Where: Les Galeries (4th floor)
- In collaboration with: Freedom Cartoonists
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"Europe on Display: Politics in Images"
A selection of posters from a unique collection held by the Jean Monnet Foundation, tracing Europe’s political and visual history.
In 2022, the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe acquired an extraordinary collection of 5,000 posters gathered over a lifetime by a passionate private collector. Spanning from the immediate post-war period to today, these posters reflect a wide range of perspectives on Europe—from integration and solidarity to sovereignty and isolationism. Provocative, humorous or strikingly beautiful, they offer a unique visual record of Europe’s social and political history. Through this exhibition, a graphic Europe emerges, revealing the complexity of European issues and reminding us that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
- Where: Esplanade in the Caux Palace gardens
- In collaboration with: Fondation Jean Monnet pour l'Europe
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"Beyond Words - An Exhibitions on the Trustbuilding Programme"
Works of art created as part of the Caux Foundation's Trustbuilding Programme between January and May 202
For several decades now, Initiatives of Change International has been working in conflict zones through its Trustbuilding Program and has proven expertise in this field. In 2026, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation launched its own programme in Switzerland, in partnership with the PAIRES association, the artist Audrey Cavelius and the facilitator Hamza Ghandour.
This programme of seven participatory workshops brought together around twenty people, half of whom had a migrant background and the other half of whom were familiar with life in Switzerland, to explore the dynamics of trust together through art and dialogue.
At the end of the project, this workshop offers a unique opportunity for exchange: an in-depth look at the programme’s key learnings, accompanied by the presentation of the artwork co-created by the participants. A special chance to discover from the inside a collective process and the transformations it has made possible.
- Where: 3rd floor (lounge area)
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"The Truth will set you free"
A selection of paintings by Swiss-German artist Ulrike Keller
Inspired by the former East-West German border at Point Alpha and by the stories of those who lived under dictatorship, the exhibition explores themes of freedom, suffering, hope and reconciliation. Through a series of deeply personal oil paintings, the artist invites visitors to reflect on their own journeys, the choices that shape their lives, and the paths that lead from division towards freedom and human dignity. At a time when democracy and peace cannot be taken for granted, these works offer a space for reflection, remembrance and hope.
- Where: Caux Palace Chapel (50m from the main entrance)
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"Echos of Reality & Echoes of Hope"
Art works by artist Daniel HR and Álvaro Sebastián Quiroz Bolaños (Mexico), social entrepreneur, visual artist, and international advocate for dignity, resilience, and suicide prevention.
Where: Les Galeries (4th floor)
20:30 - 21:30
Starting Point: Main Hall (4th floor)
GUIDED TOURS: Discover the Caux Palace
Take a guided tour and discover the Caux Palace, one of the jewels of the Belle Epoque and classified historical monument of national interest.
Learn more about its rich history and find out its role in fostering honest conversations, inner development, inspiration, reconciliation and peacebuilding.
22:00 - 22:30
Chapel (opposite Caux Palace - exit 4th floor main entrance)
SONGS FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
Tuesday, 14 July
7:00 - 7:30
Esplanade - Caux Palace Gardens
GREETING THE DAY & TIME FOR THE INNER COMPASS
Join the Greeting the Day ceremony in the gardens of the Caux Palace, followed by a moment of quiet reflection with a view on the Swiss mountains, the Leman and the rising sun.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
7:30 - 8:30
Dining Room
BREAKFAST
09:00 - 09:20
Main Hall (4th floor)
TOGETHER TIME
Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
With:
- SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- IGNACIO PACKER,, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
9:20 - 10:45
Main Hall (4th floor)
PLENARY: DIMENSIONS OF FORGIVENESS - Personal Stories & Conversations
Day 2 invites us to explore the personal and deeply human dimensions of forgiveness.
Together, we will consider what forgiveness means to us as individuals, share common challenges and questions about forgiving, and reflect on how our own values and life experiences shape our perspective. This is an invitation to pause, look within and engage in an honest, meaningful exchange with others. The session will also a include dedicated moment for individual inner reflection or journaling.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL, Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Bahar Taşkın ÖZTÜRK, Founder of INAN & Chief Growth Officer at Twiser
- Carl MANLAN, Poet, Development Practitioner & Thought Leader
Co-Moderators:
- Rafaele ROLIM, Founder of Brazilian Experience & Facilitator
- Siddharth SINGH, Director of the Asia Plateau conference centre, Panchgani/India
10:45 - 11:15
Dining Room
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
11:15 - 12:15
Main Hall
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Let's meet in the Main Hall for an introduction to our Community Groups!
Community Groups are a core part of the Caux IDG Forum experience, helping to build a sense of unity and shared purpose—“Let’s do this together!”
These small, diverse groups of 8 - 12 participants offer a space to reflect on the plenary themes, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s lived experiences.
Guided by one or two community group facilitators, each session creates a safe, respectful environment where deep conversations can flourish and real connections begin.
With ground rules rooted in trust, inclusion, and care, these groups invite you to be fully present, listen openly, and speak from the heart—if and when you feel ready and are often a great place to forge new and inspiring friendships.
Coordinator
- Véronique SIKORA, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering and Management in Yverdon-les-Bains
12:15 - 13:30
Dining Room
LUNCH
13:30 - 14:30
FREE TIME IN NATURE
14:30 - 16:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 1
WORKSHOP 1: The Grudge & The Mirror: Forgiveness as a Human Technology For Rewriting the Stories We Carry
- Room: 500A
With:
- Boutheina ABDI, Educator, Teacher Trainer & Soft Skills Coach
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WORKSHOP 2: Forgiving Forward: Inner Alchemy for Outer Impact
- Room: 415
With:
- Francesca TOSO, Transformational Coach, Facilitator & Keynote Speaker
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WORKSHOP 3: What we love still lives: Poetry, grief, and the Inner Work of Forgiveness
- Room 190
With:
- Carl MANLAN, Poet, Development Practitioner & Thought Leader
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WORKSHOP 4: The Body Remembers, The Body Releases: A Somatic Pathway to Forgiveness
- Room 400A (Salon du Pasquier)
With:
- Nargis (Raza) KIZALBASH, Transpersonal Psychologist
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WORKSHOP 5: Return to Being - Forgiveness in Quantum Entanglement: A Living Circle
- Room 300DE
With:
- Marjadi KOOISTRA, Executive Coach, Leadership Facilitator & Co-Founder of TogetherForTheBetterGood
- Grandmother Ejna Jean FLEURY, Mystic, Visionary, Ceremonialist & Co-Founder of Crow Creek Kunsi/Unci Grandmothers Society
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WORKSHOP 6: Courageous Forgiveness - Letting Go, Setting Boundaries and Moving Forward
- Room 315
With:
- Nadene CANNING, IDG Practitioner, Founder InnerDevelopment@Work Facilitator & Coach Dare to Lead
- Anne-Marie DEANS, Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator
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WORKSHOP 7: Forgive Me For Hating You
- Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Amani SOULTAN, LCE and ICF-Certified Life Coach
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WORKSHOP 8: The Earth as Witness - An Embodied Laboratory for Forgiveness
- Room 215
With:
- Ana GROSSE HALBUER, Trauma Therapist & IDG Ambassador
- Sabine SCHNEIDER, Artistic Researcher, Process Facilitator & IDG Ambassador
- Sibylle BREINER, IDG Ambassador
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WORKSHOP 9: The Alchemy of Forgiveness: A Somatic and Trauma-Informed Exploration of Awareness, Meaning, and Choice
- Room 115
With:
- Mine ÖZTÜRK, Co-Founder of Sufi Coaching
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WORKSHOP 10: Embracing Self-Love: Self-Authorship and Forgiveness
- Salon Grammont (4th floor)
With:
- Kendra FORD, Transpersonal Research Psychologist, International Yoga Therapist & Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach
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WORKSHOP 11: IDG for Kids & Teens (and those young at heart): Activity Cards Building Relations Within and With Others An Intergenerational Workshop for the Caux IDG Forum 2026
- Tipi (gardens)
With:
- Ayse Siyma Barkin KUZMIN, Trauma Informed Therapeutic Coach, Child Rights and Protection Expert & Workshop Facilitator
- Simone ERVEN, Inner Development & Leadership, Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Transformational Development
16:00 - 16:30
Terrace
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
16:30 - 18:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 2
WORKSHOP 1: The Grudge & The Mirror: Forgiveness as a Human Technology For Rewriting the Stories We Carry
- Room: 500A
With:
- Boutheina ABDI, Educator, Teacher Trainer & Soft Skills Coach
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WORKSHOP 2: Forgiving Forward: Inner Alchemy for Outer Impact
- Room: 415
With:
- Francesca TOSO, Transformational Coach, Facilitator & Keynote Speaker
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WORKSHOP 3: What we love still lives: Poetry, grief, and the Inner Work of Forgiveness
- Room 190
With:
- Carl MANLAN, Poet, Development Practitioner & Thought Leader
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WORKSHOP 4: The Body Remembers, The Body Releases: A Somatic Pathway to Forgiveness
- Room 400A (Salon du Pasquier)
With:
- Nargis (Raza) KIZALBASH, Transpersonal Psychologist
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WORKSHOP 5: Return to Being - Forgiveness in Quantum Entanglement: A Living Circle
- Room 300DE
With:
- Marjadi KOOISTRA, Executive Coach, Leadership Facilitator & Co-Founder of TogetherForTheBetterGood
- Grandmother Ejna Jean FLEURY, Mystic, Visionary, Ceremonialist & Co-Founder of Crow Creek Kunsi/Unci Grandmothers Society
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WORKSHOP 6: Courageous Forgiveness - Letting Go, Setting Boundaries and Moving Forward
- Room 315
With:
- Nadene CANNING, IDG Practitioner, Founder InnerDevelopment@Work Facilitator & Coach Dare to Lead
- Anne-Marie DEANS, Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator
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WORKSHOP 7: Forgive Me For Hating You
- Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Amani SOULTAN, LCE and ICF-Certified Life Coach
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WORKSHOP 8: The Earth as Witness - An Embodied Laboratory for Forgiveness
- Room 215
With:
- Ana GROSSE HALBUER, Trauma Therapist & IDG Ambassador
- Sabine SCHNEIDER, Artistic Researcher, Process Facilitator & IDG Ambassador
- Sibylle BREINER, IDG Ambassador
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WORKSHOP 9: The Alchemy of Forgiveness: A Somatic and Trauma-Informed Exploration of Awareness, Meaning, and Choice
- Room 115
With:
- Mine ÖZTÜRK, Co-Founder of Sufi Coaching
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WORKSHOP 10: Embracing Self-Love: Self-Authorship and Forgiveness
- Salon Grammont (4th floor)
With:
- Kendra FORD, Transpersonal Research Psychologist, International Yoga Therapist & Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach
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WORKSHOP 11: IDG for Kids & Teens (and those young at heart): Activity Cards Building Relations Within and With Others An Intergenerational Workshop for the Caux IDG Forum 2026
- Tipi (gardens)
With:
- Ayse Siyma Barkin KUZMIN, Trauma Informed Therapeutic Coach, Child Rights and Protection Expert & Workshop Facilitator
- Simone ERVEN, Inner Development & Leadership, Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Transformational Development
18:30 - 19:30
Dining Room
DINNER
20:00 - 21:30
CANDLELIGHT CONVERSATIONS
Step into the heart of the Caux IDG Forum and immerse yourself in our signature Candlelight Conversations - an inspiring evening experience created just for you to engage in deep, authentic dialogue.
In the softly lit rooms of the Caux Palace, you will find a calm and welcoming space where meaningful exchanges can unfold.
Choose a topic that resonates with you, join a small group guided with care, and allow yourself to connect, reflect and share openly. This is your opportunity to go beyond the surface, build trust and be part of conversations that truly matter.
Introduction:
- Siddharth SINGH, Director of the Initiatives of Change Centre Asia Plateau, India
- Francesca HECTOR, Community Coordinator, Alef Trust
CANDLELIGHT 1: Embodying loving-kindness through Open Awareness
- Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Jevon DÄNGELI, PhD Candidate in Applied Transpersonal Psychology
- Jules DE VITTO, Transpersonal Coach
- Dr Hennie GELDENHUYS, Medical Doctor, Clinical Researcher, Academic & Coach
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CANDLELIGHT 2: What role might consciousness education play in catalyzing transformation, empathy and forgiveness?
- Room 115
With:
- Bethany BUTZER, Author, Speaker, Researcher, Lecturer
- Laurel WATERMAN, Educational Researcher
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CANDLELIGHT 3: Honoring creation in alchemical dialogue of forgiveness and transformation
- Room 300DE
With:
- Marjadi KOOISTRA, Executive Coach and Leadership Facilitator
- Grandmother Ejna Jean FLEURY, Mystic, Visionary, Ceremonialist & Co-Founder of Crow Creek Kunsi/Unci Grandmothers Society
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CANDLELIGHT 4: Forgiveness, the Holocaust, and the collective psyche
- Room 215
With:
- Brian Les LANCASTER, Founding Director and Dean of the Alef Trust
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CANDLELIGHT 5: Dissolving the Empire in Us - "The road to hell is paved with good intentions": Shall we honestly double-check ours?
- Room 500A
With:
- Jean-Philippe CHALLANDES, Leadership Facilitator
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CANDLELIGHT 6: Who has the right to tell the story? - A space for men to explore what is not said
- Room 400A - Salon du Pasquier (4th floor)
With:
- Andres MARQUEZ-LARA, Founder and CEO of UFacilitate
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CANDLELIGHT 7: Forgiveness, guilt, and the unfinished story: A personal reflection from South Africa
- Room 415
With:
- Leigh JOHNSON, Learning and Leadership Specialist
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CANDLELIGHT 8: The space before forgiveness
- Room 461 (Salon Grammont - 4th floor)
With:
- Alexandra SORGENICHT, Author, Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, and Expert in Intuitive Intelligence
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CANDLELIGHT 9: The beautiful paths of forgiveness in Islam: Patience, withdrawal, and graceful release
- Room 400 - Foyer du Théâtre (4th floor)
With:
- Asmaa SLEEM, Founder of Lifelong Learning Talks
22:00 - 22:30
Chapel
SONGS FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Wednesday, 15 July
7:00 - 7:30
Esplanade - Caux Palace Gardens
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony in the gardens of the Caux Palace followed by a moment of quiet reflection with a view on the Swiss mountains, the Leman and the rising sun.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
7:30 - 8:30
Dining Room
BREAKFAST
09:00 - 09:20
Main Hall (4th floor)
TOGETHER TIME
Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
With:
- SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- IGNACIO PACKER,, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
9:20 - 10:45
Main Hall
PLENARY: PERSONAL CHOICE & FORGIVENESS - Personal Stories & Conversations
Day 3 invites us to explore forgiveness as a personal and voluntary process shaped by your own choices and boundaries.
Together, we will reflect on questions of responsibility and accountability, and engage with different perspectives on when forgiveness may - or may not - take place. This is a space to deepen our understanding, honour our limits and consider forgiveness as a journey rather than a single moment. The session will also a include dedicated moment for individual inner reflection or journaling.
With:
- Marjadi KOOISTRA, Executive Coach, Leadership Facilitator & Co-Founder of TogetherForTheBetterGood
- Dr Imad KARAM, Executive Leader, Peace Activist, Dialogue Facilitator & Filmmaker
Co-Moderators:
- Nadene CANNING, IDG Practitioner, Founder InnerDevelopment@Work Facilitator & Coach Dare to Lead
- Roweida SALEH, Educator & IofC Trainer, IofC Lebanon
10:45 - 11:15
Dining Room
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
11:15 - 12:15
Community Group Rooms
COMMUNITY GROUPS
12:15 - 13:30
Dining Room
LUNCH
13:30 - 14:30
FREE TIME IN NATURE
14:30 - 16:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 1
WORKSHOP 12: When Forgiveness Meets Accountability: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Complex Relationships
Room 500A
With:
- R. Kat MORSE, Acting Head of Solutions Hub at Globethics & Managing Director of Evolvere Advisory
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 13: Breathwork for Forgiveness
Room: Tipi (gardens)
With:
- Scott SALLÉE, Founder of Sustainable Breath
- Mario DOMIG, Certified Breathwork Therapist
__________________________________________
WORKSHOP 14: The Soul’s Choice: Soul Stories, Forgiveness, and Self-Compassion
Room 400 (Foyer du Théâtre, 4th floor)
With:
- Dr Lila MOORE, Screendance Pioneer, Technoetic Artist-filmmaker, Scholar, and Founder of the Cybernetic Futures Institute
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 15: Before We Forgive Others: Leading Ourselves to Self-Forgiveness
Room 300DE
With:
- Andres MARQUEZ-LARA, Founder and CEO of UFacilitate
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 16: Subtle Somatic Inquiry: A Transpersonal Approach to Advancing Forgiveness
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Gabriel FERNANDEZ-BORSOT, Philosopher, Transpersonal Therapist & Gestalt Therapist
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 17: Building Forgiveness: Exploring Personal Choice Through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Room 315
With:
- Özgür POYRAZOGLU, Executive & Team Coach, Facilitator, Learning Experience Designer & Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator
- Mine ÖZTÜRK, Co-Founder of Sufi Coaching
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 18: Forgiveness as a Way of Being
Room 215
With:
- Daya BAHGWANDAS, Social Entrepreneur, Neuro Educator & Board Member IofC Australia
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 19: Forgiveness in Practice: A Nature Walk for Release and Renewal
Room 190
With:
- Matt LAW, Senior Lecturer in International Business, Board Member, Advisor & Mentor
- Sara ØlLLGAARD, Creator of the Inner Development Kit
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 20: Voices of Forgiveness: Healing Through Movement, Dialogue and Expression
Room 300B
With:
- Imen BADARJAH, Actress, Facilitator & Community Engagement Professional
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 21: Soul and Soil: The Gift of Forgiveness - An Inner Journey from Pain to Becoming
Room 115
With:
- Asmaa SLEEM, Egyptian Content and Learning Experience Designer, Facilitator & Peacebuilder
16:00 - 16:30
Terrace
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
16:30 - 18:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 2
WORKSHOP 12: When Forgiveness Meets Accountability: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Complex Relationships
Room 500A
With:
- R. Kat MORSE, Acting Head of Solutions Hub at Globethics & Managing Director of Evolvere Advisory
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 13: Breathwork for Forgiveness
Room: Tipi (gardens)
With:
- Scott SALLÉE, Founder of Sustainable Breath
- Mario DOMIG, Certified Breathwork Therapist
__________________________________________
WORKSHOP 14: The Soul’s Choice: Soul Stories, Forgiveness, and Self-Compassion
Room 400 (Foyer du Théâtre, 4th floor)
With:
- Dr Lila MOORE, Screendance Pioneer, Technoetic Artist-filmmaker, Scholar, and Founder of the Cybernetic Futures Institute
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 15: Before We Forgive Others: Leading Ourselves to Self-Forgiveness
Room 300DE
With:
- Andres MARQUEZ-LARA, Founder and CEO of UFacilitate
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 16: Subtle Somatic Inquiry: A Transpersonal Approach to Advancing Forgiveness
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Gabriel FERNANDEZ-BORSOT, Philosopher, Transpersonal Therapist & Gestalt Therapist
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 17: Building Forgiveness: Exploring Personal Choice Through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
Room 315
With:
- Özgür POYRAZOGLU, Executive & Team Coach, Facilitator, Learning Experience Designer & Certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator
- Mine ÖZTÜRK, Co-Founder of Sufi Coaching
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 18: Forgiveness as a Way of Being
Room 215
With:
- Daya BAHGWANDAS, Social Entrepreneur, Neuro Educator & Board Member IofC Australia
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 19: Forgiveness in Practice: A Nature Walk for Release and Renewal
Room 190
With:
- Matt LAW, Senior Lecturer in International Business, Board Member, Advisor & Mentor
- Sara ØlLLGAARD, Creator of the Inner Development Kit
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 20: Voices of Forgiveness: Healing Through Movement, Dialogue and Expression
Room 300B
With:
- Imen BADARJAH, Actress, Facilitator & Community Engagement Professional
_______________________________________
WORKSHOP 21: Soul and Soil: The Gift of Forgiveness - An Inner Journey from Pain to Becoming
Room 115
With:
- Asmaa SLEEM, Egyptian Content and Learning Experience Designer, Facilitator & Peacebuilder
18:30 - 19:30
Dining Room
DINNER
20:00 - 21:30
Theatre
FILM SCREENING & Q&A, FOLLOWED BY A SMALL FORGIVENESS WALK IF WEATHER PERMITTING
Join us this evening in the theatre for a screening of the film "The Hardest Bridge" by filmmaker Dr Imad Karam, followed by a discussion. You are then invited for a gentle outdoor “Forgiveness Walk,” afterwards, weather permitting. An invitation to step away from the noise and into a space of reflection and renewal. As you walk in nature, we will have the opportunity to slow down, reconnect with ourself and consider what forgiveness might mean in our own life. This shared yet personal experience can help us bring clarity, release tension and open the door to new perspectives - offering a meaningful moment to pause, reflect and move forward.
22:00 - 22:30
Chapel
SONGS FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Thursday, 16 July
7:00 - 7:30
Esplanade - Caux Palace Gardens
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony in the gardens of the Caux Palace followed by a moment of quiet reflection with a view on the Swiss mountains, the Leman and the rising sun.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
7:30 - 8:30
Dining Room
BREAKFAST
09:00 - 09:20
Main Hall (4th floor)
TOGETHER TIME
Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
With:
- SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- IGNACIO PACKER,, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
9:20 - 10:45
Main Hall
PLENARY: FROM ME TO WE - Forgiveness in relationships and society
Day 4 invites us to move from “me” to “we” by exploring the role of forgiveness within relationships, communities and society.
This experiential session invites us into a shared inquiry into the conditions that make forgiveness, repair and renewed belonging possible. Through reflection, dialogue, embodied awareness and collective sensing, we will explore our own stories, as well as the often invisible relational and social conditions that shape what becomes possible between us. Together, we will listen for what is emerging beneath the surface of our conversations, creating a space where new understanding and fresh possibilities for collective healing may begin to unfold. The session will also include a dedicated moment for individual inner reflection and journaling.
With:
-
Jessica BOCKLER, Applied Artist, Transpersonal Psychologist & Co-Founding Director of the Alef Trust
-
Pontus HOLMGREN, Psychologist, Facilitator and Global Coordinator of the IDG Hubs and Networks
-
Ines MOKDADI, 2026 Global Engagement Events Coordinator at Caux Initiatives of Change, University Professor of English & Creative Leadership Youth Initiative
10:45 - 11:15
Dining Room
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
11:15 - 12:15
Communit Group Rooms
COMMUNITY GROUPS
12:15 - 13:30
Dining Room
LUNCH
13:30 - 14:30
FREE TIME IN NATURE
14:30 - 16:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 1
WORKSHOP 22: Nature-connected ways of practicing forgiveness
Meeting Point: Outside the Chapel
With:
- Dan MCTIERMAN, Certified Transpersonal Psychology Coach, Embodied Meditation Teacher, Breathwork Instructor & Co-Founder of Being Earthbound
- Karen LIEBERGUTH, Transpersonal Coach & Restorative Facilitator
___________________________________________
CANCELLED - WORKSHOP 23: Forgiveness Is Not a Speech, It Is a Skill: Practical Tools for Rebuilding Trust in Divided Communities / With: Dr Ahmed Abdelhakim Hachelaf
With:
- Dr Ahmed Abdelhakim HACHELAF
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 24: Forgiveness as our inherent nature- an ancient Indian perspective
Room 215
With:
- Dr Shugan Chand JAIN, Founder of the International School for Jain Studies & Co-Creator of Rhythm of Life
- Anita JAIN, Founder of Anandi by Anita & Co-Creator of Rhythm of Life
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 25: The Vibrant Heart: Uncovering forgiveness through presence and belonging
Room 190
With:
- Marina T. ROMERO, Author & Co-Creator of Holistic Transformation
- Samuel A. MALKEMUS, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Consciousness Studies & Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of Holistic Transformation
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 26: Flame & Flow (for Kids & Teens): Choosing Forgiveness with Courage and Compassion
Design Studio (Salon du Lac - 2nd floor off the terrace) or outside
With:
- Nina BRESSLER, Facilitator, Systems Thinker & Founder of Reimagined Value
___________________________________________
CANCELLED: WORKSHOP 27: Forgiveness as a Leadership Practice for Hope & Potential - Lessons from Rwanda
With:
- Vincent KALIMBA, Social Entrepreneur & Chairman of Envisage CBC
- Klaus MERTENS, System Transformation Coach and founder MIND CARE ACADEMY
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 28: Holding the Rift: Encountering the Alchemy of Forgiveness through Story and Relational Dialogue
Room 400 (Foyer du Théâtre, 4th floor)
With:
- Leigh JOHNSON, Learning Designer, Dialogue Practitioner, Integral Coach, Facilitator & Sustainability Mindset Practitioner
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 29: Nature as Gateway to Forgiveness
Tipi (gardens)
With:
- David KLETTER, Educator & Teacher
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 30: Film Screening & Connection Process: From Domination, to Reverence, to Forgiveness - A journey to re-member ourselves through the power of our shared origin story and Indigenous knowledge
Room 500A
With:
- Shawna Bluestar NEWCOMB, International Speaker, Facilitator & Course Creator
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 31: Traces of Redemption: Art, Forgiveness, and Collective Healing
Room 300DE
With:
Álvaro Sebastián Quiroz BOLANOS, Social Entrepreneur, Visual Artist & Activist
_____________________________________________
CANCELLED - WORKSHOP 32: When Forgiveness Becomes Possible: What Peace Processes Can Teach Us About Ourselves
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
Martin ALBANI, Senior Advisor Peacebuilding, Mediation and Negotiation
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 33: Circle of Forgiveness: Healing the Wounds of the Heart
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Tamara KHALIL, Facilitator of Transformation with the ProjectLight Community
- Nikola JURISIC, Founder of ProjectLight Advisory
16:00 - 16:30
Terrace
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
16:30 - 18:00
Rooms: see below
WORKSHOPS - Part 2
WORKSHOP 22: Nature-connected ways of practicing forgiveness
Meeting Point: Outside the Chapel
With:
- Dan MCTIERMAN, Certified Transpersonal Psychology Coach, Embodied Meditation Teacher, Breathwork Instructor & Co-Founder of Being Earthbound
- Karen LIEBERGUTH, Transpersonal Coach & Restorative Facilitator
___________________________________________
CANCELLED - WORKSHOP 23: Forgiveness Is Not a Speech, It Is a Skill: Practical Tools for Rebuilding Trust in Divided Communities / With: Dr Ahmed Abdelhakim Hachelaf
With:
- Dr Ahmed Abdelhakim HACHELAF
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 24: Forgiveness as our inherent nature- an ancient Indian perspective
Room 215
With:
- Dr Shugan Chand JAIN, Founder of the International School for Jain Studies & Co-Creator of Rhythm of Life
- Anita JAIN, Founder of Anandi by Anita & Co-Creator of Rhythm of Life
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 25: The Vibrant Heart: Uncovering forgiveness through presence and belonging
Room 190
With:
- Marina T. ROMERO, Author & Co-Creator of Holistic Transformation
- Samuel A. MALKEMUS, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Consciousness Studies & Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of Holistic Transformation
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 26: Flame & Flow (for Kids & Teens): Choosing Forgiveness with Courage and Compassion
Design Studio (Salon du Lac - 2nd floor off the terrace) or outside
With:
- Nina BRESSLER, Facilitator, Systems Thinker & Founder of Reimagined Value
___________________________________________
CANCELLED: WORKSHOP 27: Forgiveness as a Leadership Practice for Hope & Potential - Lessons from Rwanda
With:
- Vincent KALIMBA, Social Entrepreneur & Chairman of Envisage CBC
- Klaus MERTENS, System Transformation Coach and founder MIND CARE ACADEMY
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 28: Holding the Rift: Encountering the Alchemy of Forgiveness through Story and Relational Dialogue
Room 400 (Foyer du Théâtre, 4th floor)
With:
- Leigh JOHNSON, Learning Designer, Dialogue Practitioner, Integral Coach, Facilitator & Sustainability Mindset Practitioner
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 29: Nature as Gateway to Forgiveness
Tipi (gardens)
With:
- David KLETTER, Educator & Teacher
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 30: Film Screening & Connection Process: From Domination, to Reverence, to Forgiveness - A journey to re-member ourselves through the power of our shared origin story and Indigenous knowledge
Room 500A
With:
- Shawna Bluestar NEWCOMB, International Speaker, Facilitator & Course Creator
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 31: Traces of Redemption: Art, Forgiveness, and Collective Healing
Room 300DE
With:
Álvaro Sebastián Quiroz BOLANOS, Social Entrepreneur, Visual Artist & Activist
_____________________________________________
CANCELLED - WORKSHOP 32: When Forgiveness Becomes Possible: What Peace Processes Can Teach Us About Ourselves
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
Martin ALBANI, Senior Advisor Peacebuilding, Mediation and Negotiation
___________________________________________
WORKSHOP 33: Circle of Forgiveness: Healing the Wounds of the Heart
Les Galeries (4th floor)
With:
- Tamara KHALIL, Facilitator of Transformation with the ProjectLight Community
- Nikola JURISIC, Founder of ProjectLight Advisory
18:30 - 19:30
Dining Room
DINNER
20:00 - 21:30
DANCE PARTY
Let's come together and enjoy an evening of music and dance!
22:00 - 22:30
Chapel
SONGS FOR PEACE, UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Friday, 17 July
7:00 - 7:30
Esplanade - Caux Palace Gardens
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony in the gardens of the Caux Palace followed by a moment of quiet reflection with a view on the Swiss mountains, the Leman and the rising sun.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
7:30 - 8:30
Dining Room
BREAKFAST
Before 11:15 -
Reception
CHECK-OUT
To help our hospitality team, please make sure to check out of your rooms before 11:15.
You are welcome to leave your luggage in the designated storage area next to reception until departure, or bring it with you to the Main Hall for the Closing Session.
09:00 - 09:20
Main Hall (4th floor)
TOGETHER TIME
Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
With:
- SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- IGNACIO PACKER,, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
09:20 - 10:45
Main Hall (4th floor)
PLENARY: RENEWAL & NEW POSSIBILITES - The Future Emerging
This final day invites us to reflect on key ideas and insights from the conference, and to explore how forgiveness can support more constructive and meaningful dialogue. Together, we will identify open questions and future directions, while considering new possibilities that can emerge from this shared journey.
It is a moment of renewal and an opportunity to look ahead and continue the conversation on forgiveness beyond the forum.
PART 1:
With:
- Prof Izzeldine ABUELAISH, Healthcare Practitioner & Peace Advocate
Moderator:
- Prof Brian Les LANCASTER, Founding Director & Dean of the Alef Trust
_______________________________________________________
PART 2: Forward Vision
With:
- Jessica BOCKLER, Applied Artist, Transpersonal Psychologist & Co-Founding Director of the Alef Trust
- SARAH NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Nadene CANNING, IDG Practitioner, Founder InnerDevelopment@Work Facilitator & Coach Dare to Lead
- Lewis CARDINAL, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
10:45 - 11:15
COFFEE BREAK & CHECK-OUT
Yes, we agree - it's sad...but we all have to leave Caux already 😊 ! Let's have a cup of coffee together before we go into the final session.
CHECK-OUT: To help our hospitality team, please make sure to check out of your rooms before 11:15. You are welcome to leave your luggage in the designated storage area next to reception until departure, or bring it with you to the Main Hall for the Closing Session.
11:15 - 12:15
Caux Palace Gardens
CLOSING CEREMONY
Co-designed & led by:
- Lewis CARDINAL, Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Leaders
12:15 - 13:15
Dining Room
LUNCH
12:15 onwards -
DEPARTURES
Caux IDG Forum 2026: Call for Contributors for Workshops and Candlelight Conversations
13 - 17 July 2026: "The Alchemy of Forgiveness"
18/03/2026Featured Story
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13 - 17 July 2026: "The Alchemy of Forgiveness"
Call for Workshop and Candlelight Organisers!
Would you like to share your inspiration, ideas, and skills with other participants at the Caux IDG Forum this summer on the theme “The Alchemy of Forgiveness”? We look forward to receiving your application! Applications will be accepted until 27 April 2026.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Dear future Workshop & Candlelight Organisers,
This year’s Caux Inner Development Goals Forum explores forgiveness in an era of polarization, examining how this human capacity can contribute to understanding, reconciliation, and renewed relationships within communities and societies. The Forum invites participants to reflect on forgiveness across personal, relational, collective, and ecological dimensions, and to explore how it may support more constructive dialogue and cooperation in a divided world.
We invite you to create transformative workshops & candlelight conversations during the Caux IDG Forum that engage participants in exploring forgiveness through multiple ways of knowing, including dialogue, reflection, arts-based practices, embodied approaches, and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Workshops may explore themes such as: self-forgiveness, reconciliation in relationships and communities, collective healing and historical memory, and our relationship with the natural world.
We are seeking interactive, engaging, and experiential workshops for Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 of the Forum that encourage meaningful participation, shared learning, and the exploration of diverse perspectives on forgiveness.
Understanding Forgiveness as a Pathway to Regeneration and Belonging
This workshop stream invites contributions exploring forgiveness as a human capacity that can support reconciliation, renewal, and a sense of belonging in times of division and polarization. Forgiveness can open pathways for transforming pain into understanding, rebuilding trust, and strengthening cooperation within communities and across cultures.
We welcome workshops that engage forgiveness in its many dimensions, including:
- Self-forgiveness – exploring compassion, learning, and personal growth.
- Forgiveness in relationships – practices and perspectives that support dialogue, reconciliation, and restored trust.
- Forgiveness and the natural world – reflecting on human responsibility toward the Earth and our interdependence with living systems.
- Collective and historical dimensions of forgiveness – addressing inherited wounds, intergenerational trauma, truth-telling, and processes of reconciliation and decolonisation.
Contributors may draw on multiple ways of knowing, including academic research, contemplative traditions, community practices, artistic expression, and embodied or experiential approaches. We particularly encourage proposals that bring diverse cultural perspectives on forgiveness into dialogue, highlighting how different traditions approach healing, restoration, and reconciliation.
Workshops may also explore how forgiveness connects with the themes of inner development, social transformation, and ecological responsibility, reflecting the work of Initiatives of Change, the Inner Development Goals Foundation and the Alef Trust’s Nurturing the Fields of Change programme.
Through this call, the Forum seeks to create a space where scholarship, practice, and lived experience meet, fostering meaningful exchange and new perspectives on forgiveness as a resource for personal, relational, and societal renewal.
Participants and facilitators are invited to contribute to a dialogue that honors diversity of experience while exploring shared pathways toward trust, belonging, and a more regenerative future.
Workshop Guidelines
Day 2: Dimensions of Forgiveness
Intention: Encourage reflection on the personal and human dimensions of forgiveness.
What we are looking for:
- Reflect on how individuals understand forgiveness.
- Discuss common challenges and questions about forgiving.
- Consider how personal values shape views on forgiveness.
Day 3: Personal Choice and Forgiveness
Intention: Highlight forgiveness as a voluntary process shaped by personal choice and boundaries.
What we are looking for:
- Recognize forgiveness as a personal choice.
- Discuss boundaries, responsibility, and accountability.
- Explore different viewpoints on when forgiveness may or may not occur and forgiveness as a process
Day 4: From Me to We: Forgiveness in Relationships and Society
Intention: Examine forgiveness in relational, social, and collective contexts.
What we are looking for:
- Explore the role of forgiveness in relationships and communities.
- Discuss examples of reconciliation in social life.
- Consider how forgiveness can help break cycles of revenge, bitterness, and conflict.
Workshop Format & Submission Guidelines
- Each workshop lasts a total of 3 hours (180 minutes), including a 30-minute break between sessions.
- We encourage facilitators to combine theory and practice and to design interactive, participatory, and experiential formats (no lectures) that support reflection, dialogue, and shared learning among participants.
Candlelight Conversations - Guidelines
Within the workshop application form, a dedicated section is available for those interested in hosting a Candlelight Conversations session.
Held at the Caux Palace during the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum, these sessions are designed to encourage intimate, meaningful exchanges in a calm and reflective setting.
The evening will begin with a violin performance to set a peaceful tone, followed by small-group discussions on a variety of topics and in multiple languages.
Event Details:
- Location: Caux Palace
- Date: 14 July 2025, 20:00–21:30
- Duration: 90 minutes (including musical prelude, formation of groups and session)
- Atmosphere: Rooms illuminated with electronic candles to create a warm, intimate ambiance
Schedule:
- Musical Prelude
- All participants gather in the main hall for a violin performance.
- This opening moment is intended to establish a calm and contemplative atmosphere.
- Formation of Discussion Groups
- Following the prelude, hosts briefly present their sessions.
- Participants then select the discussion group they wish to join.
- Group sizes are limited to maintain an intimate and engaging environment.
- Conversation Sessions
- Once participants choose a group, they remain with it for the entire session.
- This encourages thoughtful selection of both topic and facilitator.
- Each participant carries a candle when joining their group.
- Rooms are softly lit with electronic candles to enhance the sense of closeness and reflection.
Discussion Groups:
Each group is guided by a designated conversation lead, responsible for facilitating dialogue and ensuring smooth flow and time management.
How to Apply?
- Fill out the Application Form until 27 April 2026. Please ensure all documents are complete before submission.
- If you have questions or need guidance on shaping your workshop, feel free to reach out by EMAIL.
Thank you for being part of this transformative journey. Together, we are building the inner capacities needed for global change.
We look forward to your innovative workshop proposals!
The Caux IDG Forum Organising Committee
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
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