Giving: The Quiet Force That Brings Caux To Life
A blog by Ignacio Packer, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change
19/03/2026
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.
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..
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.
Caux IDG Forum 2026 - Programme
WELCOME TO THE CAUX IDG FORUM 2026
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
ARRIVALS
Welcome to the Caux Palace!
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.
WELCOME DAY - CEREMONY: ENTERING THE THRESHOLD - EXPLORING FORGIVENESS
Intention
Explore what forgiveness is and is not, and introduce diverse perspectives
An invitation to:
- Gain an overview of different perspectives on forgiveness.
- Explore links between forgiveness, harm, accountability, and reconciliation.
- Reflect on the role of forgiveness in polarized times.
TEA & COFFEE BREAK
OPENING PLENARY
BUFFET - DINNER
FREE TIME
Enjoy the gardens of the Caux Palace, meet those in the house or visit our 2 summer exhibitions:
EXHIBITIONS
Press Cartoons
An exhibition of press cartoons dedicated to the issues of freedom of expression and democracy
- Where: Les Galeries (4th floor)
- In collaboration with: Freedom Cartoonists
"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.
- Where: Esplanade in the Caux Palace gardens
- In collaboration with: Fondation Jean Monnet pour l'Europe
GUIDED TOURS OF THE CAUX PALACE
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.
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
Tuesday, 14 July
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
BREAKFAST
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.
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
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 a community group facilitator, 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.
LUNCH
FREE TIME IN NATURE
WORKSHOPS
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
WORKSHOPS
DINNER
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.
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
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
BREAKFAST
PLENARY: PERSONAL CHOICE & FORGIVENESS - 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.
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
COMMUNITY GROUPS
LUNCH
FREE TIME IN NATURE
WORKSHOPS
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
WORKSHOPS
DINNER
AN EVENING OF GIFTS
Let's come together and enjoy an evening of music, dance and theatre!
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
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
BREAKFAST
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.
Together, we will reflect on real-life examples of reconciliation, and consider how forgiveness can help break cycles of revenge, bitterness and conflict.
This is a space to examine forgiveness in its relational and collective dimensions, and to discover how it can contribute to more connected and peaceful communities.
The session will also a include dedicated moment for individual inner reflection or journaling.
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
COMMUNITY GROUPS
LUNCH
FREE TIME IN NATURE
WORKSHOPS
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
WORKSHOPS
DINNER
OUTDOOR - THE FORGIVENESS WALK
Join us for a gentle outdoor “Forgiveness Walk,” 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.
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
GREETING THE DAY
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Indigenous Elders
BREAKFAST
COMMUNITY GROUPS & CHECK-OUT
Yes, we agree - it's sad...but we all have to leave Caux already 😊 ! Let’s come together to wrap up our time in community groups, celebrate our journey at the Caux IDG Forum, and look ahead to next steps.
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To help our hospitality team, please make sure to check out of your rooms before 10:00. You are welcome to leave your luggage in the designated storage area until departure, or bring it with you to the Main Hall for the Closing Session.
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
CLOSING SESSION: RENEWAL AND NEW POSSIBILITIES - 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.
LUNCH
DEPARTURES
Caux IDG Forum 2026: Call for Contributors for Workshops and Candlelight Conversations
13 - 17 July 2026: "The Alchemy of Forgiveness"
18/03/2026
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.
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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
Khulan Berger
Khulan Berger is an impact-driven leader and systems thinker working at the intersection of climate, culture and innovation. Rooted in Mongolia, shaped in Singapore, and based in Switzerland, she has led initiatives, built partnerships, and advised organizations advancing sustainability and systemic change. She is currently pursuing an Executive DBA (PhD) at SSBM Geneva, where she integrates engineering and business expertise to contribute to transformative change toward a just, resilient, and regenerative future.
Imagination, Arts, and the Long Work of Peace
A blog by Maruee Pahuja
10/03/2026
Maruee Pahuja (India) works at the intersection of arts, science, and human connection. An eye care practitioner, visual artist, expressive arts consultant, and process facilitator, she explores how creativity can nurture perspective, empathy, health, and pathways to peace. At the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, she leads arts-based work with young leaders through the Creative Leadership youth initiative and serves on the advisory and steering committee of the Caux Arts and Peace Encounters.
Maruee has been a speaker at a range of international events, including the Kofi Annan Peace Address 2024, the International Day of Conscience 2025, and the closing ceremony of Geneva Peace Week 2025. She has facilitated workshops exploring imagination, movement, and creative expression as powerful tools for empathy, hope, and resilience.
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I reflect critically on the times we are in, especially as an artist, resonating deeply with Adrienne Maree Brown, who writes in Emergent Strategy: “I may be guilty of being a visionary talker, so I concentrate my work on the generation of vision, the strengthening of the muscle of looking forward together.”
The role of the arts in peacebuilding has allowed me to step into an intersection I’ve been intentionally walking for years. Preparing for the Caux Arts and Peace Encounters last year and the workshop at Geneva Peace Week 2025 was both a joy and a reckoning. What may appear as a few weeks of preparation is actually years of invisible work: research, practice, trial anderror, and trust in the arts and in humanity, even amid challenging political ecosystems.
The role of the arts in peacebuilding
In our line of work, burnout, hopelessness, and empathy exhaustion are common. My friend Debra Roberts once said to me: "Trust your creativity; it's really the ultimate insurance policy in life. The creative act is what keeps us alive and well." If we want to continue working as changemakers, leaders, and peacebuilders, we must also build hope and the capacity to be alive and well.
As peacebuilding pioneer John Paul Lederach says, peacebuilding itself is a creative act. This connects to the idea of salutogenesis — the origin of health. It’s not about curing disease after it occurs, but focusing on the conditions that create health and resilience.
We are in the midst of a polycrisis. Overwhelm, fatigue, and anxiety are inevitable. Many young leaders I’ve worked with have expressed these struggles.
Building and sustaining imagination in such times is therefore our responsibility as creative beings, and the arts offer one of the most vital pathways through which this capacity can be nurtured.
If we want to continue working as changemakers, leaders, and peacebuilders, we must also build hope and the capacity to be alive and well.
Maruee delivering the arts-based workshop "Peace in Practice" at Geneva Peace Week 2025
A Concrete Example: Creative Leadership and Youth
As part of the Creative Leadership youth team at Caux Initiatives of Change. I began introducing creativity and expressive arts to online conferences and gatherings for young people worldwide. Since then, we have hosted five online conferences — from exploring uncertainty to imagining new possibilities, reimagining democracies, and weaving counter narratives.
Through arts-based methods like creative writing, visual expression, movement, music, photography, nature-based arts, mindfulness, and creative dialogue participants learn to explore other ways of knowing - imaginative, intuitive, embodied.
This year, we are going to host “Reimagining Democracy(ies)”, the second edition of our in-house programme for young leaders at the Caux Palace, and we will continue to integrate these creative approaches and practices of learning and dialogue.
These are embodied ways of creating change that ripple outward. Participants create arts-based workshops in their communities, schools, and organizations using creative methods to foster dialogue, empathy, and healing. Many report the arts-based sessions as the most impactful workshops they haveattended, and some seek guidance on designing arts interventions for youth in their organisations.
Arts as Process, Not Product
It’s important to distinguish between arts as product or skill and arts as processes for community building, expression, and healing. Many people conflate art therapy, expressive arts therapy, art as therapy and other arts-based approaches, but each has a unique philosophy and methodology.
In my own practice, these dimensions also intersect in different ways:
As an ocularist, I restore vision and presence to individuals who have lost an eye due to trauma, war, or disease. This technical and artistic work restores dignity, hope, and social engagement.
As a visual artist, I create multisensory installations that expand perceptual empathy, exploring themes of visibility, identity, inclusion, and perception. The goal is not to produce a fixed product but to provoke reflection and relational understanding.
As an expressive arts facilitator, I guide participants through creative processes that foster relational transformation, dialogue, and community resilience. The aim is not to create a polished piece of art, but to hold a space where meaning can emerge and empathy and imagination can take root and grow.
Several insights have emerged from this work:
- From making sense to sense-making: expression and embodiment first, reflection after.
- Act → Pause → Reflect → Insight: a cyclical non-linear approach
- Low skill, high sensitivity: breaking performance-based barriers and tapping into inherent creative capacity.
Arts can also be disruptive, challenging dominant narratives, expanding perspectives, and questioning assumed “truths.” In a world that reduces people to roles or data points, the arts re-humanize, creating possibilities few dare to imagine.
As Maria Popova writes: "The very few — those who refuse to mistake the limits of the permissible for the horizon of the possible — will build a whole new table, populating the fresh slate of its surface with options others have not dared imagine. These are the visionaries, [the artists] — the only people who have ever changed this world."
The goal is not to create a polished piece of art, but to hold a space, surface meaning, and cultivate empathy and imagination.
Sustainability in Peacebuilding
Sustainability in peacebuilding forums is not simply about maintaining programmes. It is about nurturing regenerative capacities: imagination, curiosity, relational trust, and creative thinking.
Arts practices can help sustain hope even amid complexity and crisis.
Poetry and policy both have a place in peacebuilding.
Of course, challenges remain — limited resources, the risk of superficial engagement with the arts, and the difficulty of measuring subtle impacts such as relational trust or inner resilience. Yet these micro-practices embody the principles of emergent strategy: small, adaptive, relational actions that gradually shape worldviews of the future.
Ultimately, the question may not be whether peace can exist, but how we create the conditions for it to be imagined anew.
The question may not be whether peace can exist, but how we create the conditions for it to be imagined anew.
Final Reflections
As we are preparing for the next edition of the Caux Arts and Peace Encounters (10 - 13 May 2026), I find myself holding more questions than answers — but also a deep sense of conviction.
- One thought and idea can change the course of history.
- Belief systems are living, not fixed, and can be rewritten.
- The arts are quiet, patient forces that remind us of our shared humanity.
- Mastery is not knowing everything; it is staying open to what we do not yet know.
The arts invite us to inhabit curiosity deeply, expand consciousness, and sustain hope — essential tools for building peace in today’s world.
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Caux Arts and Peace Encounters 2026: Next Steps
In a world where peace and cross-cultural understanding face increasing challenges, creating spaces for dialogue, empathy, and connection has never been more urgent. The arts are powerful tools to navigate complex emotions, foster healing, bridge divides, and build understanding.
Be part of this transformative gathering at Caux Arts and Peace Encounters 2026 (10 – 13 May 2026), where artists, peacebuilders, and changemakers explore how creativity can spark meaningful change in communities and in the world.
REGISTER NOW
WELCOME TO THE CAUX DEMOCRACY FORUM 2026 - PROGRAMME
Revitalising Democracy: Hope, Healing and Human Security
We are excited to welcome you to this year's edition of the Caux Democracy Forum, created at a time when democracy across Europe and around the world is facing growing strain.
Through its focus on revitalising democracy, nurturing hope, fostering healing and strengthening human security, the programme creates a space to rebuild trust, inspire participation and shape more inclusive, just and sustainable futures for all.
We look forward to seeing you in Caux!
Please note that this programme is subject to modifications.
programme
Monday, 22 June
OPENING SESSION
ABOUT THE EVENT
Bringing together leaders, practitioners and changemakers from diverse sectors and regions, the Opening Ceremony of the Caux Democracy Forum will spark reflection on the state of democracy today and illuminate pathways for renewal.
You will be introduced to the core themes driving the 5-day Caux Democracy Forum and to the journey that continues in Caux, where deeper dialogue, learning and collaboration will unfold throughout the week.
This opening moment is designed to create a vibrant shared space—a chance to reconnect, find inspiration and envision tangible possibilities for democratic transformation.
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
MASTER OF CEREMONY:
- Sarah NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Creative Peacebuilding & Inner Development at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
WELCOME ADDRESS
- Jacqueline COTÉ, President of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Ambassador Tim ENDERLIN, Head of Peace and Human Rights Division, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
WORDS OF WISDOM
"Ethics, responsibility and the future of democracy": A reflective leadership intervention offering long-term political insight
- H.E. Yukio HATOYAMA, Former Prime Minister of Japan (2009–2010)
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
GLOBAL KEYNOTE PERSPECTIVES
High-level international leaders provide a global overview of democratic governance and human rights challenges.
With musical interludes by Lou Rémy.
- Lieutenant Governor Ghazala F. HASHMI, Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. State of Virginia (USA) - Special video message (due to unforeseen scheduling circumstances)
- Matjaž GRUDEN, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
- Peggy HICKS, Director of the Thematic and Special Procedures Division of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
MUSICAL & ARTISTIC INTERLUDE
With:
- Sveinung NYGAARD, Composer & Musician
- Lisa YASKO, Musician and a Member of Parliament of Ukraine
THE INNER DIMENSION OF DEMOCRACY
This session shifts the focus to the human, cultural, and psychological foundations that sustain democratic life.
Co-Moderators:
- Ignacio PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Sidra RASLAN, Co-Founder Creative Leadership youth initiative & HP Amplify Impact Partner Sustainability Program Support and Community Lead
PART 1: Youth and Democracy - Young Voices from the Front Row
A conversation with young leaders from around the globe.
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
PART 2: Linking Inner and Outer Transformation: Bridging Mindset, Behaviour, Culture, and System Change
An exploration of how sustainability and democracy require transformations across individual and collective beliefs, values, worldviews, and the inner capacities that shape them.
With:
-
Christine WAMSLER, Professor, Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS)
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
PART 3: A conversation on participative democracy
An interactive dialogue highlighting citizen engagement and participatory governance models.
With:
- Christine LUTRINGER, Executive Director & Senior Researcher, Albert Hirschmann Institute on Democracy - Graduate Institute Geneva
- Marie HÜRLIMANN, Co-Director, Foraus – Swiss Forum on Foreign Policy
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
PART 4: Women Revitalising Democracy: Economy, Trustbuilding, and Humanitarian Principles
With:
- Ai SASAKI, Chairperson, Asia Women Leaders Forum (AWLF)
Women at the heart of democratic economies
This intervention highlights the role of women’s leadership, inclusive economic models, and cross-regional cooperation in strengthening democratic resilience.
- Talia SMITH, Trustbuilding Program Manager, on behalf of Initiatives of Change International, award winner of the 2026 Luxembourg Peace Prize
Strengthening democracy through Trustbuilding
A focus on how Trustbuilding approaches can foster inclusive societies, rebuild civic trust, and support democratic participation.
- Elisabeth DECREY WARNER, Founder and former Executive President, Geneva Call & Director of The Geneva Conventions' World Tour
Reactivating humanitarian principles: The Geneva Convention’s World Tour
As the Geneva Conventions face growing challenges, this global initiative mobilizes civil society through a symbolic torch journey to raise awareness, strengthen democratic accountability, and reaffirm humanitarian principles and human dignity.
CLOSING REMARKS
- Ignacio PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Sidra RASLAN, Co-Founder Creative Leadership youth initiative & HP Amplify Impact Partner Sustainability Program Support and Community Lead
MUSIC
- Lou RÉMY, Violin
REFRESHMENTS
A short coffee break with be offered at the end of the Opening Ceremony.
TRANSFER TO CAUX & CHECK-IN
For participants of the Caux Democracy Forum who have registered for:
- the full residential forum (22 - 26 June)
- a 2-Night Caux Experience (starting 22 June)
- participation at the Reimagining Democracy(ies) programme for young leaders
The bus journey from Geneva to the Caux Palace in buses, departing at 16:45 and 16:55 will be the opportunity, beyond the logistical travel, to connect people in the bus and inform on Caux as part of the International Geneva ecosystem offering a place to step back from daily institutional pressures and engage in deeper conversations on democracy, leadership, and human responsibility.
Please note that the bus transfer is included in bookings for all participants of the 2-Night Caux Experience and the full residential Caux Democracy Forum.
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For those travelling by car: For those arriving from Geneva/Lausanne/Vevey, please 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.
DINNER
WELCOME TO CAUX & INTRODUCTION TO OUR EXHIBITIONS
A warm and interactive welcome to everyone to the Caux community, setting the tone for the week ahead. It’s a chance to kick off our time in Caux together, discover the Caux Palace and Initiatives of Change and find out who's in the house. You get an overview of the week’s themes and structure, and learn what to expect from the journey ahead. We will also introduce the Solidarity Café, more spaces at the Caux Palace where you can connect, share ideas, explain how the arts will be embedded throught the Forum and and discover our summer exhibitions! Moderation: With: Music "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, will present 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. With: Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement - Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation ________________________ "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. With: Boris BRUCKLER, Information & Documentation Specialist, Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe ________________________ "Icons on Ammo Boxes" The Caux Democracy Forum is proud to welcome three works from the Ukrainian art project "Icons on Ammo Boxes". Created on ammunition boxes recovered from areas affected by the war in Ukraine, these powerful artworks transform symbols of conflict into symbols of hope, dignity and resilience. They offer a moving reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of defending democratic values, peace and human dignity. Their presence at Caux reflects the Forum’s commitment to dialogue, resilience and the belief that even in times of conflict, humanity can prevail. With: Nataliya BEZBORODVA, Scholar, Curator & Public Activist ________________________ "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. With: Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement - Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation ________________________ "The Truth will set you free" A selection of paintings by Swiss-German artist Ulrike Keller With: Ulrike KELLER, Artist & Peacebuilder 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.
OPENING OF OUR SUMMER EXHIBITIONS
VISITING THE EXHIBITIONS & REFRESHMENTS
You are invited to visit the different exhibition spaces and enjoy refreshments available on the Esplanade (weather permitting) and in “Les Galeries” (4th floor).
EVENING REFLECTION & TAIZÉ SINGING
The day concludes with a time of quiet reflection, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Tuesday, 23 June
GREETING OF THE DAY & QUIET TIME FOR THE INNER COMPASS
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
- David FABER (Canada), Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Laurie JOHNSTON (USA), Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston.USA
BREAKFAST
WHO DO WE ELECT AND WHAT KIND OF CITIZENS DO WE CHOOSE TO BE?
Personal Stories & Conversations
What makes democracy truly work: strong leaders, engaged citizens, or both? What kind of leaders do we support or want to be? What values guide our choices? And what kind of citizens do we aspire to be?
Day 2 of the Caux Democracy Forum invites us to explore the vital relationship between democratic leadership and active citizenship. Bringing together political leaders, civil society voices, and participants from around the world, the day will examine how trust, responsibility, and civic engagement shape the vitality of democratic societies.
Through lived experiences and inspiring personal stories, we will reflect on responsibility, trust, and participation and explore our own role in renewing democratic life.
Music:
- Lou REMY, Violinist
Co-Moderators:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- Sawsan RASLAN (Syria), Creative Leadership & Sustainability and Controls Assurance, Deloitte
With:
- H.E. Yukio HATOYAMA (Japan), Former Prime Minister of Japan from 2009 to 2010
- Lieutenant Governor Ghazala F. HASHMI (USA), Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. State of Virgina
- Laurent WEHRLI (Switzerland), Member of the Swiss National Council
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Let's meet in the Main Hall for a quick introduction to our our Community Groups!
Community Groups are a core part of the Caux Democracy Forum experience, helping to build a sense of unity and shared purpose—“Let’s do this together!”
These small, diverse groups of around 15 participants offer a space to reflect on the plenary themes, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s lived experiences. Guided by a community group facilitator, 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 us to be fully present, listen openly, and speak from the heart—if and when participants feel ready. They are often a great place to forge new and inspiring friendships.
Co-Coordinators:
- Véronique SIKORA (Switzerland), Facilitator & Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Management, Yverdon-les-Bains
- Sawsan RASLAN (Syria), Creative Leadership & Sustainability and Controls Assurance, Deloitte
LUNCH
NETWORKING & FREE TIME
Special Lunchbreak Offer: Discover the Caux Palace with a guided tour
With:
- Andrew STALLYBRASS, Caux Palace in-house historian and tour guide
Secure your spot and register at the Welcome Desk (entrance hall - 4th floor).
Meeting point for the tour is at 13:30 sharp at the entrance hall.
Number of participants: max 15
IN CONVERSATION WITH...PASCAL COUCHEPIN
Language: French with interpretation
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Key Conversation with:
- Pascal COUCHEPIN (Switzerland), Former President of the Swiss Confederation in 2003 and 2008
Drawing on Pascal Couchepin's experience at the highest levels of public service and his deep knowledge of Swiss institutions, we will explore the evolving relationship between democratic leadership and civic responsibility. The conversation aims to reflect on how democratic systems can sustain trust, accountability, and active citizenship in a changing political landscape.
Facilitated by:
- Chantal TAUXE (Switzerland), Journalist and known for her work on politics, society, and public affairs in French-speaking Switzerland.
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
DEEP DIVE PARALLEL SESSIONS
DEEP DIVE 1: Keeping Democracy Alive - People Fostering Societal Cohesion
This session aims to highlight the diverse ways in which citizens and communities contribute to strengthening the social fabric on which democracy depends.
- Language: English & French (with interpretation)
- Venue: Les Galeries (4th floor)
Co-Moderators:
- Ines MOKDADI (Tunisia), Global Engagement Events Coordinator 2026, Caux Foundation
- Manuela GARAY (Canada), Creative Leadership & Community Associate and Event Coordinator, IWG
With:
- Sentiment ONDO ELIBIYO, former Coordinator of Tournons la Page (TLP) Gabon & Deputy Secretary TLP International, on revitalising and dynamizing civil society in a country where everything has been severely undermined.
- Hiroshi ISHIDA (Japan), Executive Director, Caux Round Table Japan
- Lisa PEDICINO, Co‑Director of the Think & Act Tank INES – Institut Neue Schweiz
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DEEP DIVE 2: The Democracy Stack: Moving Democracy to the Digital Realm - Towards a thriving economy for people and planet
Organised in collaboration with EPFL - Center for Digital Trust
Like many aspects of everyday life, democracies increasingly rely on digital services, creating opportunities for inclusion and efficiency, while introducing new vulnerabilities. Digital identities, e-voting, and e-collection of signatures are foundational elements that enable democratic processes through digital means. However, the promise of more secure, efficient, and inclusive democracies comes with significant challenges if not properly implemented, including fraud, coercion, privacy breaches, security threats, misinformation, and surveillance risks.
The Center for Digital Trust (C4DT) at EPFL aims to initiate dialogue on this frontier issue by convening interdisciplinary experts to collaboratively identify requirements and building blocks for trustworthy digital democracy. This session will gather perspectives from government, industry, civil society, and academia to establish core technical, legal, and social foundations needed and catalyze the cross-sector collaboration necessary to realize them.
- Language: English with AI-supported interpretation
- Venue: Main Hall (4th floor)
- Livestream
Introduction:
- Asheesh KANEJA, Innovation Catalyst
Moderator:
- Katherine LOH, Strategic Initiatives Lead at C4DT/EPFL
With:
- Dr. Iuliia SPYCHER, Postdoc at the Competence Center for Public Management (KPM) at the University of Bern
- Andrzej NOWAK, Head of Open Innovation at SICPA
- Sandro SCALCO, Project Lead E-Collecting at the Foundation for Direct Democracy
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DEEP DIVE 3: What kind of democracy in the face of rising racism and intolerance? - Healing the Wounds of the Past
A week after the Swiss referendum on “No to a Switzerland of 10 Million,” regardless of the outcome, one question stands out: what kind of democracy do we want in the face of rising intolerance and racism?
Between memory, political choices, and civic responsibility, the issue is not only who we elect but, above all, who we choose to be.
We will explore:
- the role of cultural institutions and narratives in building a conscious and inclusive citizenship,
- how the memory of the past influences our current democratic choices,
- and individual and collective responsibility in the face of today’s challenges of racism.
- Language: French with AI-supported interpretation
- Venue: Theatre (4th floor)
With:
- Carine Ayélé DURAND, Social Anthropologist, Museum of Ethnography Geneva (MEG)
- Léo BULLIARD, PhD Student at the University of Neuchâtel
- Sylvie MAKELA, Co-Founder Tribus Urbaines & Vice-President MélanieSuisse
Moderated by:
- Luisa BALLIN (Italy/Switzerland), Journalist
RECEPTION
DINNER
CANDLELIGHT CONVERSATIONS
Meet in the Main Hall to discover 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 by:
- Ignacio PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Foundation
Musical Interlude:
- Sveinung NYGAARD, Composer & Musician
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OUR CANDLELIGHT CONVERSATIONS
Reflecting on Forgotten Crises : The Example of Ethiopia (Language: French)
As global attention shifts elsewhere, profound human suffering continues in Ethiopia. This conversation invites reflection on forgotten crises, human dignity, and the challenge of sustaining empathy and international attention.
With:
- Kidist DEGAFFE, Changemaker
- Meaza ESTIFO, Changemaker
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Rethinking politics – a path of life, crossings and transformation (Language: English)
Marie-Antoinette Micheli will share her journey of civic and political engagement and the initiatives led by the Swiss Green Alliance around ecology, democracy and societal transformation. Drawing on a life shaped by resilience, she will reflect on the experiences that continue to inspire her commitment to positive change.
With:
- Marie-Antoinette MICHELI, Green Alliance Switzerland
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What will tomorrow's pro-democracy activist look like? (Language: French)
A discussion on new forms of civic engagement, emerging democratic challenges and the hopes held by African civil societies.
With:
- Mathieu POURCHIER, Executive Director, Tournons la Page
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Grace in the Ruins. Stories of Pain and Forgiveness (Language: English)
Join a conversation with Dr. Eba Hathout, a Muslim Egyptian-American physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, educated in Kuwait, the UK, Switzerland, and the USA. Alongside a four-decade medical career, she founded the Hassan Hathout Foundation, building bridges across divides, including creative contests and interfaith dialogues such as “For the Love of Tomorrow.”
With:
- Dr Eba HATHOUT, Physician and Professor at Harvard Medical School
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Difference: a source of peace or conflict? (Language: French)
A conversation on peacebuilding across differences, inspired by experiences from Burundi.
With:
- Kakoma NTAMBU, Peacebuilder from Burundi
- Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA, Peacebuilder from Burundi
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The ongoing crime against humanity against Chagossians: Colonialism, Racism, Military Interests, and 70 Years Without a Voice (Language: English)
Forced from their homeland, the Chagos Archipelago, between 1965 and 1973 to make way for a military base, the Chagossian people remain largely excluded from decisions about their future. As renewed geopolitical interest in its largest island, Diego Garcia, grows, this session asks: what does it take for a displaced people’s voice to finally be heard?
With:
- Bernadette DUGASSE, Native Chagossian born on Diego Garcia, Co-ounder of ICP
- Beatrice POMPÉ, Native Chagossian born on Diego Garcia,Co-Founder of ICP
- Elodie TRANCHEZ, Human Rights Lawyer
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A Fireside Conversation on the Future of Refugees as Rebuilders (Language: English)
With:
- Eman ALAMIN
- Muna ISMAIL
- Claudia SANTOS, Consultant & Independent Researcher
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Ukraine - Democracy's Frontline (Language: English)
With:
- Angela STARAVOYTOVA, Dialogue Facilitator & Trainer in Effective Communication
EVENING REFLECTION & TAIZÉ SINGING
The day concludes with a time of quiet reflection featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Wednesday, 24 June
GREETING OF THE DAY & QUIET TIME FOR THE INNER COMPASS
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
- David FABER (Canada), Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Laurie JOHNSTON (USA), Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston.USA
BREAKFAST
COMMUNITY & PARTICIPATION - A DAY TO EXPERIENCE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
Personal Stories & Conversations
What kind of citizens do we choose to be in a time of democratic uncertainty?
Day 3 of the Caux Democracy Forum invites us to explore how communities, civic engagement, personal responsibility shape the health of democratic societies and participation in different democratic contexts.
Co-Moderation:
- John BOND (UK/Australia), Journalist & Author, Initiatives of Change
- Cyrine AZAIEZ (Tunisia), Creative Leadership & Migration Researcher, Sustainability Advocate & Intercultural Dialogue Facilitator.
With:
- Shri Pramod BORO (India), Regional Leader & Former Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council
- Wilson HASDA (India), Social Work Professional, Community Leader & Public Representative
- Cathy McGOWAN (Australia), former Member of the Australian House of Representatives
- Dr Poorna GUNASEKERA (UK/Sri Lanka), Medical Doctor, Academic and Founder of Global Plymouth
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
COMMUNITY GROUPS
LUNCH
NETWORKING & FREE TIME
Special Lunchbreak Offer: Discover the Caux Palace with a guided tour
With:
- Andrew STALLYBRASS, Caux Palace in-house historian and tour guide
Secure your spot and register at the Welcome Desk (entrance hall - 4th floor).
Meeting point for the tour is at 13:30 sharp at the entrance hall.
Number of participants: max 15
LET'S GET EQUIPPED
Introduction to the equip sessions of the day.
Why are our workshops called "Equip Sessions"?
Because democracy needs more than debate. It needs people equipped to respond to today's challenges.
From growing polarisation and social division to economic and environmental pressures, the challenges we face require new skills, fresh perspectives, and stronger collaboration.
That's exactly what the 19 EQUIP SESSIONS at the Caux Democracy Forum 2026 are designed to provide.
Choose from workshops across three tracks:
- Healing the Wounds of the Past: Truth-telling, repair, and reconciliation.
- Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet: Building systems that support wellbeing within planetary boundaries.
- People Fostering Societal Cohesion: Strengthening belonging, trust, and cooperation across differences.
Whether you're a leader, practitioner, student, or engaged citizen, come and equip yourself to help revitalise democracy.
EQUIP SESSIONS - SERIES 1: CHOOSE YOUR WORKSHOP
EQUIP SESSIONS - PART 1
Experience the joyfulness and power of your voice
- With:
- Pierre WALTHER - Fast4Meter, Artist & Storyteller
- Language: English, German, French
- Venue: Main Hall (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 20
- Track: Healing the Wounds of the Past
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Managing Democracy in Times of Crisis: Democracy in Crisis - Lived Experience
- With:
- Leonid DONOS, Executive Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Kateryna MALTSEVA, Programme Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Mariam POLOYAN, Communicatons Manager, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Olga MEREZHUK, Operations and Programme Officer at Initiatives of Change International
- Language: English
- Venue: Les Galeries (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
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Who is left out? - Inequity, Empathy, and the Health of Democracy
- With:
- Julia SULLIVAN, Clinical Associate Professor, Arizona State University
- Language: English
- Venue: 400 (Foyer du Théâtre - 4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: People Fostering Societal Cohesion
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From Enmity to Connection: Practising Social Cohesion in Times of Conflict.
- With:
- Sophie KAYES, Human Rights Advocate & Campaigner
- Mira ONISCHENKO SCHLATE, Filmmaker
- Language: English
- Venue: 300 D/E (3rd floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: People Fostering Societal Cohesion
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Resilient Supply Chains, Shared Prosperity: Rethinking Business in Times of Crisis
- With:
- Yuko TSUTSUI, Managing Executive Officer, NYK Line
- Hiroshi ISHIDA, Executive Director, Caux Round Table Japan
- Miho OKADA, Director, Caux Round Table Japan
- Language: English
- Venue: 400A (Salon du Pasquier - 4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
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When Trust Takes Shape: Exploring Connection through the Arts and Dialogue
- With:
- Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement - Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Audrey CAVELIUS, Artist
- Language: French
- Venue: 300B (3rd floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: People Fostering Societal Cohesion
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
CONNECTING WITH NATURE - CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY
YOUR TIME, YOUR EXPERIENCE
This afternoon offers space to enjoy the spectacular surroundings of the Caux Palace in whatever way feels right for you - join a nature walk, discover the tipi, take time for reflection, explore the area, or simply slow down, rest and recharge in the peaceful mountain setting.
With a flexible, choose-your-own format, you are free to shape your experience in a way that feels meaningful, balancing quiet moments, exploration, and connection.
A MOMENT OF CONNECTION IN THE TIPI
Gather under and around the tipi in the Caux gardens for a special encounter with Lewis Cardinal and Davis Faber. This moment offers a space for reflection and exchange, where indigenous perspectives meet the natural surroundings.
By reconnecting respect for nature with respect for community, this session offers a powerful lens on the cultural and spiritual foundations of a more conscious, participatory democracy.
- Venue: Tipi (garden)
- Number of participants: max. 50
- Language: English (with French interpretation)
With:
- Lewis CARDINAL (Canada), Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- David FABER (Canada), Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
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EXPERIENTIAL NATURE WALK
Join Olivia Chollet for a nature walk inspired by the Deep Time experience - a guided walk through the history of our planet Earth, blending mindful walking with Earth science, history and ecology.
This humbling walk offers a living practice of democratic renewal: learning to engage differently with the more-than-human world, perceive complexity, and engage with the world as an interconnected and precious system in which every presence matters.
Medium fitness level required - we will be walking uphill!
It will be hot - please remember to bring a hat, sunglasses and plenty of water.
With:
- Olivia CHOLLET, Caux Initiatives of Change
- Meeting Point: Entrance Hall (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max. 20
- Language: English
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SELF-GUIDED WALKS IN NATURE AROUND THE CAUX PALACE
Choose from a variety of self-guided walks adapted to different physical levels (pick up information at the Welcome Desk in the entrance hall). Whether you prefer a gentle stroll through scenic paths or a more challenging hike, there is something for everyone.
DINNER
FILM SCREENING: "DEMOCRACY NOIR"
Language: English (with subtitles & AI-supported interpretation)
Democratic resilience and the warning signs of democratic backsliding
This evening session invites participants to reflect on the fragility and resilience of democratic institutions through the screening of the documentary Democracy Noir (watch the trailer).
The film explores how democratic erosion can occur gradually when the safeguards of democracy—independent courts, media pluralism, oversight institutions, and fair political competition—are weakened. Rather than dramatic ruptures, it illustrates how shifts in laws, institutional capture, and control of the information space can slowly undermine democratic accountability.
Set in Hungary, the documentary follows three women—an opposition politician, an investigative journalist, and a nurse—who confront corruption and democratic backsliding in their daily lives. Their stories illustrate the courage and persistence of citizens working to defend democratic values in challenging political environments.
Following the screening, a panel discussion will broaden the conversation to examine global trends of democratic backsliding. Speakers from Europe and the United States will reflect on warning signs of democratic erosion, the role of civil society, and how institutions and citizens can strengthen democratic resilience.
Taking place shortly after Hungary’s parliamentary elections in April 2026, the discussion provides a timely opportunity to reflect on democratic developments in Europe and beyond. Perspectives from Ireland will also offer insights into democratic renewal and civic participation.
The session invites participants to engage in dialogue around a central question:
How can citizens, institutions, and democratic cultures respond when democratic safeguards begin to weaken?
PANEL DISCUSSION: SLIDING DEMOCRACIES - WARNING SIGNS & CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Language: English (with AI-supported interpretation & live interpretation for French)
With:
- Amanda FERNANDES (USA), Policy Director, ACLU Hawaii
- Szabó TIMEA (Hungary), Politician and Protagonist of the film "Democracy Noir" (hybrid participation)
- Ani SULIKASHVILI (Georgia), President of JEF Georgia, directly elected Federal Committee member of JEF Europe and Co‑Chair of its Political Commission 3 on External Affairs and Global Governance
Moderator:
- Allan-Charles CHIPMAN, Executive Director Initiatives of Change USA -
EVENING REFLECTION & TAIZÉ SINGING
The day concludes with a time of quiet reflection featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Thursday, 25 June
GREETING OF THE DAY & QUIET TIME FOR THE INNER COMPASS
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
- David FABER (Canada), Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Laurie JOHNSTON (USA), Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston.USA
BREAKFAST
Check-in: What's on the programme today
Touch base, check in - and discover today's programme and our equip session of the day!
EQUIP SESSIONS - SERIES 2: CHOOSE YOUR WORKSHOP
EQUIP SESSIONS - PART 2
Experience the joyfulness and power of your voice
- With:
- Pierre WALTHER - Fast4Meter, Artist & Storyteller
- Language: English, German, French
- Venue: Main Hall (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 20
- Track: Healing the Wounds of the Past
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Managing Democracy in Crisis: Democracy Within - Personal Transformation
- With:
- Leonid DONOS, Executive Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Kateryna MALTSEVA, Programme Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Mariam POLOYAN, Communicatons Manager, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Olga MEREZHUK, Operations and Programme Officer at Initiatives of Change International
- Language: English
- Venue: Les Galeries (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Equip - The Initiatives of Change Starter Kit
- With:
- Christoph SPRENG, Editor and Coordinator of the INGO Dialogue Toolkit initiative & IofC Representative to the Council of Europe
- Ines MOKDADI, Global Engagement Events Coordinator 2026 & Professor of English in Kairouan, Tunisia
- Language: English (with French interpretation)
- Venue: 400 (Foyer du Théâtre - 4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: People Fostering Societal Cohesion
_______________________________________________________
From Polarisation to Dialogue: Practical tools for mediation and negotiation
- With:
- Martin ALBANI, Senior Advisor Peacebuilding, Mediation and Negotiation
- Language: English
- Venue: 400A (Salon du Pasquier - 4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Healing the Wounds of the Past
_______________________________________________________
Siena's Allegory of Good and Bad Government
- With:
- Laurie JOHNSTON, Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston/USA
- Language: English
- Venue: 300D/E (3rd floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Healing the Wounds of the Past
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Practicing Listening: Welcome the Other to strengthen democratic dialgoue
- With:
- Philippe UNGAR, Writer, Sound Archivist & Filmmaker
- Language: French
- Venue: Room 415 (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 20
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
MARKET PLACE OF IDEAS & INITIATIVES
One of the most vibrant moments of the Forum will be our Marketplace of Initiatives & Ideas, taking place on Thursday 25 June and we warmly invite you to showcase an initiative, project, publication, campaign, or innovative idea, and connect with other participants from around the world.
The Marketplace is designed as a welcoming and participatory space where participants can discover one another's work, exchange experiences, spark new collaborations, and continue conversations beyond the plenary sessions. The Marketplace celebrates the extraordinary diversity of experiences, ideas, and initiatives present within the Forum community. It offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work in an informal setting and connect with participants from across sectors, countries, and generations.
Whether you are involved in a civil society initiative, research project, artistic endeavour, democratic innovation, publication, campaign, or community-based action, we would be delighted to learn more about your work.
You would like to apply? Please contact us by EMAIL before 15 June.
LUNCH
NETWORKING & FREE TIME
Special Lunchbreak Offer: Discover the Caux Palace with a guided tour
With:
- Andrew STALLYBRASS, Caux Palace in-house historian and tour guide
Secure your spot and register at the Welcome Desk (entrance hall - 4th floor).
Meeting point for the tour is at 13:30 sharp at the entrance hall.
Number of participants: max 15
EQUIP SESSIONS - SERIES 3: CHOOSE YOUR WORKSHOP
EQUIP SESSIONS - PART 3
Experience the joyfulness and power of your voice
- With:
- Pierre WALTHER - Fast4Meter, Artist & Storyteller
- Language: English, German, French
- Venue: Main Hall (4th floor)
- Participants: max 20
- Track: Healing the Wounds of the Past
_______________________________________________________
Managing Democracy in Crisis: Democracy in Motion - From Insight to Action
- With:
- Leonid DONOS, Executive Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Kateryna MALTSEVA, Programme Director, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Mariam POLOYAN, Communicatons Manager, Association for Community Participatory Development (ACPD)
- Olga MEREZHUK, Operations and Programme Officer at Initiatives of Change International
- Language: English
- Venue: Room 415 (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Equip to improve accountability and transparency in public life
- With:
- Christoph SPRENG, Editor and Coordinator of the INGO Dialogue Toolkit initiative & IofC Representative to the Council of Europe
- Language: English
- Venue: 300D/E (3rd floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Solstice Day at the Caux Palace: Restitution Session
- With:
- Lewis CARDINAL,Communicator, Educator & Storyholder, Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
- David FABER, Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Language: English
- Venue: Tipi (garden)
- Number of participants: max. 50
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Speak up: Practising Active Bystander Behaviour for Inclusive Democracy
- With:
- Hannah REINL, Project Manager at the International Gender Champions
- Language: English
- Venue: SHMS Gym Room (4th floor - off entrance hall)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Democracy & the Arts - Perspectives on Europe and the World
- With:
- Boris BRUCKLER, Information & Documentation Specialist, Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe
- Anne-Catherine SUTERMEISTER, Head of Community Engagement - Switzerland, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Language: French
- Venue: Les Galeries (4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: Towards a Thriving Economy for People and Planet
_______________________________________________________
Elections under Attack
- With:
- Sentiment ONDO ELIBIYO, Former Coordinator of Tournons la Page (TLP) Gabon & Deputy Secretary TLP International, specialist in citizen election monitoring
- Karen ZAMBERIA, Political Analyst & Consultant
- Facilitator:
- Laurie JOHNSTON, Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston/USA
- Language: English & French (interpretation)
- Venue: 400A (Salon du Pasquier - 4th floor)
- Number of participants: max 25
- Track: People Fostering Societal Cohesion
COFFEE & TEA BREAK
PLENARY - RESTITUTION OF THE EQUIP SESSIONS
Moderation:
- Sophie KAYES, Human Rights Advocate & Campaigner
- Daniela MUTIS, General Delegate, Initiatives of Change France
DINNER
CAUX'S GOT TALENT
EVENING REFLECTION & TAIZÉ SINGING
The day concludes with a time of quiet reflection featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
- Tsvetana PETRUSHINA, Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach
Friday, 26 June
GREETING OF THE DAY & QUIET TIME FOR THE INNER COMPASS
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
- David FABER (Canada), Advocate for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Laurie JOHNSTON (USA), Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College, Boston.USA
BREAKFAST
CHECK-OUT
Please make sure to check out of your rooms. You’re welcome to leave your luggage in the designated storage area until departure, or bring it with you to the Main Hall for the Closing Session.
PERSONAL STORIES & CONVERSATIONS
Moderator:
- Sarah NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Inner Development & Creative Peacebuilding, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
With:
- Bahishta NOHTANI, Dentist, Humanitarian & Advocate for Women’s Rights
- Shukria BARAKZAI, Politician, Journalist, Diplomat & Advocate for Democracy, Human Rights, and Women’s Rights
- Ignacio PACKER, Executive Director Caux Foundation, former Member of the IASC Principals Group (the highest humanitarian coordination body of the United Nations system) and former Executive Director of ICVA
COMMUNITY GROUPS (including Coffee & Tea Break)
CLOSING PLENARY
Commitments & Closing
________________________________________
Co-Moderators:
- Sarah NOBLE, Head of Global Engagement, Inner Development & Creative Peacebuilding, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
- Ignacio PACKER, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation























































