Appointment of Ignacio Packer as Executive Director of Initiatives of Change Switzerland
20/01/2023
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It is with pleasure that we announce the appointment of Ignacio Packer as Executive Director of the Initiatives of Change Switzerland Foundation, starting 1 May 2023.
Ignacio Packer is currently the Executive Director of ICVA, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in the fields of development cooperation, human rights and humanitarian assistance. He served a five-year term as Secretary General of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, and previously worked for the Terre des Hommes Foundation, the Swiss Tropical Institute, the European Association for Development and Health, Médecins Sans Frontières, KPMG and the European Bank for Latin America. He has been involved in various Initiatives of Change activities, primarily in Caux, and has passion and vision for the future.
‘On behalf of the Council I am delighted to welcome Ignacio as our next Executive Director,’ says Jacqueline Coté, President of IofC Switzerland. ‘He possesses the essential values-based leadership skills that are needed to steer the Foundation in its next phase of development, as well as an international network built over several decades that will greatly support our new strategy. Both of these elements will ensure the sustainability of our Foundation and its unique contribution both to the Initiatives of Change movement and our partners.’
Ignacio says of this new opportunity: ‘I am grateful for what I have experienced with my colleagues in leading the ICVA network. I am deeply honoured by the trust the board of IofC Switzerland has placed in me. I have a high degree of confidence in the strengths of IofC and its dedicated team. I am excited to contribute with IofC to building trust across the world’s divides, leading ethically and living sustainably.’
The Opening Ceremony of the Caux Forum 2023 titled "Strengthening Democracy: The Journey from Trauma to Trust" sets the stage for two important conferences: Healing the Wounds of the Past, which runs from 17 - 22 July, and Trust and Integrity in Democracy, which takes place from 24 - 26 July 2023.
ABOUT THE EVENT
In a world witnessing a rise in conflicts that threaten our democratic values, our speakers will share their insights on confronting the past, address the key challenges facing community trustbuilding and offer their vision on where we can find hope for a stronger democratic future. It will offer inspiration for us to take action by standing against extremes, promoting dialogue and fostering respect whilst working for a more just, peaceful and sustainable world, one step at a time.
We are delighted to welcome you back to Caux both in person and online. This Opening Ceremony sets the tone for the Caux Forum 2023, which will provide a unique opportunity to discuss, share and discover global issues in a multicultural and diverse setting.
Time: 10:00 - 12:00 CEST
Location:Caux Palace - Main Hall, 1824 Caux, Switzerland
Gerald Pillay, President of Initiatives of Change International and Jacqueline Coté, President of Caux - Initiatives of Change, will open the event with a short welcome address.
We are honored to have a distinguished panel of speakers who are dedicated to human rights, peace building and conflict prevention.
Rea Gehring, Minister and Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will provide a welcome address, giving the FDFA's perspective on the role Switzerland has played and continues to play in strengthening democracy and supporting individual and national journeys from trauma to trust.
Our keynote speaker is Elena Zhemkova, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Memorial, a human rights organization that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 along with Ales Bialiatski, a pro-democracy activist from Belarus, and the Ukrainian human rights organization Centre for Civil Liberties. Ms Zhemkova will talk about honesty as a tool for healing historical wounds, her experience of how that works and the challenges it represents.
Following her speech, Ms. Zhemkova will join a panel discussion with two other important figures in the field of conflict prevention and reconciliation:Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation, and Mô Bleeker, Independent Advisor and Former Special Envoy for Peace and Prevention of Atrocities for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The panel will be moderated by Ignacio Packer, Executive Director at Caux - Initiatives of Change, ensuring that the discussion is insightful and thought-provoking. After a short musical performance by Norwegian musician Sveinung Nygaard, there will be a Q&A session open to participants.
Born in Saratov, Russia, Elena Zhemkova is a mathematician by education. Elena was a co-founder of the Memorial International Historical, Educational and Human Rights Society and served as its Executive Director until the organization was shut down by the Russian government in February 2022. In December 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Besides this, she coordinates the International Memorial regional network, which includes more than 40 regional organizations from Germany, Italy, Russia, France, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.
She is a member of the Supervisory Council of the Russian foundation Understanding and Reconciliation which paid compensations for the people who used to be forced workers in Nazi Germany.
Her main fields of academic interest are the history of political repression, a comparative analysis of the Nazi and Soviet repression mechanisms, and the memorialization of victims of political repressions (monuments, toponymy etc.). Her main field of public interest is the development of non-profit, non-governmental organizations and assistance with their work.
Corinne Momal-Vanian is the Executive Director of the Foundation. Previously, she worked in various senior positions and a variety of countries for the United Nations, most recently as Director of Conference Management at the United Nations Office at Geneva (2015-2020) and Director of Information (2010-2015).
Ms. Momal-Vanian served as Special Assistant to Kofi Annan in 2005 and 2006, traveling with him to some 20 countries as he worked to resolve crises, defuse tensions, highlight the plight of communities and individuals suffering from discrimination and abuses, build international cooperation and strengthen support for development and justice. She worked for a total of six years in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, after serving in two regional economic and social commissions of the United Nations.
Passionate about justice, gender equality, inclusion, innovation and learning, Ms. Momal-Vanian chaired the Steering Group of the International Gender Champions from 2016 to 2019 and was a co-organiser of the three editions of TEDxPlaceDesNations.
A French citizen, she holds a master’s degree in business administration from HEC Graduate School of Management, Paris, an advanced degree in international relations from the Institut Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) – Paris and an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Mô Bleeker served as a member of the Swiss Foreign Ministry from 2003 to February 2022. During her tenure, she held several key positions such as Special Envoy for Dealing with the Past and Prevention of Atrocities, Special Envoy for Peace in Colombia, Chair of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro Peace Agreement-Philippines, and Co-founder and Chair of the multilateral prevention platform Global Alliance Against Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC). She has been actively involved in mediation, negotiation, dealing with the past/transitional justice, prevention, reconciliation, conflict transformation, promotion of human rights, and the rule of law in various contexts including Central and Latin America, Balkans, South and North Caucasus, Central Asia, South-Eastern Asia, several African countries, Middle East, and North Africa. Mô Bleeker has studied anthropology, religious sciences, journalism, social communication, and development.
Rea Gehring is currently Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Previously, she was Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy in Dakar from 2017 to 2021, with responsibility for Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde. Rea Gehring studied in Switzerland and Australia. She holds a Master in Law from the University of Lausanne (2001), where she first studied Forensic Science, and a Master in Strategy and Defence (National University of Australia, 2005). She is currently furthering her studies with an MBA at the Institute for Communication and Leadership (IKF Lucerne). After completing her law degree, she worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for three years as a delegate and later team leader in Israel, the West Bank, Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan before joining the Federal Department of Defence (DDPS) in 2005. In 2012, she joined the Swiss diplomatic service and initially completed assignments in Bern and Singapore. From 2013 to 2017, she worked at the FDFA's Crisis Management Centre, including as head of an interdepartmental operational task force for handling kidnapping cases. Rea Gehring has three children.
Ignacio Packer has been Executive Director of the Caux - Initiatives of Change Foundation since 1 May 2023. Prior to this, he served as Executive Director of ICVA, the global consortium of humanitarian NGOs. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He served a five-year term as Secretary General of the Terre des Hommes International Federation, and previously worked for the Terre des Hommes Foundation, the Swiss Tropical Institute, the European Association for Development and Health, Medecins Sans Frontieres, KPMG and the European Bank for Latin America. Ignacio is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrant and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.
Gerald Pillay has been president of IofC International since January 2022 and has served in senior leadership roles in South Africa, New Zealand, the USA, and England. Appointed Rector of Liverpool Hope University College in 2003, he became Liverpool Hope University’s first Vice-Chancellor in 2005 when the institution was given full University status. In 2021, he appeared in the Queens’s Birthday Honours list when he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘services to Higher Education'. Gerald Pillay earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Rhodes University, a Doctor of Theology degree from the University of Durban and holds dual citizenship of the UK and New Zealand.
Jacqueline Coté was the Director of Public Relations and previously Head of Communications at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva from 2009 to 2021. Prior to that she served as the Permanent Representative to the UN of the International Chamber of Commerce and was Senior Advisor Advocacy & Partnerships to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. In the early part of her career, Ms Coté practiced as an international lawyer in Canada and Switzerland and held management positions with multinational companies SGS and DuPont. She has been president of Caux - Initiatives of Change since April 2022.
Sveinung Nygaard is from Norway and works as a professional composer, based in Gothenburg. He holds an MA in Audio Production from the University of Westminster and composes music for TV series, film and documentaries, among others the documentary The Lost Leonardo (Denmark) and the TV series Freej (Dubai). He also has his own musical project called FLYT which combines musicians from different cultures. Before the war in Ukraine, he travelled across Ukraine and recorded music there. He is the founder of the micro-festival TRACKS, seeking to bring Ukrainian and European artists together, and he is also behind the initiative Bards for Climate.
PARTICIPATION FEE
Daily Visitor Rate
CHF 60 - Day Visitor rate (per person per day, including lunch, dinner and refreshments). Kindly note that this fee does not include accommodation.
Full Package (including Accommodation)
CHF 150 - Standard rate (for individuals - per person per night and day)
CHF 210 - Corporate rate (for institutions - per person per night and day)
For further information, please get in touch by email!
Caux, high above Montreux overlooking Lake Geneva, is the location of Initiatives of Change Switzerland's conference centre, the Caux Palace. Initiatives of Change Switzerland is hosting the Caux Forum in cooperation with Initiatives of Change International.
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In countries across the world operating diverse forms of governance, including those adopting democratic principles, there seems to be increasing evidence of a decline in the trustworthiness and integrity of those holding official roles.
Pressures associated with current global challenges, such as the Covid pandemic, seem to be accelerating and exacerbating this decline.
Trustworthiness, tolerance, and transparency are key to supporting the revival of good governance and integrity in public life. These are easy to advocate but so much harder to personally embrace and embody in practice, in social and institutional settings.
Join us on 23 - 26 July, 2023
in Caux!
Participants are asked to arrive from 2.00pm on Sunday 23 July in time for the introductory session after dinner. The forum will end at 6.30pm on Wednesday 26 July.
WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR?
Democracy thrives through people who work for integrity and inclusivity, who resolve conflict, who build trust across sectors and at all levels of society.
This forum is for those who want to discover how to help their countries respond effectively to internal and global challenges.
How can we see a resurgence of trust in our political systems? And what can ordinary citizens do to reverse this trend and strengthen democracy in their respective countries?
WHAT WE OFFER
This forum will provide a stretching yet compassionate community context in which individual introspection and collective inquiry can support radical dialogue and mutual contextual learning.
It will create a supportive, compassionate context in which participants can engage in courageous, honest conversation – paving the way for re-establishing trustworthiness, tolerance and transparency.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
24 July 2023 - Plenary 1: The state of trust and integrity in democracy today
HADIZATOU YACOUBA OUSSEINI (NIGER)
Minister for Mines, Government of Niger
Hadizatou Yacouba Ousseini is a Nigerian politician. From 2013, she is deputy chief of staff, with the rank of minister. Since April 2021, she has been Minister of Mines in the Niger government. She holds a master's degree in business administration (MBA), and a master's degree in project management (MGP) from the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). She also got a diploma of Human Resources Management at International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP) Paris – France: 1984-1985. She has an extensive experience in coordination and management of multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, like Analysis, planning and management of gender-sensitive projects - Strategic planning – Organizational and institutional development - Management of financial, administrative and human resources - Strategic partnership development and resource mobilization. She is the Regional Representative and Programme Director for the Great Lakes Region, among many other participations in NGOs. She is also in charge of the coordination of the governance, rural development and gender component and is listed as a national gender expert and contributed to the book “Involvement of women in politics in Niger (1996).
YUKIHISA FUJITA (JAPAN)
Former Vice-Minister of Finance and former Member of Upper and Lower Houses of the Japanese Diet (Parliament)
Yukihisa Fujita is the Former Vice Minister of Finance and Former Member of both the Upper House and the Lower House of the Japanese Diet (Parliament).
DECLAN O'BRIEN (IRELAND)
Head of Elections and Democracy Programme (EDP), Kofi Annan Foundation
Declan O’Brien joined the Kofi Annan Foundation in 2012 and currently serves as Head of the Foundation’s Elections and Democracy Programme (EDP), which addresses challenges and opportunities to democracy and electoral integrity around the world. The EDP has led initiatives to support elections or electoral reforms in Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, Malaysia, and other countries, and has developed policy responses to challenges to Electoral Integrity, including those arising from digital technologies and social media. Declan previously he served as the Project Coordinator for the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, a partnership with the Office of the State Counsellor of Myanmar which fell under the Foundation’s Mediation and Crisis Resolution programmes. He is Irish, and studied at Trinity University and the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland.
IMAD KARAM (PALESTINE / UK) - MODERATOR
Executive Director Initiatives of Change International
Imad Karam grew up in Gaza and studied English at university in Gaza; then worked as an English language editor for a daily newsletter. He won a scholarship to do postgraduate studies in media and communications in London. While working with Initiatives of Change in the UK, Imad was a director of the film department where he displayed a flair for creative management and cross-cultural development. In 2010 he joined the management team with responsibility for communications and international relations. In 2015, Imad was appointed as Executive Director of IofC International. Imad brings spiritual depth, leadership, and management skills as well as deep understanding of the working culture, history and heritage of IofC. Imad is also an accomplished film maker. His most recent work are the award winning documentaries Beyond Forgiving, and The Man Who Build Peace.
24 July 2023 - Plenary 2: The role of civil society in upholding trust and integrity in democracy
WOLFGANG JAMANN (GERMANY)
Executive Director of the International Civil Society Centre, Berlin
Dr. Wolfgang Jamann is the Executive Director at the International Civil Society Centre in Berlin. He has been working in the field of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance for most of his professional life. He has led various strategic partnerships to promote collective approaches toward large ambitions under the Sustainable Development Goals.
BISHOP MATTHEW HASSAN KUKAH (NIGERIA)
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria
Bishop Kukah was born on August 31, 1952 in Anchuna, Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State. Kukah received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, then St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976. Bishop M H Kukah also attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in Religious Studies. Kukah also received the Bachelor of Divinity at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976, followed by a Master’s degree in Peace Studies, at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom in 1980. Kukah's academic pursuits culminated with a PhD from University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 1990. Between 1999 and 2001 he served as a member of the Nigerian Investigation Commission of Human Rights Violations. In addition to his work as a parish priest of Saint Andrews's parish in Kakuri, Kaduna from 2004 until his nomination as bishop, he was secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (2005) and from 2005 onwards he has been serving as the chairman of the Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation. Additionally, between 2007 and 2009 he worked also in the committee for electoral reform set up by the Nigerian government.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria.
FRANZISKA HEINE (GERMANY)
Executive Director, Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.
Franziska Heine is the Executive Director of Wikimedia Deutschland, the organization that builds and maintains the software powering the Wikipedias of the world and Wikidata the Linked Open Data knowledge base. She was born in Schwerin, and before joining the non-profit as Head of the Software division in 2017 she learned what it takes to create successful software products by working for eBay and developing digital products for Nokia, Microsoft and HERE Technologies. Her involvement in the successful opposition of the regulation to censor online content in 2009 by the German Government taught her a lot about the power of volunteer communities and activists which influences how she looks at technology till this day.
ARPAN YAGNIK (USA) - MODERATOR
Associate Professor of Advertising at Penn State University
Dr. Arpan Yagnik, Associate Professor of Advertising, Communication at Penn State University, is a Creative Aerobics Expert. Creative Aerobics is a 21st century radical, and fun ideation strategy for generating ideas and creative solutions in quick succession. He is a TEDx speaker, and the coordinator of the Centre for Creativity Enhancement. He has published several articles and books on creativity. In his research, he also deals with the theme of fear, and its links with creativity.
25 July 2023 - Plenary 3: Facts, feelings, fiction
BREON WELLS (USA)
Policy advisor and social impact strategist, USA
Breon Wells is a policy advisor and social impact strategist. He has worked for educating and legislation to prepare the populace for misinformation and disinformation eroding trust in public policy. He has previously been a US congressional Aide, including on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
TOM BRAKE (UNITED KINGDOM)
Director of Unlock Democracy and former Member of Parliament, UK
Tom Brake is a former Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom. He is presently the director of Unlock Democracy, which is a not-for-profit organisation campaigning for a democratic society that ensures equality and justice for all.
ADAM NOSAL (UNITED KINGDOM)
Entrepreneur and Business Development Lead at Know You More Ltd
Adam Nosal works on the intersection between consciousness, technology and democracy. He has contributed to various projects such as Democracy Earth foundation, Digital Peace Talks and The Centre for Humane Technology. He is currently focused on the introduction of artificial intelligence and its relationship to consciousness and democracy.
LOUIE GARDINER (UNITED KINGDOM) - MODERATOR
Creator of the P6 Constellation
Louie Gardiner is the creator of the P6 Constellation – the framework that enables people to access the praxis of Presence in Action. This powerful approach equips people to engage in deep personal change, transforming their relationships with themselves, others and the wider world. She is a Director of Presence In Action (PIA) Collective CIC and Potent 6 in which she is the Lead PIA Practitioner & Learning Partner; Change Consultant & Trainer-Facilitator. She has been serving within Initiatives of Change since 2010 and initiated the REAL Change programme in 2015 in the UK in response to emerging needs within and beyond the fellowship.
25 July 2023 - Plenary 4: Re-making institutions of integrity
MICHAEL MØLLER (DENMARK)
Former Director-General of the UN in Geneva
Michael Møller is a Danish diplomat and international civil servant. He is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) from November 2013 to May 2019. He was executive director of the Kofi Annan Foundation from 2008 to 2011 and joined the foundation's board in July 2019. Michael Møller chairs the diplomatic forum of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation. He is also a senior adviser at Macro Advisory Partners and a member of the boards of several foundations.
SAM RAINSY (CAMBODIA)
Cambodian activist, economist and politician
Sam Rainsy born in 1949, is a Cambodian activist, economist and politician who most recently served as the Leader of the Opposition. He is now the interim leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party due to the continued ban on political activity by the party's leader, Kem Sokha.
Sam Rainsy went into exile on February 3, 2005, citing fear of arrest, after a vote in the National Assembly. In 2019, Rainsy announced he would return to Cambodia on Independence Day, but was blocked following the Cambodian government's intervention with airlines and with Thailand, where he would have transited.
DR NIRMALA PILLAY (UNITED KINGDOM)
Reader and Postgraduate Course Director Academic
Dr Nirmala Pillay was a trustee of the UK IofC for 10 years. Her involvement with IofC began in SA and continued in New Zealand and the UK. Dr Pillay was a lay canon of Liverpool Cathedral and has served as member and chair of several committees. Currently she serves on the Archbishops Racial Justice Commission which will complete its work in October 2024. Professionally, She is a Legal Scholar specialising in international law, human rights law and philosophy. She studied in the UK, Netherlands (Leiden) and South Africa and has taught in Universities in South Africa, New Zealand, the United States. She currently teaches law in the UK.
She has published widely in constitutional law and human rights and recently especially health rights. She has won several research grants to support her work such as the GCRF grant and MRC/AHRC grants to study the health rights of HIV positive women in prisons in Zimbabwe and Malawi. She is currently being funded (BA Leverhulme Small Grants Scheme) to investigate the right to health in the context of pandemic preparedness.
ALLAN-CHARLES CHIPMAN - MODERATOR
Executive Director Initiatives of Change USA
Allan-Charles Chipman is a lifelong faith community activist, having started his work at the ripe age of six in his hometown of Baltimore, when he was inspired by a group of pastors working to connect their congregations to their communities through service. Previously serving as IofC’s Faith-Rooted Organizer, Allan runs programming for faith communities, equipping them with the tools to think theologically and logically about race and the history of Richmond and America as a whole.
During college, Allan engaged with faith communities to change society through mentorship programs and helped to establish a faculty/student collaborative organization called Reconciliation and Conversation for Everyone (R.A.C.E.). Allan has also worked in the corporate world, where he advocated to build an African-American network to strive for racial equity at one of Richmond’s Fortune 500 companies. He also acted as liaison between minority employees and the human resources department when issues involving race arose.
26 July 2023 - Plenary 5: Re-igniting faith in democracy
HELIA BEN YOUSSEF (TUNISIA)
Vice-President of Socialist International Women, Vice-President FDTL, Tunisia
Born in Tunisia in a militant family, Hella Ben Youssef moved to France to pursue her university studies and obtained a diploma from the University of Bordeaux-IV2. Active in civil society for fifteen years, Hella Ben Youssef became involved in politics after the 2011 revolution and joined the Ettakatol political party. She participated in the constituent elections of 2011, the legislative elections of 2014 and those of 2019 on the list of Ettakatol for the first constituency of France. On September 10, 2017, during the 3rd Ettakatol congress, she was elected vice-president of the party. In March 2018, she was elected Vice-President of the Socialist International Women in charge of the North/South Mediterranean region. She is the first Tunisian to take up this position.
GALI NGOTHE GATTA (CHAD)
Minister and Secretary General of the Republic of Chad
Gali Ngothé Gatta got his G2 baccalaureate at the commercial technical school of N'Djamena in 1970; benefiting from a scholarship, he enrolled in France at the Preparatory of the Grandes Ecoles. Master's degree in applied economics, doctorate in mathematical economics at the University of Nanterre, he returned to the country in 1978 before the civil war. He is a Chadian economist, writer and politician. He is a deputy and spokesperson for the Coordination of Political Parties for the Defense of the Constitution (CPDC), the largest opposition coalition in Chad. Gali Ngothé Gatta serves as President of the DNIS Presidium during the Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue (DNIS) from August to October 2022. In October 2022, on the day of the investiture of Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno as President of the transition, he was appointed Minister of State, Secretary General to the Presidency of the Republic. As such, he announced the list of ministers of Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo's unity government.
LISA YASKO (UKRAINE)
Member of the Ukrainian Parliament
Lisa Yasko is a member of the parliament of Ukraine (Servant of the People party), a member of Committee on Foreign affairs and Interparliamentary cooperation, the head of interparliamentary cooperation, bilateral and multilateral relations and also a member of the Ukrainian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. She is also the founder of Yellow Blue Strategy, an NGO with a focus on making Ukraine creative, safe and sustainable. Lisa is active in cultural diplomacy and is a producer of documentary films, TV programmes and creative music performances. Occasionally she also composes and performs music.She is a political and strategic communications specialist who worked at the presidential administration of Ukraine, the Ukrainian parliament and for the British Government (Department of Culture, Digital, Media and Sports). Lisa was a Caux Scholar and Caux Artist in 2015, 2016 and co-organizer of the Caux Dialogue for Land and Security in 2018 and 2019. In parliamentary work her focus is the protection of territorial integrity and national security issues, fostering economic reforms, and to foster the de-occupation of Crimea and Donbass. Lisa advocates for the Ukrainian Recovery NOW, military aid, reforms of the international organizations and the new European reality in peace without any aggressor.
DR NIRMALA PILLAY (UNITED KINGDOM) - MODERATOR
Reader and Postgraduate Course Director Academic
Dr Nirmala Pillay was a trustee of the UK IofC for 10 years. Her involvement with IofC began in SA and continued in New Zealand and the UK. Dr Pillay was a lay canon of Liverpool Cathedral and has served as member and chair of several committees. Currently she serves on the Archbishops Racial Justice Commission which will complete its work in October 2024. Professionally, She is a Legal Scholar specialising in international law, human rights law and philosophy. She studied in the UK, Netherlands (Leiden) and South Africa and has taught in Universities in South Africa, New Zealand, the United States. She currently teaches law in the UK.
She has published widely in constitutional law and human rights and recently especially health rights. She has won several research grants to support her work such as the GCRF grant and MRC/AHRC grants to study the health rights of HIV positive women in prisons in Zimbabwe and Malawi. She is currently being funded (BA Leverhulme Small Grants Scheme) to investigate the right to health in the context of pandemic preparedness.
CHF 150 - Standard rate (for individuals - per person per night and day)
CHF 210 - Corporate rate (for institutions - per person per night and day)
All participant rates include:
Accommodation
Participation in the chosen event
Materials provided during the event
WiFi
Meals, coffee / tea, as well as refreshments
City Tax
Daily Visitor Rate
CHF 60 - Visitor rate (per person per day, including lunch, dinner and refreshments)
The Visitor Rate applies to persons who are only attending one or certain non-consecutive days during the Forum; The rate is charged per day and does not include accommodation.
Kindly note that the Caux Forum 2023 events are now fully booked and registrations are closed. Some elements of the conference will be livestreamed. Stay tuned for the livestream links!
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The Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony set the tone for the conference with the theme, ‘Strengthening Democracy: The Journey from Trauma to Trust.’. Discover the report and relive the highlights of this...
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Arpan Yagnik, a participant of last year's Creative Leadership conference and team member of the IofC Hub 2021, talks to Mary Lean about creativity, fear and vocation. ...
When Indonesian law student Agustina Zahrotul Jannah discovered the Young Ambassadors Programme (YAP) on Google she felt both excited and hopeless: excited because she hoped it might give her the skil...
How did Sofia Syodorenko become involved in the zero waste movement, and what does it mean to her? Now Chair of Foundations for Freedom, she is also a representative of the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine...
The second in Tools for Changemakers’ series of Stories for Changemakers took place on 25 August 2021, with an interview with Patrick Magee, who planted a bomb at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, in 1984, w...
The Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 brought together 29 participants from 20 countries. From Egypt and Senegal to the United States and Thailand, zoom windows opened for six hours ev...
The Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security (CDES) 2021 ran online from 20 July until 30 July, for the second consecutive year, comprising three open plenaries and seven workshops. This year’s discu...
After decades in which conflict has gradually reduced around the world, the tide has turned. Conflict is increasing.
This forum will focus on a fundamental cause of this trend: the broken relationships caused by unhealed wounds of the past – personal, national and international.
Join us on 17 - 22 JULY 2023
in Caux Switzerland!
Participants are asked to arrive between 2.00pm and 6.00pm on Monday 17 July for the welcome dinner followed by the introductory session. The forum will end at 12.00 midday on Saturday 22 July.
ABOUT THE EVENT
After the Second World War, thousands of Germans and French came together at Caux and helped their countries build an entirely new relationship. Ever since, Caux forums have reached out across the world, contributing to healing in many painful situations.
Healing can come. New energy, vision and calling can emerge from each step taken to repair a relationship. Trust can grow again, and with it the cooperation needed to answer the huge environmental, economic and social challenges we face globally.
WHAT WE OFFER
This forum will focus on the experiences of people from all continents and many cultures. It will offer an opportunity to learn from each other, and from quiet reflection amidst the beauty of Caux’s setting.
Through trainings, plenaries, workshops and dialogues, it aims to equip participants to contribute to peace and human security by fostering:
A greater understanding of the impact of historical wounds
Heightened skills in dialogue facilitation, conflict transformation, trauma awareness and story-sharing
Learning from personal experiences of healing past wounds and building trust.
MEET OUR PLENARY SPEAKERS
Plenary, 18 July 2023
JOHN BOND (AUSTRALIA / UK)
Journalist
John Bond has worked with Initiatives of Change in 30 countries. Until recently he was the Secretary of Initiatives of Change International. From 1998 to 2006 he was the Secretary of Australia’s National Sorry Day Committee, which enlisted nearly a million Australians in campaigning for an apology to Aboriginal Australians for cruel and misguided policies. This campaign led to an apology by the whole Parliament in 2008, and new policies to end the tragic social condition of the Aboriginal community. For this he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. He is a journalist andhas written four books. He and his wife, Mary Lean, live in Oxford, England.
THEMBI SILUNDIKA (ZIMBABWE / CANADA)
Council Member Initiatives of Change International
Cecilia (Thembi) Silundika is a Zimbabwean-born Canadian citizen. She holds Masters Degree in Chemistry and in International Relations. She has spent over 20 years in the Canadian federal public service coordinating international cooperation on Arctic issues. She is a member of the International Council of Initiatives of Change International, and played an active role in the inception of Creators of Peace, the Global Indigenous Dialogue and Women Economic Empowerment. On the Council she carries responsibility for Healing the Wounds of the Past.
Plenary, 19 July 2023
FRANCOIS-XAVIER PRIOLLAUD (FRANCE)
Mayor of Louviers and Vice-President of the Normandy Region
Mayor of Louviers in Normandy, France and President delegate of the Seine-Eure community which brings together 60 municipalities, François-Xavier Priollaud is also Vice-President of the Normandy Region and a member of the European Union’s Committee of Regions. He is Chair of Normandie pour la Paix. A graduate of Sciences Po Paris with a postgraduate degree in Public Law at the Sorbonne, he has served at the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and was political advisor to the then Minister of Defense, Hervé Morin. A Vice-President of the European Movement – France, and co-founder of the European Book Prize awarded annually by the European Parliament, he is also the author of numerous books and articles of European law and has long taught European issues at Sciences Po and at L'École nationale d'administration.
PROFESSOR GERALD PILLAY (SOUTH AFRICA / UK)
President Initiatives of Change International
Gerald Pillay is the President of IofC International. Born in South Africa of Indian ancestry, he grew up under apartheid, and studied at the University of Durban-Westville and Rhodes University. He holds doctorates in theology and philosophical theology. After serving as Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of South Africa he and his wife Nirmala moved to New Zealand where he became Foundation Professor at the University of Otago. He then became the first Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool Hope University in UK. Under his leadership the University became highly regarded for its research culture, and received Gold status in the Teaching Excellence Framework. He is widely published, examining such topics as the relationship between the church and state, the complex interplay between theology and human sciences, as well as seeking to understand how religion can both move with the times yet still stay grounded in tradition and history.
LEWIS CARDINAL (CANADA)
Leader of the Global Indigenous Dialogue
Lewis Cardinal comes from the Woodland Cree people in northern Alberta, Canada. His long track record of public service includes founding Board Member of Alberta Aboriginal Arts, Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Commission for Human Rights and Justice, and Trustee of the Parliament of World Religions. He has received QE II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service, the IndSpire Award for Public Service, the Province of Alberta’s Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grant MacEwan University, and an Honorary Degree of “Doctor of Sacred Letters” from the University of Alberta.
PROFESSOR SCHERTO R GILL (UK) _ MODERATOR
Director of the Global Humanity for Peace Institute
Scherto Gill is the Founding Director of the Global Humanity for Peace Institute, University of Wales Trinity St David. She coordinates the UNESCO Slave Route Project’s Collective Healing Initiative and chairs the G20 Interfaith Forum‘s Education Working Group. She is a Senior Fellow at the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, and a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. She has been nominated for the 2022 Luxembourg Peace Award. As a Professor of Research, Scherto’s interests centre on understanding peace, collective healing, human well-being and global flourishing. She is exploring ways to advance educational innovation, collective healing, peacebuilding, and social transformation. Among her research projects has been the UNESCO Desk Review on Approaches and Practices of Collective Healing.
Plenary, 20 July 2023
MONSIGNOR MICHAEL AOUN (LEBANON)
Bishop of the Maronite diocese Jbeil/Lebanon
Bishop of the Maronite diocese of Jbeil (Byblos) in Lebanon. Monsignor Aoun holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has served in many positions of leadership, both in the Church and academia, in Rome, Cairo, Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon. He was a Professor of Theology at the Holy Spirit University in Kaslik, Lebanon and at the Universite La Sagesse in Beirut. He was the Rector of the Maronite Patriarchal Seminary and is currently the President of the executive council of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon.
DR EBA HATHOUT (USA)
Faculty member at Harvard Medical School
Dr Eba Hathout is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School where she practices Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. She is the founding President of the Hassan Hathout Foundation, an educational organization spreading the philosophy of her late father, an eminent medical professor who also devoted himself to interpreting Islam to the West, developing interfaith dialogue, highlighting the sanctity of human life, medical ethics and initiatives to reverse the arms race.
VENERABLE GALKANDE DHAMMANANDA THERO (SRI LANKA)
Head of Walpola Rahula Institute for Buddhis Studies
A Sri Lankan and a monk of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, Dhammananda Thero graduated in history from the University of Kelaniya, has a Masters and MPhil from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and is now reading for his PhD, while also lecturing. He heads the Walpola Rahula Institute for Buddhist Studies where programmes for religious leaders and lay persons aim to support social healing. He is working for social justice and an inclusive plural society, using social media to propagate nonviolence during recent interreligious and interethnic conflicts. He aims to implement the Buddha’s teaching of ‘Bahujana Hitaya’ (for the betterment of all) working across religious, ethnic and social divides to uplift society - especially with the vulnerable, marginalized and discriminated.
WADIAA KHOURY (LEBANON) - MODERATOR
Associate Professor at the Faculties of Education
Wadiaa Khoury is Associate Professor at the Faculties of Education of the Lebanese University and Université Saint-Joseph. Her doctorate examined the civic agency of educators, and her teaching and research currently focus on the Lebanese education system and citizenship education. Through her work with Initiatives of Change she has studied the education system of more than 20 countries, and observed their approaches to citizenship education. Currently, her main interest is empowering educators in Lebanon through helping them discover their agency in shaping national policy, rather than suffering the consequences the poor governance that has led the country into despair. Hence, she initiated the Teachers Agents of Social Change (TASC) initiative.
Plenary, 21 July 2023
DR MARIA DE PILAR GRIFFIN (COSTA RICA)
Educational Consultant & Specialist in Conflict Resolution and Mediation
An international educational consultant and a specialist in conflict resolution and mediation, Maria de Pilar Griffin has a doctorate in pedagogical mediation and a Master's in international law with an emphasis on human rights. Coming from Costa Rica, now working in Seattle USA, she has facilitated dialogue among diverse community groups in the USA, Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. She is active in IofC’s LatAm support team, and belongs to the leadership team that organizes the Yo Escucho/Eu escuto weekly sessions to inspire, connect and equip Latino-American communities.
PROFESSOR ALI MOUSSA IYE
Founder of AfroSpectives
Founder of AfroSpectives and formerly UNESCO Chief of Dialogue, Ali Moussa Iye holds a PhD in political science from the Institute of Political Science in Grenoble, France. Within UNESCO, he was coordinator of the Culture of Peace programme in the Horn of Africa, and in charge of the UNESCO programme against racism and discrimination. He then headed the History and Memory for Dialogue Department and directed the General History of Africa, the Slave Route and the Silk Roads programmes. He published several books on the history and cultural heritage of the peoples of the Horn of Africa.and on intercultural dialogue, and is currently pursuing research in political anthropology.
MEENA SHARMA (NEPAL)
Peace Practitioner
A Nepali peace practitioner, Meena Sharma has worked with over 200 civil society organisations. She is President of IofC Nepal, a Regional Coordinator of Creators of Peace Asia, Secretary-General of the national campaign, ‘Children as Zones of Peace’. She has worked with the UNDP as a gender expert, with the Ministry of Home Affairs implementing UN resolutions on women, peace and security, and with the National Women’s Commission on strategy development. From 2008-18 she was a Program Manager at Search for Common Ground.
PATRICK MCNAMARA (USA) - MODERATOR
Founder of Partners in Change LLC
Patrick McNamara PhD is a founder of Partners in Change LLC, a leadership coaching, strategy and conflict management firm. He has worked with more than 300 organizations in 16 countries. He has served in numerous positions at the University of Nebraska at Omaha including Senior International Officer, Director of International Studies, Director of Schwalb Center for Israel, Jewish Studies and the Middle East, Director of Sustained Dialogue Initiative, and Director of Omaha World Affairs Council. He is a member of the International Council of Initiatives of Change.
CHF 150 - Standard rate (for individuals - per person per night and day)
CHF 210 - Corporate rate (for institutions - per person per night and day)
All participant rates include:
Accommodation
Participation in the chosen event
Materials provided during the event
WiFi
Meals, coffee / tea, as well as refreshments
City Tax
Daily Visitors Rate
CHF 60 - Visitor rate (per person per day, including lunch, dinner and refreshments)
The Visitor Rate applies to persons who are only attending one or certain non-consecutive days during the Forum; The rate is charged per day and does not include accommodation.
For further information, please get in touch by email!
Kindly note that Healing the Wounds of the Past is now fully booked and registrations are closed. Some elements of the conference will be livestreamed. Stay tuned for the livestream links!
Call for workshops! You would like to give share your inspiration, ideas and skills with other participants at the Caux IDG Forum this summer? We look forward to your application! Applications will be...
"In a democracy, each of us carries the responsibility to engage, listen and to contribute. It is more than a political system. It is about choice and voice. How does this resonate with you?" With the...
Spanish journalist Victoria Martín de la Torre is passionate about Europe, diversity and interfaith relations. Here she reflects on different aspects of Europe, based on her PhD research which led her...
Amid escalating conflicts worldwide, the arts emerge as a potent force to challenge misconceptions and foster positive perspectives. The pivotal role of artists in creatively raising awareness has nev...
On 25 - 28 January, some 60 CEOs and other senior staff came together under Chatham House Rules to share personal experiences on how to balance a sustainable business with integrity and trust. Executi...
Save the date for the Caux Forum 2024! This summer Caux Initiatives of Change, in partnership with Initiatives of Change International and supported by other civil society networks, UN agencies, phila...
The Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony set the tone for the conference with the theme, ‘Strengthening Democracy: The Journey from Trauma to Trust.’. Discover the report and relive the highlights of this...
In a world filled with diverse cultures and languages, the journey of musician Tsvetana Petrushina is an inspiring tale of how she discovered her purpose. Her remarkable story led her to the Caux Pala...
Arpan Yagnik, a participant of last year's Creative Leadership conference and team member of the IofC Hub 2021, talks to Mary Lean about creativity, fear and vocation. ...
When Indonesian law student Agustina Zahrotul Jannah discovered the Young Ambassadors Programme (YAP) on Google she felt both excited and hopeless: excited because she hoped it might give her the skil...
How did Sofia Syodorenko become involved in the zero waste movement, and what does it mean to her? Now Chair of Foundations for Freedom, she is also a representative of the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine...
The second in Tools for Changemakers’ series of Stories for Changemakers took place on 25 August 2021, with an interview with Patrick Magee, who planted a bomb at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, in 1984, w...
The Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 brought together 29 participants from 20 countries. From Egypt and Senegal to the United States and Thailand, zoom windows opened for six hours ev...
The Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security (CDES) 2021 ran online from 20 July until 30 July, for the second consecutive year, comprising three open plenaries and seven workshops. This year’s discu...
The Caux Forum is returning with two in-person events in July 2023 and aims to bring to the world an urgent message of hope and challenge. Some online elements will be incorporated to include those who can’t participate in person.
This event will provide a space for all who are searching for healing, reconciliation and ways to rebuild trust.
Broken relationships result from unhealed wounds, often transferred through generations. But healing can come. New energy, vision and calling can emerge from each step taken to repair a relationship. Trust can grow again, and with it the cooperation needed to answer the huge challenges we face globally. Including creating a new relationship with our natural environment.
How can we see a resurgence of trust in our political systems? And what can ordinary citizens do to reverse this trend and strengthen democracy in their respective countries?
This event is for those who want to discover how to help their countries respond effectively to internal and global challenges.
Please hold space in your schedules to join us at the Caux Forum in 2023.
Call for workshops! You would like to give share your inspiration, ideas and skills with other participants at the Caux IDG Forum this summer? We look forward to your application! Applications will be...
"In a democracy, each of us carries the responsibility to engage, listen and to contribute. It is more than a political system. It is about choice and voice. How does this resonate with you?" With the...
Spanish journalist Victoria Martín de la Torre is passionate about Europe, diversity and interfaith relations. Here she reflects on different aspects of Europe, based on her PhD research which led her...
Amid escalating conflicts worldwide, the arts emerge as a potent force to challenge misconceptions and foster positive perspectives. The pivotal role of artists in creatively raising awareness has nev...
On 25 - 28 January, some 60 CEOs and other senior staff came together under Chatham House Rules to share personal experiences on how to balance a sustainable business with integrity and trust. Executi...
Save the date for the Caux Forum 2024! This summer Caux Initiatives of Change, in partnership with Initiatives of Change International and supported by other civil society networks, UN agencies, phila...
The Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony set the tone for the conference with the theme, ‘Strengthening Democracy: The Journey from Trauma to Trust.’. Discover the report and relive the highlights of this...
In a world filled with diverse cultures and languages, the journey of musician Tsvetana Petrushina is an inspiring tale of how she discovered her purpose. Her remarkable story led her to the Caux Pala...
Arpan Yagnik, a participant of last year's Creative Leadership conference and team member of the IofC Hub 2021, talks to Mary Lean about creativity, fear and vocation. ...
When Indonesian law student Agustina Zahrotul Jannah discovered the Young Ambassadors Programme (YAP) on Google she felt both excited and hopeless: excited because she hoped it might give her the skil...
How did Sofia Syodorenko become involved in the zero waste movement, and what does it mean to her? Now Chair of Foundations for Freedom, she is also a representative of the Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine...
The second in Tools for Changemakers’ series of Stories for Changemakers took place on 25 August 2021, with an interview with Patrick Magee, who planted a bomb at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, in 1984, w...
The Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 brought together 29 participants from 20 countries. From Egypt and Senegal to the United States and Thailand, zoom windows opened for six hours ev...
The Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security (CDES) 2021 ran online from 20 July until 30 July, for the second consecutive year, comprising three open plenaries and seven workshops. This year’s discu...
Lost in Translation: Volunteering at the Caux Refuge
A Caux Refuge blog by Eliane Stallybrass
28/11/2022
Featured Story
Off
A Caux Refuge blog by Eliane Stallybrass
Eliane Stallybrass
When the first Ukrainians arrived at the Caux Refuge at the IofC conference centre in Caux, Eliane and Andrew Stallybrass were amongst the first volunteers to welcome them at the Villa Maria and to offer support. Eliane knew that learning French would be essential for them to help them settle down more easily and she quickly set up French lessons. She writes:
There are about 15 of them, sitting in front of me, attentive, trying to grasp what I am explaining to them about the French language. They are Ukrainians who had to leave their homes in a hurry and find themselves in a country where they have to start from scratch.
They are learning a language they did not plan to learn, and have to find jobs, when in most cases they had one. They had friends, activities, a house, now perhaps destroyed. I look at them with a mixture of anger for what they are going through and tenderness for their efforts.
Right after the war started in February 2022, IofC Switzerland made the Villa Maria available to Ukrainians in need of a safe space. There are 24 of them currently living at the Caux Refuge. There are children, several of whom are now in school. There are grandmothers. And there are those in the prime of life who now have to learn the Swiss laws on work, hoping to find some soon.
There are nurses, a pharmacist, a university professor, a politician, an electronics engineer, mothers. The teachers continue to teach students in several countries via the internet. Most of them knew Initiatives of Change before they arrived, either through visits to Caux – for conferences or Weeks of International Community (WIC) – or through the Foundations for Freedom programme, initiated and developped by IofC in the 1990 and early 2000s, and well developed in Ukraine.
Image
The Villa Maria where the Caux Refuge is located (photo: Adrien Giovannelli)
The IofC Switzerland Foundation hired two liaison officers, Ekaterina and Maria, to help the Ukrainians in Caux navigate the Swiss bureaucracy. They all now have their S permits, which enable them to stay in Switzerland, and, thanks to Ekaterina and Maria who speak their language, they are able to go to the doctor or the employment office.
They have found French courses and take two or three classes a week. And they discovered, as I did at my expense, that the syntax of French and Russian is not at all identical. For example, it took me some time to understand that in Russian the verb ‘to be’ does not exist in the present tense. ‘Me tired’ is enough in Russian. No need for a verb!
Modern technology helps a lot in overcoming obstacles. They all came with mobile phones. This enables them to keep in touch with their friends and family, who are often dispersed too. And the phones help them to discover courses and activities in the region.
They introduced those of us volunteers who hadn’t used them before to the translation apps for smart phones. You can say whatever you want and the translation into Russian or Ukrainian appears immediately. And vice versa. Mind you, the result is not always very accurate, which can lead to some amusing misunderstandings.
Andrew and Eliane Stallybrass (second and fourth from the left) celebrating with the group in Caux. Ekatarina is first on the right, Maria is in the second row with a red and white sweater. (photo: Oleksandr N.)
When the village of Caux learned of the arrival of the Ukrainians, people mobilized enthusiastically. Donations of clothes, toys and everyday items poured in.
Even the mayor, Olivier Gfeller, became a friend. He joined us in celebrating Orthodox Easter and on a boat trip to Le Bouveret, where the whole group enjoyed the Aquaparc, with its little trains that let them discover Switzerland in miniature. On this occasion, the group gave him a Ukrainian flag which they had all signed, with the names of their home towns.
Nine months after the war broke out, they are now preparing for the long term. Swiss hospitals are short of nurses and restaurant owners are tearing their hair out over the shortage of staff. Let's hope that employers will welcome these friends who want to integrate into our society as quickly as possible.
I fear they may have to stay away from home for a long time.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, millions of displaced people have left their homes in search of a safe space. In an emergency response, Initiatives of Change Switzerland opened the doors of its conference centre in Caux, to offer a refuge and shelter for those impacted by the war.
The Caux Refuge is located at the Villa Maria, right next to the Caux Palace and Initiatives of Change Switzerland works closely with local authorities.
As our own sources of funding are running out, we need your help to support the Caux Refuge financially. We need CHF 20,000 to ensure that the group can be hosted until the end of 2022. We will use these funds to finance food aid and other costs related to the group's stay at the Villa Maria in Caux.
We thank you for your support. Please pledge your support here and specify “Caux Refuge” when making your contribution. If you have any proposals and questions, please get in touch with us.
Please note that the opinions expressed in these articles are those of the interviewees and not do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the interviewer and Initiatives of Change Switzerland.
In its current edition, the top real estate magazine in French-speaking Switzerland, immobilier.ch, showcases the Caux Palace as one of five positive examples of how historic buildings can be preserve...
What happens when 26 IofC trainers and facilitators from 12 countries embark on a three-day learning journey in Caux on designing and facilitating participatory learning experiences? At the opening se...
Sunday 19 June 2022 saw crowds of visitors and local people gathering in the park of the Caux Palace for the inauguration of a ‘Caux Belle Epoque’ self-guided walk. ...
Christine Beerli will step down as President of the Foundation of Initiatives of Change Switzerland in April 2022, after four years in the role. Jacqueline Coté, former Director of Public Relations at...
Former President of the Council of IofC Switzerland, Antoine Jaulmes, interviews Andrew Lancaster from Australia, who has just stepped down from the Council after 16 years....
Nick Foster, until now Caux Forum Director, will take over the role of Co-Director of IofC Switzerland, alongside Stephanie Buri. After nine years with Initiatives of Change (IofC) and one year as the...
Germany was in ruins. Europe was in ruins. Millions had been killed; millions more wounded and displaced. There were also ruins of the mind, deep collective trauma in desperate need of healing. In the...
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"Deep down inside, I blamed the rich, I held them responsible for so many people’s unhappiness. I couldn’t accept that some could have everything they wanted without having to lift a little finger, wh...
"My story is not special, or mine. It belongs to this conference centre. It is 75 years long and contains hundreds of thousands of train rides, walks, talks, teas, conversations, and quiet moments of ...
We are committed to inspire, equip and connect you to support you on your journey from personal to global change. But we need your help to see how we can do this best!...
Usually, Swiss National Day on 1 August is an opportunity for Caux Forum participants to discover some Swiss traditions, including cheese fondue. This year, it looked like the Caux Palace would be emp...
Training of Trainers and Facilitators in Caux: 'Only the beginning'
14/11/2022
Featured Story
Off
What happens when 26 IofC trainers and facilitators from 12 countries embark on a three-day learning journey in Caux on designing and facilitating participatory learning experiences? At the opening session of the Training of Trainers course (5 - 9 October 2022), everyone’s relief at finally being back in Caux and meeting up in person was palpable and the smiles on people’s faces throughout the entire course spoke volumes.
‘It’s not just about us!’
The intensive training course had been organized by IofC Switzerland’s training manager, Diana Damsa (Romania). Its aim was to enlarge the existing pool of people who can professionally deliver training and facilitation based on IofC’s core principles and practices.
The 26 participants came from very different walks of life and from all over the world, including Kenya, India, Ukraine, Egypt and Mexico. They were all determined to make the most of their time in Caux. A participant from Egypt explained, ‘I am looking for a life of purpose.’
While most of them had experience of facilitating, coaching or teaching, others were beginners. But all of them were eager to extend their skills and knowledge. As one said, ‘What we are doing is not just about us. It’s about the wider community. It’s about coming together, to get the wider picture.’
What needs to happen for learning to take place?
Trainers Bhav Patel (UK/Moldova) and Kate Monkhouse (UK) guided the trainees through a range of sessions covering the role of trainers and facilitators, how to involve participants and how to design training programmes.
Bhav Patel invited the trainees to have a ‘beginner’s mind’ and explore what kind of experience they would like their participants to have. He challenged them to do a proper needs analysis to get everything in place for a successful programme: ‘Always make sure not to lose yourself in assumptions about what a potential client might expect.’
He presented different models of how to provide the best possible learning experience. ‘The better you are prepared, the more you can improvise,’ he said, urging the future trainers to explore their own talents and skills.
What is special about IofC’s offer?
Kate Monkhouse’s sessions particularly focused on the values which distinguish Initiatives of Change from other organizations offering similar services. In a growing sector, it is important to know what makes our offer special and to find innovative ways of using these assets.
A participant from Germany saw the main difference in the fact that ‘people come as strangers and become friends’. Others spoke of the creation of a feeling of connectedness amongst participants, the focus on silence and reflection, the readiness to listen to others and see their perspectives, and the provision of a safe space where people can learn and un-learn and connect the personal, local and global.
‘Only the beginning!’
The sessions were a mix of theory, case studies and practical exercises, enabling all participants to find their place in the process. A university teacher from Tunisia said: ‘I have been so exposed to theory through my job, but the course clearly showed me my role as a facilitator. This is only the beginning!’
I will be implementing a lot of things in the format of the programmes I already work with.- Ann, Kenya
I am very grateful for these days. So much information. So many models. So many structures to help us become more professional in designing events. - Elly, Netherlands
This training has stirred something deep in me. - Monica, UK
The Training of Trainers course was a solid base to build on. I feel it’s a turning-point for me, a next step with IofC Switzerland. - Margret, Switzerland
It helped me a lot to reconnect with myself. It is one of the first trainings I have done where I feel really eager to deeply study the content, apply it in practice and discover the next steps. - Alevtina, Germany
I am grateful because I feel I am not alone, because I know there are next steps and it’s not just related to this training. There is something global here. I am very grateful for this space. - Dasha, Ukraine
This course has been a gentle, humane and professional reminder of my calling. We all share doubts about what we are doing. Yet sometimes we need - and we can be - each other's mirrors to shed light of the good and reflect on what can be improved. And then this might take us back to the road of impactful meaning. - Asmaa, Egypt
Our training offers
Are you a changemaker or work with people who need more skills, refreshed motivation and focus, clarity for the next steps or ways for having more impact?
Do you want to inspire, equip or connect your staff, team, or the people you are reaching out to through your work?
Discover all our training offers here and get in touch!
In its current edition, the top real estate magazine in French-speaking Switzerland, immobilier.ch, showcases the Caux Palace as one of five positive examples of how historic buildings can be preserve...
When the first Ukrainians arrived at the Caux Refuge, Eliane and Andrew Stallybrass were amongst the first volunteers to welcome them at the Villa Maria and to offer their support. Eliane knew that le...
Sunday 19 June 2022 saw crowds of visitors and local people gathering in the park of the Caux Palace for the inauguration of a ‘Caux Belle Epoque’ self-guided walk. ...
Christine Beerli will step down as President of the Foundation of Initiatives of Change Switzerland in April 2022, after four years in the role. Jacqueline Coté, former Director of Public Relations at...
Former President of the Council of IofC Switzerland, Antoine Jaulmes, interviews Andrew Lancaster from Australia, who has just stepped down from the Council after 16 years....
Nick Foster, until now Caux Forum Director, will take over the role of Co-Director of IofC Switzerland, alongside Stephanie Buri. After nine years with Initiatives of Change (IofC) and one year as the...
Germany was in ruins. Europe was in ruins. Millions had been killed; millions more wounded and displaced. There were also ruins of the mind, deep collective trauma in desperate need of healing. In the...
‘At that time, even a dog would have refused a bit of bread from the hand of a German,’ remembered Peter Petersen, one of 150 Germans who the Allies allowed to come to Caux in 1947. They were some of ...
"Deep down inside, I blamed the rich, I held them responsible for so many people’s unhappiness. I couldn’t accept that some could have everything they wanted without having to lift a little finger, wh...
"My story is not special, or mine. It belongs to this conference centre. It is 75 years long and contains hundreds of thousands of train rides, walks, talks, teas, conversations, and quiet moments of ...
We are committed to inspire, equip and connect you to support you on your journey from personal to global change. But we need your help to see how we can do this best!...
Usually, Swiss National Day on 1 August is an opportunity for Caux Forum participants to discover some Swiss traditions, including cheese fondue. This year, it looked like the Caux Palace would be emp...
Valentin Brunet is a Swiss and French national who has worked as a manager and assistant manager for hotels in the canton of Valais in Switzerland before joining the Foundation in 2022. With a background in hotel management and a financial training applied to hotels, he had the opportunity to work in various establishments to manage various projects and events related to the hotel and restaurant industry.
