Born in Switzerland, of Hungarian origin, Thomas Kisszalay worked for many years in IT as an IT Manager, Support Manager and freelancer, developing solid expertise in project management and information technology. In 2019, he shifted his career towards audiovisual and photography, two fields that have always fascinated him. Working with both sound and image, he has remained versatile in all areas of audiovisual and IT, two fields that have become inseparable in recent years.
Jacqueline Coté, President of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, shares a personal reflection on her first meeting with Rajmohan Gandhi and the inspiration behind the 2025 edition of "Thoughts for Change".
"Caux Initiatives of Change is a Swiss foundation which promotes peace and democracy through dialogue. For decades, we have witnessed stories of trust and reconciliation, thus helping bridge the world’s divides.
Snippets of these stories can be found on the foundation’s website and books have paid tribute to many of the speakers at our Caux Forums. But never have we made whole addresses accessible.
It is to honour one of our special guests, Rajmohan Gandhi, that the idea of this publication arose.
I met Rajmohan in Panchgani, the seat of Initiatives of Change India, in January 2024. Rajmohan is a tall and impressive-looking man who carries the weight of his name and the wisdom of his age. I was at first very intimidated: what could I share about Caux that Rajmohan had not already heard? After all, Rajmohan first came to Caux the year I was born!
But Rajmohan quickly put me at ease by first inquiring about my children and my jet lag. When he had won me over, we got on to the topics dear to his heart, the social and political movements in India and the USA, and how Caux and Panchgani could bring about changes in people’s lives.
This first encounter had a profound effect on me, and I invited Rajmohan and his wife Usha to join us at our Caux Forums in July that year. Throughout the month Rajmohan graced us with his presence and shared the incisive and profound reflections which you will read below."
In 2025, we are featuring Rajmohan Gandhi’s "Thoughts for Change", drawn from his speeches at the Caux Forum 2024. This publication seeks to humbly share the rich exchange of ideas from the Caux Forum.
👉Click here to download Rajmohan Gandhi's "Thoughts for Change".
How is solidarity or teamwork or partnership built? Above all by listening.
Even when you or I have a wonderful thought inside our minds,it may be better to leave that thought unuttered
and to listen to the very ordinary thought of your friend, and to reflect on that thought.
The world will not be the loser for a brief embargo on my thought or your thought.Rajmohan Gandhi
We are delighted to announce that the Annual Report 2024 of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is now available.
2024 marked a year of renewal for the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. As Executive Director Ignacio Packer noted, “a wind of change” blew through the organization with the adoption of a more horizontal leadership model and the appointment of a new, diverse team of eight experts. Together, they bring skills in peacebuilding, policy, the arts, heritage, and operations, strengthening the Foundation’s mission in Switzerland and globally.
The Caux Palace welcomed over 4,500 visitors from 70 countries, hosting 60 events—85% in partnership with national and international institutions. The Foundation also launched the ambitious 2040 Heritage Project to ensure the long-term sustainability of the historic Caux Palace, beginning with vital renovations.
In a world facing deepening crises and weakened multilateralism, President Jacqueline Coté emphasized the growing importance of safe spaces for dialogue.
Caux remains committed to offering such spaces, rooted in Swiss neutrality and a spirit of trust and transformation. As Ignacio Packer affirms, “The courage to change, starting with ourselves, and our concrete commitment to building trust will carry us forward.”
Led by Indigenous Leaders:
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We invite you to leave the rush of the outer world behind and enter a space of deeper listening. Listening to yourself. To life. To what is emerging through you.
Inspired by Theory U, we are not here to plan the future from old patterns, but to sense into what wants to emerge, from the field of possibility, from our deeper purpose.
We begin by asking: Who am I? What is my work? What am I here to contribute? What is ready to emerge through me?
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Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
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Developed by a group of filmmakers, psychologists, and climate experts, "The Week" is a three-part group experience that helps participants understand the crisis not just intellectually, but emotionally and relationally. Through powerful storytelling and open conversation, it guides people from shock and awareness to empowerment and action.
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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!”
Meeting three times during the Forum (29 July / 30 July - Soul Nurture community group workshop / 31 July), 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 two community group facilitators, each session creates a safe, respectful environment where deep conversations can flourish and real connections begin.
With ground rules rooted in trust, inclusion, and care, these groups invite you to be fully present, listen openly, and speak from the heart—if and when you feel ready and are often a great place to forge new and inspiring friendships.
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Co-Hosts:
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1 - 2 - 4 all and connect back to your intention!
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Step into the heart of the Caux IDG Forum with our signature Candlelight Conversations—an inspiring evening experience designed to spark deep, authentic dialogue.
Set in softly lit rooms at the Caux Palace, these sessions create a serene and reflective atmosphere for meaningful exchanges. Select a conversation group based on a topic that resonates with you, each guided by one or more conversation lead(s)/facilitator(s) to ensure a smooth and enriching experience.
With intentionally small group sizes and a focus on trustbuilding, the Caux Candlelight Conversations offer a unique opportunity to go beyond the surface, share perspectives, and be part of conversations that truly matter.
Pick up your candle, find your circle, and be part of a dialogue that lights the way forward!
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CHOOSE YOUR CANDLELIGHT CONVERSATION:
(Please note that this programme is subject to change)
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Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
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As "The Week" unfolds, Part 2 invites us to go deeper.
More than just a presentation of facts, "The Week" - created by filmmakers, psychologists, and climate experts - is a powerful three-part experience that helps us not only understand the climate crisis but feel it. Through compelling storytelling and honest group dialogue, it guides participants from initial shock and awareness to a shared sense of purpose and the courage to act.
This is not just about learning - it’s about moving through the crisis, together.
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A regenerative outdoor workshop to feel, regenerate, and connect. You will build trust within your Community Group, drop from your head to your heart and body, and connect with nature within us in the beautiful garden of the Caux Palace.
We look forward to welcoming you to this space.
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(Room 300 D&E - language: English)
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(Caux Palace Gardens - language: French)
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(Room 400-Foyer du Théâtre - language: English)
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(The Galleries/4th floor - language: English)
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(Restaurant français/2nd floor - language: English)
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(Room 500A - language: English & French)
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(Tipi - language: English)
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Discover the full workshop descriptions and the facilitators
(The Galleries/4th floor - language: English)
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(Caux Palace gardens or Main Hall - language: English)
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(Room 400 - Foyer du Théâtre - language: English)
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(Room 500A - language English, with French interpretation)
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(Theatre/4th floor - language: English)
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(Room 300 D&E - language: English)
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(Room 400A-Salon du Pasquier - language: English)
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Discover the full workshop descriptions and the facilitators
Letting go to let come! Sensing into what wants to emerge.
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🎤 Caux’s Got Talent is back! Whether you sing, dance, juggle, tell jokes, recite poetry, or have a hidden talent no one’s seen yet - this is your moment to shine.
Join us for an unforgettable night of creativity, fun, and surprises. Everyone is welcome on stage, so bring your courage and your flair - and let’s light up the Caux Palace with your talent!
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Young and less young - let's meet to start the day together!
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As we reach the final part of The Week, the journey comes full circle.
This closing chapter invites us to process everything we’ve seen and felt - not just with our minds, but with our hearts and within our communities.
Developed by a team of filmmakers, psychologists, and climate experts, "The Week" uses compelling storytelling and honest conversation to transform awareness into connection, and concern into courage. Together, we move from understanding the crisis to imagining and stepping into the roles we can play in shaping a better future.
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(Main Hall - language: English, with French interpretation)
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(Gardens or 300 D&E - language: English)
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(Room 400-Foyer du Théâtre - language: English)
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(Room 500A - language: English)
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(Gardens or 400A-Salon du Pasquier - language: English)
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(The Galleries/4th floor - language: English
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Dr. ELIF KUS SAILLARD (Turkey), Lead for Analysis Strategy, Design, and Execution, Inner Development Goals
Discover the full workshop descriptions and the facilitators
Our Caux IDG Pro Action Café is where ideas meet action! In this dynamic, café-style gathering, you’ll bring your project, question(s), or challenge—and leave with clarity, inspiration, and concrete next steps.
Meet up and explore your ideas from fresh perspectives, fueled by curiosity, and supported by the collective intelligence of the group.
Whether you're launching something new, refining a vision, or facing a tough decision, the Pro Action Café is a space for deep listening, creative dialogue, and collaborative momentum.
Come with a question. Leave with a plan.
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(The Galleries-4th floor - language: English)
Around the world, researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, educators, and community leaders are coming together to explore a set of interrelated questions: What inner capacities do we need to navigate and lead system change, how do we create the conditions for them to develop and which impact do we see when they are present? Through the IDG Research Co-Creation Ecosystem, we are building a global knowledge commons—connecting disciplines, cultures, and contexts to understand how inner development drives sustainable transformation.
This interactive workshop invites you to help shape the future of this work. Together, we’ll reflect on what we know, what we value, and what we’ve learned so far—including major collaborative projects such as the global IDG framework update emerging lessons from our four thematic research groups on Children & Youth, Higher Education, Leadership & Organising, and Place-based IDG.
Join us to contribute your perspective, build new connections, and help design the next phase of IDG research—grounded in practice, rooted in place, and guided by the wisdom in all of us.
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Discover the full workshop descriptions and the facilitators
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Closing the CIDG Forum with Music & Meaning
As the Caux IDG Forum draws to a close, we invite you to gather for a powerful final evening featuring a live concert by Giulia Dabalà (Switzerland/Italy) - singer, producer, and rising creative force.
Influenced by her childhood in Myanmar and her Swiss-Italian roots, Giulia’s music fuses alt-pop, folk, and experimental electronic sounds. With a voice that is both raw and magnetic, she weaves stories of femininity, resilience, and emotional truth - turning vulnerability into strength.
This special concert is made possible with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation.
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Followed by a DANCE PARTY on the Caux Palace terrace (weather permitting)!
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Let’s gather one last time in our community groups before we say goodbye!
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.
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21:00 - 23:00