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.
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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.
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.
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.
Intention
Explore what forgiveness is and is not, and introduce diverse perspectives
An invitation to:
Enjoy the gardens of the Caux Palace, meet those in the house or visit our 2 summer exhibitions:
Press Cartoons
An exhibition of press cartoons dedicated to the issues of freedom of expression and democracy
"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.
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.
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
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.
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.
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.
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
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.
Let's come together and enjoy an evening of music, dance and theatre!
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
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.
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.
Let's conclude the day with a time of quiet reflection and mediation, featuring Taizé songs for peace, unity, and reconciliation.
With:
Join the Greeting of the Day ceremony, tapping into indigenous wisdom, in the gardens of the Caux Palace.
With:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
What we are looking for:
Intention: Highlight forgiveness as a voluntary process shaped by personal choice and boundaries.
What we are looking for:
Intention: Examine forgiveness in relational, social, and collective contexts.
What we are looking for:
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.
Discussion Groups:
Each group is guided by a designated conversation lead, responsible for facilitating dialogue and ensuring smooth flow and time management.
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 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.