The Caux IDG Forum, taking place in Caux, Switzerland from 9 to 13 July 2024, aspires to inspire, equip, and connect individuals, groups, and organisations in the pursuit of constructing a just, peaceful, and sustainable world aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Leveraging the Inner Development Goals Framework and Initiatives of Change methodologies honed over 75 years, the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum provides a platform for participants from diverse backgrounds to collectively address contemporary challenges. Embraced within an atmosphere of trust, care, solidarity, and respect, the Caux IDG Forum encourages open and deep discussions, fostering self-reflection on how personal transformation can initiate broader and collective change.
In alignment with the workstreams, the Caux IDG Forum facilitates a unique convergence of the SDGs and IDGs, addressing challenges that demand inner capacities in our complex world.
Participation in the Caux IDG Forum entails unlocking individual and collective potential, urging reflection on roles, exploration of resources, and a connection with responsibilities as change-makers—believing that every individual can contribute significantly. It involves actively embodying the Inner Development Goals Framework in daily practices. The interaction between participants will help many find inspiration, tools, courage and effective strategies for their efforts and may lead to the launch of initiatives beyond the Caux IDG Forum.
The Inner Development Goals Framework
Rooted in interdisciplinary research, the IDG Framework consists of 5 dimensions with 23 skills of human inner growth and development. The framework is an attempt to simplify a complex field of inner development into a framework that helps to develop, identify, understand, integrate and communicate the inner skills needed for sustainable development.
The 5 skills of the IDG Framework
The Inner Development Goals Framework was developed through the belief that there is a pressing need to increase our collective abilities to face and effectively work with complex challenges. It is based on the conviction that without a foundational shift in human values and leadership capacities, external solutions to our global challenges may be limited, too slow or short-lived.
The framework offers an essential roadmap that can assist us in navigating and developing our inner lives to catalyse outer change.
Bring people together around collective exploration and action.
First-hand experiences of a wide range of people active in the key selected issues.
Learn, innovate, prototype, practice and share application of tools.
Create opportunities to support further activities within the IDG Hubs and organisations.
Ally with partner organisations to scale the development of IDG.
Share stories, arts, event designs and presentations.
Who is attending the Caux IDG Forum?
We expect some 200 participants and speakers drawn from the Inner Development Goals and Initiatives of Change communities, civil society, government, youth movements, academia and business.
Participating in the Caux IDG Forum is about unlocking ones potential: it encourages individuals, groups and organizations to reflect on their roles, explore their resources, and connect with their responsibilities as changemakers, on the basis that everyone can make a difference. It is about putting in practice the Inner Development Goals Framework.
The Caux IDG Forum programme has been designed to allow participants the time to gain some perspective, retreat from the bustling routine and find a space that allows for silent reflection, creative collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
The Caux IDG Forum is on invitation only. Participants wishing to attend the forum should apply for an invitation via ouronline applications form. As spaces are limited, we strongly encourage you to apply early to secure your invitation. If your application is successful we will send you a link to register for the event within 14 days.
The Caux IDG Forum at the Caux Palace, near Montreux
The Caux IDG Forum takes place in our centre for dialogue - the Caux Palace, a former Belle Époque Grand Hotel nestled in the mountains 1000m above sea level. With its breathtaking view over the Léman and the Alps, it provides a unique and inspiring setting.
The Opening Ceremonywill take place in Geneva on 9 July at the Maison de la Paix, close to the UN Palais des Nations. This provides the opportunity to inform and create awareness amongst the diplomatic, political, economic and academic worlds of International Geneva. In addition to the event being broadcast online, we also expect three hundred participants to attend the Opening Ceremony in person.
Registration for the Caux IDG Forum includes attendance of the Opening Ceremony in Geneva. If you are unable to attend the full forum, it is possible to register for the Opening Ceremony separately here.
The Strategic Partnership
The Inner Development Goals Foundationis a non-profit organisation for inner development. The organisation researches, collects and communicates science-based skills and qualities that help us to live purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives, providing an essential framework of transformative skills for sustainable development. The Inner Development Goals Framework, open source and free for all to use, is fundamental in the work to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
The organisation has stimulated the development of over 500 hubs and networks comprising groups of people and/or organisations supporting the Inner Development Goals Initiative.
The Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is a Swiss private charitable foundation with its center for dialogue, the Caux Palace, in Caux, above Montreux, Switzerland. The Caux Palace has become a historic venue bringing together a diverse range of people to address the world’s political, economic and societal challenges together.
Caux Initiatives of Change mission is to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organisations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security.
Initiatives of Change International is a voluntary, donation- and grant-funded nonprofit association of national legal bodies (national teams) and international programmes. Registered in Caux, Switzerland, they coordinate the world-wide Initiatives of Change people’s movement, uniting a community of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own.
Initiatives of Change International have special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC), participatory status at the Council of Europe as well as a seat at the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Programme Overview
9 July: Opening Ceremony
Venue: Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène Rigot 2, Geneva, Switzerland
Time: 14:30 - 17:00 CEST
Attendance: free
The Opening Ceremony for the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum will be held this year in the heart of International Geneva at the Maison de la Paix.
Bringing together 200 participants and distinguished speakers drawn from the Inner Development Goals and Initiatives of Change communities, civil society, government, youth movements, academia and business, the ceremony promises to be a vibrant convergence of ideas and perspectives.
Following the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to network and engage further during a coffee break.
Transport will be arranged to take registered participants from Geneva to the Caux Palace for the full residential four-day event. More information will be communicated on this nearer the date.
Full details of this event, including the agenda and featured speakers, will be announced in the coming weeks.
9-13 July: Full residential Caux IDG Forum
The full residential Caux IDG Forum will take place at the Caux Palace. The Caux IDG Forum is on invitation only. Participants wishing to attend the forum shouldapply for an invitation via ouronline applications form. As spaces are limited, we strongly encourage you to apply early to secure your invitation. If your application is successful we will send you a link to register for the event within 14 days.
Stay tuned for the detailed programme coming up soon.
The Caux IDG Forum is organized into 4 designated workstreams (see below). Each participant is invited to select and follow one of the four workstreams for the duration of the Forum with two dedicated workshops per day. Plenaries, community groups, the evening programme and other activities bring all participants together.
We welcome applications from individuals and organisations interested in becoming Workshop Organisers. Further information can be found on the Workstream Organiser Applications and Responsibilities below. You can also apply here.
If you need any help support with the workshop application form, please contact us by EMAIL.
We will continue to update this page with information on speakers and workshops in the weeks to come.
Workstream 1: Conscious Food Systems
Regenerative agriculture calls for regenerative mindsets and cultures.
How can we change systems that negatively impact people and the planet, especially in the way we produce and consume food?
SDG 2, "Zero Hunger" targets ending hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. It advocates holistic food systems that are environmentally friendly, socially fair, and economically viable to align with broader global sustainability goals, emphasizing the need for conscious and sustainable practices in food production and consumption.
WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS
After 20 years managing large projects in industry, sustainable development, and technology in 45 countries, NADENE CANNING created a boutique consulting agency. Today her strategic foresight and laser focus supports leaders to navigate strategic imperatives that accelerate possibility and impact. In 2012 the book she wrote La force le l’Équilibre - Vie familiale, vie professionnelle which led to a decade of teaching and consulting on leadership, management, systems thinking, change and negotiation. In 2019 Nadene was one of 400 facilitators selected from 10’000 applicants to train with Dr Brené Brown and believes that the four skills sets of building courage in the Dare to Lead™ program is at the cutting edge of leadership thinking. Her continued personal leadership development journey over the past decade sparked the realization that deep change needs integration into all aspects of our being. Here the Inner Development Goals come into the mix as an activator. For the past 2 years Nadene has had the privilege to design and co-host monthly IDG Global Practitioner Network sessions. These interactive, intimate virtual sessions provide a unique deep moment of connection bringing together many of the 700 practitioners to learn, share their challenges, be inspired, and make sustainable impact. The IDG Global Practitioner Network gatherings I co-facilitate monthly nurture inspiration and activate energy within the community and I leave feeling deep gratitude – this is the best! Nadene is part of the IDG Global Coordination Team and a member of the core team of the IDG Lemanic Network.
IGNACIO PACKER is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss private charitable foundation with the mission to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.
Workstream 2: A more climate-friendly lifestyle
Foster a sustainable world through personal development.
How can we achieve a more integrated approach to sustainability by connecting inner and outer dimensions to facilitate collective system transformation?
SDG 13, "Climate Action" strives for urgent measures against climate change, emphasizing awareness, capacity building, and practical steps to mitigate and adapt. It promotes climate-friendly lifestyles, reducing emissions, and sustainable practices, urging individuals, communities, and businesses to embrace behaviors that foster a lower carbon footprint and enhance climate resilience.
WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS
SIDDHARTH SING is the Director the Initiatives of Change centre Asia Plateau in Panchgani, India.
IGNACIO PACKER is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss private charitable foundation with the mission to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.
Workstream 3: Cultivating Peaceful Societies: Embracing Conscience, Peace and Love
Building peaceful societies requires a collective commitment to conscience peace, and love.
How can we collectively foster cultures of peace grounded in conscience and love?
Promoting a culture of peace, conscience, and love aligns with various SDGs, notably SDG 16, "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions." SDG 16 aims for inclusive societies, justice for all, and effective institutions. Target 16.7 specifically emphasizes fostering a culture of peace and non-violence through responsive, inclusive decision-making and robust institutions. While not explicitly stated, the values of conscience and love are integral to building a peaceful and just society, fostering empathy and understanding for a more harmonious world.
WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS
INES MOKDADI is a University Agrégée Professor of English at ISEAH in Tunisia and specializes in Applied Linguistics. Her research focuses on critical discourse analysis and power dynamics. She also works as a freelance translator and interpreter and has served as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Alumna at the University of Notre Dame, USA (2020-2021). In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Ines is deeply passionate about civic engagement, inclusion, and cross-cultural understanding. She volunteers as the Lead Content Strategist for the Creative Leadership team, dedicating her free time to youth-based causes. Furthermore, she recently expanded her involvement by joining the faculty of IofC UK as a trainer for the Refugees for Re-Builders (RRB) programme, demonstrating her commitment to supporting refugees and promoting community rebuilding efforts on a broader scale.
ROWEIDA SALEHis a Lebanese educator with a wealth of experience in conflict resolution, peace education, and fostering cross-cultural understanding. She is dedicated to building communities rooted in peace and trust. With over 20 years of volunteer and peace education experience, she has fostered dialogue, collaboration, and positive change for a more just world. Roweida is passionate about empowering others to become active peacebuilders to build bridges and nurture a culture of trust.
SARAH NOBLEis Head of Global Engagement at Caux Initiatives of Change. She has dedicated her career to building a better world and is passionate about showcasing people's stories on how we can build peace with each other and the planet. Sarah has held leadership positions at international organisations focused on peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and independent media. She is also co-founder and Curator of the Peace Talks at Interpeace that have taken place in more than 8 countries with over 8.000 attendees and more than 200 speakers from over 50 countries.
Workstream 4: Partnership Accelerator
Co-creating strategies to foster meaningful alliances between various stakeholders by leveraging the leadership principles of the Inner Development Goals to accelerate the implementation of each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
SDG 17, "Partnerships for the Goals" focuses on strengthening global collaboration and support mechanisms to achieve the other 16 Sustainable Development Goals. It underscores the importance of fostering partnerships between governments, the private sector, and civil society to enhance the overall effectiveness of sustainable development initiatives worldwide.
WORKSTREAM COORDINATORS
RAFAELA ROLIM aims to host safe spaces of exchange and learning that inspires people and organisations to co-create a better world. She is the founder of Brazilian Experience, with 18+ years of experience in program design, facilitating international learning journeys and human development projects. Rafaela is a IDG enthusiast and started the IDG Florianópolis HUB - Experiences in Nature. She is currently part of the Global Coordination Team for HUBs and Networks and also launched the first IDG Immersion, called ID-X I Inner Development Experiences. Rafaela believes in the power of community to foster collaboration towards common goals, creating transformative impact beyond individual capacity. She is currently also the Co-chair of the Sustainability Interest Group of NAFSA (Association of International Educators) and Vice-President of the CANIE (Climate Action Network for International Educators) America´s Chapter.
SARAH NOBLEis Head of Global Engagement at Caux Initiatives of Change. She has dedicated her career to building a better world and is passionate about showcasing people's stories on how we can build peace with each other and the planet. Sarah has held leadership positions at international organisations focused on peacebuilding, humanitarian issues, and independent media. She is also co-founder and Curator of the Peace Talks at Interpeace that have taken place in more than 8 countries with over 8.000 attendees and more than 200 speakers from over 50 countries.
PONTUS HOLMGRENis a licensed psychologist and a trained UrbanTantra breath guide. He is an organsiational transformation facilitator and an actor, conductor and teacher in improvised Playback theatre. Pontus has worked with leadership, teams, cross collaboration and transformational processes in a multitude of organisations and communities globally since the mid 1990s. Currently focusing on the need for inner development for individuals and for the collective in order deal with the current and future complex challenges of humanity. Pontus has been part of the IDG journey from the start and is a co-coordinator for the global community of Hubs and networks of the Inner Development Goals.
Workshops
Within each workstream, the intention is to cover six cross-cutting themes aligning with SDGs, IDGs, and Initiatives of Change (IofC) Caux Values:
Workshop 1 - Conflict Resolution Skills: this theme aims at using practical techniques for navigating and resolving conflicts.
Workshop 2 - Cultural Sensitivity: this theme aims at enhancing participants' understanding of cultural diversity to foster mutual respect regardless of culture-sensitive boundaries.
Workshop 3 - Mindfulness and Conscious Living: this theme takes aim to practice conscious living by making ethical choices daily.
Workshop 4 - Art: This theme takes on fostering artistic expression to express one's thoughts on peace, conscience, and love.
Workshop 5 - Storytelling for Social Change: this theme hinges on storytelling or story sharing to inspire positive change and cultivate empathy and understanding.
Workshop 6 - Global Citizenship Education Workshop: this theme targets education to foster a sense of global citizenship by emphasizing the interconnectedness of individuals and communities.
The interconnectedness of these elements is visually clarified through the flowchart below.
Call for applications to run a workshop at the Caux IDG Forum
If you are interested in applying to organize a workshop in connection with one of the 4 workstreams, we invite you to read the details below regarding expectations for workshop organisers and submit your application via our online form. We look forward to hearing from you!
If you need any help support with the workshop application form, please contact us by EMAIL.
Full Package with accommodation from 9 - 13 July, 2024, including the Opening Ceremony.
All inclusive | Accommodation in single occupancy room: CHF 690.- /person
All inclusive | Accommodation in shared occupancy room: CHF 570.-/person
Children from 6-14 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 310.-/person
Children from 0-5 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 0.-/person
Prices mentioned, for single or shared accommodation, include :
Accommodation in either shared or single room at the Caux Palace
Participation in the Caux Inner Development Goals Forum
Transfer after the Opening Ceremony on 9 July from Geneva to Caux
Materials provided during the event
Interpretation service and technical equipment
Coffee and tea breaks as well as refreshments
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
VAT & City taxes
Event Package without accommodation
Full event package but no accommodation at the Caux Palace: CHF 350.- /person
The package for participants without accommodation does not include breakfast nor the City Tax. It does include transfer from Geneva to Caux after the Opening Ceremony & dinner on 9 July at the Caux Palace
Opening Ceremony
The participation at the Opening Ceremony on 9 July at the Maison de la Paix in Geneva (14:30 - 17:00 CEST) is free!
The Caux IDG Forum will start with the Opening Ceremony in Geneva on Tuesday, 9 July (14:30 - 17:00 CEST). Attendees who have signed up for the full residential Caux IDG Forum are encouraged go straight to Geneva and travel up to Caux following the Opening Ceremony.
Information on transportation from Geneva to the Caux Palace will be communicated to all confirmed participants prior to the event.
For those who prefer to check in earlier or drop off luggage beforehand at the Caux Palace, our reception in Caux will be available from 10:00 CEST on 9 July, 2024. A safe luggage room will also be available at the Maison de la Paix in Geneva.
On the day of departure, the forum will end after lunch. For organisational reasons and to prepare our spaces for other events, we kindly request all participants to check out by 10:00 CEST on the day of departure and to leave the site by 14:00 CEST.
Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a world-wide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own. Many of the world’s problems – and their solutions – are rooted in human nature. Fear, hate, greed and indifference perpetuate injustice, poverty, conflict and environmental destruction. Yet it is also in human nature to be compassionate, courageous and creative. People can live the change they wish to see. Each person has something unique to contribute to building a just, peaceful and sustainable world. IofC focuses on the vital link between personal change and global change, and aims to inspire, support and equip people to play their part in building a better society.
At their centre for peacebuilding and dialogue, the Caux Palace, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation prioritizes environmental responsibility and is committed to conscious handling of CO2 emissions, ensuring a sustainable and eco-friendly experience.
We also uphold a zero-tolerance policy to foster a safe and respectful environment for all attendees, actively working to prevent and address any inappropriate behavior during our events.
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It is easy to lose ourselves and each other in all the things that are going wrong in the world today – so this is an invitation to a dialogue across cultures and generations about what really matters to us all.
The simple philosophy of Initiatives of Change (IofC) is that if you want to change anything, you need to start with yourself. It is as true in a family as it is on the international level of relationships.
Given the current wars and conflicts threatening community peace and solidarity cross borders, it is with a sense of urgency that the young and the old – children, students, professionals, families, pensioneers, and grandparents – are invited to come and take time to listen and to share, to reflect and to discuss.
In this historic place where Europe reconnected over 75 years ago, we will search together for what we can do for our communities and the world in great need. The French philosopher Gabriel Marcel who visited Caux several times in the aftermath of the second world war, said in his book Fresh Hope for the World that “Caux brings together a remarkable conjunction of the intimate and the global”.
As pride, greed, fear, and anger once again are tearing our continent and lives apart there is an urgent need to come together.
Honesty, Love, Purity (of motives) and Unselfishness are the values that have been the lodestars of the movement IofC since its beginnings. Together we will explore how these four values can be put to work in our lives and societies.
We will also revisit and reflect on the three duos of values that one claims are, the foundation of Europe and that keeps shaping and challenging our present and our future:
Freedom and Faith
Equality and Hope
Fraternity and Love
How do these qualities relate, and how can they enlighten and inspire each other ?
We will be using tools such as inner listening and reflection, sharing and storytelling and the programme will consist of community groups, plenary sessions, workshops and shared cultural events and entertainment in the evenings – with enough time in between for good conversations over meals, walks and sports – and time alone to digest!
(photo: Nelson family)
Daily Programme
Quiet time – space for individual reflection
8.30 Breakfast
9.30 Community-groups - a time where everyone has a chance to contribute and be responsible for shaping the content and outcome of the dialogue, a time to share, listen and discuss, and get to know a smaller group of the forum participants better.
11.00 Plenary session
12.30 Lunch
Free Time: Open space for sports, walks, thoughts, talks or an afternoon snooze!
14.30 Workshops and sports optional
16.00 Tea
16.30 Community-groups continues
First part of the meeting – sharing and reflecting together on the theme of the day
Second part of the meeting – two of the participants in the group will have a chance to share their life story with particular emphasis on significant incidents and experiences that have shaped them into who they are today. The groups will be small enough for everybody to have the opportunity to share their stories in the course of the days we are together.
18.30 Dinner
20.00 Evening entertainment and games
22.00 Evening Prayer: for those who would like to join, the prayer will take place in the Chapel just outside the main building. There is also a Muslim prayer room in the main building.
Programme for Children
The children and teenagers will be divided into two groups:
The group of those aged 12-15 years
The group of those aged 6-11 years
Our aim for the two groups is to offer a space to share reflections, concerns and hopes – working with the theme of the day in a creative way.
No special programme will be offered for the smallest children (0-5 years old), but the kindergarten will be open with one or two responsible adults. Parents can work out among themselves, with some support of grandparents or eager young babysitters, how both children and parents can get the best out of their time in Caux.
For the children’s programme to work well, good translation is crucial, so if you have children that will need other translation than French, German, or English, we would like to hear from you as soon as possible.
The package price is fixed for the entire duration of the event
All inclusive | Accommodation in single occupancy room: CHF 605.- /person
All inclusive | Accommodation in shared occupancy room: CHF 455.-/person
Teenagers from 13 - 17 | Accommodation in multiple occupancy: CHF 320.-/person
Children from 6-12 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 230.-/person
Children from 0-5 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 90.-/person
Prices mentioned, for single or shared accommodation, include :
Accommodation in either shared or single room at the Caux Palace
Participation in the Caux Intergenerational Forum
Materials provided during the event
Interpretation service and technical equipment
Coffee and tea breaks as well as refreshments
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
VAT & City taxes
It is possible to arrive before 22 July (on either 20 or 21 July) but not to stay after 27 July. The additional cost is CHF 85.-/per person/night for single occupancy and CHF 55.-/ per person/night for shared occupation. Lunch or dinner costs CHF 30.- per meal/person
Attendees are asked to check-in from 14:00 CEST on the 22 July. Tea is served 16:00 CEST and first welcome meeting is 16:30 CEST in the Main Hall.
Please note that we will do our best to have the rooms ready by 14:00 CEST. However, not all rooms may be available before 16:00 CEST. If necessary, storage space will be made available for luggage until your room is ready.
The organisers of this Forum are very grateful for the support from the Irene Prestwich Trust, the Hahnloser Foundation and the Foundation for Moral and Spiritual Renewal, which have made it possible to lower the fees for all participants.
Event Package without accommodation
If you wish to attend the event but do not require accommodation, please contact us at: caux@iofc.no
Official registrations are now open until 3 June 2024. Please note that if registrations reach the maximum capacity before this date, the organisers may need to suspend registrations prior to the closing date.
Please not that for those intending to participate in multiple events in Caux this summer, packages will be offered to accommodate additional dates between events.
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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...
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A blog by Caux Palace historian Andrew Stallybrass
25/01/2024
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A blog by Caux Palace historian Andrew Stallybrass
Thanks to its long and rich history, the Caux Palace is always good for a surprise! And so a seemingly normal event in Caux can unexpectedly serve as a reminder of significant moments of the past, resurrecting fascinating stories and making us dig into history to find out more. Last week, our in-house historian, Andrew Stallybrass, travelled to Lausanne on a mission: to have a little wooden cross from Hiroshima, which had been given to Initiatives of Change in the 1950s as a sign of peace and reconciliation, tested for radioactivity:
In 1950 a delegation of 67 Japanese politicians, trade unionists and industrialists came to Caux in their quest to re-establish their country after defeat in war. When they arrived at the Caux Palace, the Japanese flag was flying outside the conference centre and the delegation was welcomed by a chorus singing in Japanese. It was a moving moment as in those days, Japan was still under American occupation and displaying the Japanese flag was still forbidden there.
The delegation included the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and seven prefectural governors. After their stay in Caux, they went on to meet political leaders in Paris, Bonn, Rome, London and Washington. Speaking in the American Senate, the personal representative of the Japanese Prime Minister apologized for ‘Japan’s big mistake’ and said: ‘We ask your forgiveness. We found in Caux the true content of democracy.’ The Senate responded with a standing ovation, as did the House of Representatives the next day.
Left: The Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Caux, 1950. Centre: The Japanese delegation. Right: Yukika Sohma. (photos: Initiatives of Change)
On the fifth anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima, the delegation was in California. They were invited to speak on CBS radio and Yukika Sohma, a young Japanese woman who travelled with the delegation as a translator, described Caux as a ‘family of nations where differences of race, of class and of point of view were superseded... we saw and experienced reconciliation of hearts.’
The Mayor of Hiroshima, Shinzo Hamai, also spoke in the broadcast, quoting words that he had had heard in Caux: ‘Peace is people becoming different’. He also declared: ‘I for one intend to start this effort from Hiroshima. The one dream and hope left to our surviving citizens is to re-establish the city as a pattern for peace.’
In many places, including the Caux Palace, the mayor (a Christian himself) offered a little wooden cross as a gift from his city. The notice under the cross reads: ‘An old giant 400 year old camphor-tree stood in the corner of a temple called “kokutaiji” where the remains of the feudal lords of Hiroshima are entombed. This cross was made of the tree after it died in the blast of the atomic bomb on 6 August 1945.’
Inscription on the cross
One cross was presented to the Baroness Diane de Watteville, the hostess of the former Initiatives of Change (then known as Moral Re-Armament) centre in Paris. Before her death, she gave it to two close IofC friends, Michel and Catherine Koechlin, and they in turn entrusted it to our safe-keeping (my wife Eliane and myself).
In September 2023, on the occasion of a major event at the Caux Palace, we put together a small, temporary exhibition of documents and objects in the Salon Belle Epoque, including the cross from Hiroshima. Several people commented on it, and a couple of them even wondered if it was dangerous – radioactive.
I confess that this thought had never crossed my mind, despite it being such an obvious question. I was then undergoing radiological treatment at the local hospital. The senior technician there said that his equipment couldn’t test the cross, but he put me in touch with his colleagues in Lausanne where the cross was tested for radioactivity on 16 January 2024.
Testing of the cross in Lausanne, initiated by historian Andrew Stallybrass, centre (photos: Abigayle Mapanao)
To our relief, we discovered that there is no danger. Measurements of the cross using various detectors revealed the same level of radioactivity as the background radiation present in the room.
The technicians explained that if the tree, from which the cross was made, had survived the explosion for some years, it could have incorporated radioactivity through its roots. However, the outside of the tree protected the heart from any contamination.
In 2015, the current Mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui,sent a letter to the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation in which he stated how deeply the visit to Caux in 1950 had influenced the then mayor, Shinzo Hamai, and his colleague from Nagasaki, as they faced Japan’s reconstruction after the bombing.
In his letter to Caux, Kazumi Matsui called for a ‘world in which we can have a future-oriented dialogue’ and wrote: ‘If every person listens to the voice of his conscience, he can orient himself in a positive direction, bringing about positive changes not only in the family, workplace, school, community and nation, but also in the relationship between both people and countries.’
Today, the message of peace and reconciliation, connected to this small wooden cross from Hiroshima, remains more important than ever.
‘If every person listens to the voice of his conscience, he can orient himself in a positive direction, bringing about positive changes not only in the family, workplace, school, community and nation, but also in the relationship between (...) people and countries.
Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, 2015, in a letter to the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
TheInternational Gender Champions (IGC) Network counts over 333 decision-makers at the highest levels from international organisations, permanent missions and embassies, civil society organisations and the private sector, united by a commitment to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence.
The core of the International Gender Champions work begins with the Panel Parity Pledge, the Gender-based Violence Pledge and two personal commitments that each Gender Champion makes every year to advance gender equality in their organisation or programmatic work.
Panel Parity Pledge
Through the Panel Parity Pledge, Champions commit to no longer take part in any single-sex panels. This Pledge has made the notion of single-sex panels unacceptable in the hubs where IGC operates and Champions have thus taken the lead in raising awareness of the need to ensure gender parity. Whilst originally designed to foster the inclusion of women in male-dominated panels, the Pledge is increasingly applied to all-female panels.
Gender-based Violence (GBV) Pledge
The Gender-based Violence (GBV) Pledge stands for zero tolerance of gender-based violence (GBV), sexist attitudes and behavior and aims to tackle some of the deepest and most harmful norms that prevent the equal rights of women and girls being realised.
Personal Commitments of Ignacio Packer as IGC Champion
The IGC’s core values which include creating and maintaining safe workplaces and treating every person with respect and fairness, mirror those of Caux Initiatives of Change: dedicated to providing a safe and judgment-free space where individuals, groups and organisations can engage effectively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership and sustainable living. It is paramount for our Foundation to emphasize our unwavering stance on zero tolerance for gender-based violence, and to promote gender equality through our work. Through our commitment to uphold these values, we ensure that our volunteers, guests and staff can experience a sense of safety and equality in their interactions with us and during their stay at our centre for dialogue, the Caux Palace.
Consequently, Ignacio Packer, on behalf of Caux Initiatives of Change, has committed to pursue two commitments in 2024 aimed at advancing gender equality within the workplace and in interactions with partners, guests, and volunteers:
In 2024, Caux Initiatives of Change will deepen its understanding of social power dynamics and discrimination – with particular attention to gender. At the organizational level, Caux Initiatives of Change will better equip its staff, volunteers and guests at our Center for Dialogue to be active participants in the prevention of and response to sexual harassment at the workplace including our center for dialogue, the Caux Palace. I have made it a priority to report on this to the council of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation.
In 2024, Caux Initiatives of Change will increase its intergenerational leadership by inviting the youth leaders of the Caux Initiatives of Change Creative Leadership initiative to take more power and space, and to reinforce opportunities for their voices and leadership. With the support of these youth leaders from across the globe, our organization’s understanding goes beyond binary equality of men and women to consider differences in each individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity values, attitudes and life experiences. I make the commitment to support this type of leadership including to “get out of the way” when appropriate to offer power and space.
If you would like to learn more about the IGC Network, its members and activities, please visit their website.
Ignacio Packer in discussion with Khulan Berger (centre) and Clément Van Eck Duymaer (right) of MyBluePlanet
As COP28 kicked off on 30 November 2023 as a global milestone to take stock of the progress made on the Paris Agreement and align the efforts on climate action, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is delighted to announce that we are partnering with Swiss-based organization MyBluePlanet on their ClimateActions 4 Companies programme. This collaboration anchors cllmate protection at the core of our Foundation’s culture and activities.
MyBluePlanet is committed to climate protection in Switzerland, guiding organisations and their employees in developing and implementing activities to promote a more climate-friendly lifestyle. Together, we're working towards a more sustainable future, empowering our community to play a pivotal role in the global climate action movement.
At Caux Initiatives of Change, we have already invested heavily in energy and ecological transitions at the Caux Palace and Villa Maria, our centre for dialogue and trustbuilding. The collaboration with MyBluePlanet amplifies our ambition to champion sustainability through our Hospitality for Change work, using our convening power to promote ecological awareness across our employees and guests.
Through a maintained sense of urgency in relation to the climate crisis, we aspire to be the best we can be, both individually and collectively.
Stay tuned for more details on these impactful initiatives for more sustainability at the Caux Palace in our upcoming newsletters. You can sign up here.
Filling the gap in global efforts for peace and democracy
Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony
28/11/2023
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Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony
The Caux Forum 2023 was an unforgettable experience. It brought together 550 people from 72 countries, representing diverse cultures and sectors, with the aim of inspiring, equipping and connecting participants to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world.
This year’s Caux Forum was especially meaningful as it was the first time convened in person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. New relationships were forged and old ones rekindled within the grounds of the historic Caux Palace. These connections are the very heart of the legacy of Caux. As Taiwan participant Hsu Shoufeng put it, ‘To share concerns with delegates from 72 countries is a reminder of human solidarity.’
The 2023 forum offered a wide range of dialogues and workshops focusing on two pressing themes: Healing the Wounds of the Past and Trust and Integrity in Democracy. Against the backdrop of these themes, Initiatives of Change welcomed expert speakers to the Caux stage, their collective experience and wisdom serving as a foundation for dialogue, ideation and inspiration.
The international audience at the 2023 Caux Forum came from 72 different countries (photo: Leela Channer)
‘Caux provides an exceptional setting. It allows us to see beyond political rivalries and polarization. It gives us the space to think, exchange views and develop new lines of action. Caux connects individual and collective action and thus fills a gap in the current landscape of global efforts for peace and democracy.’
Rea Gehring, Minister / Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division, Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs
The Caux Forum 2023 Opening Ceremony set the tone for the conference with the theme, ‘Strengthening Democracy: The Journey from Trauma to Trust.’
In front of an international audience who had come to Caux or joined online from more than 70 countries, IofC International President Gerald Pillay, kicked off the ceremony with reference to the state of the world, growing threats to democracy and the devastating conflict in Ukraine: ‘War never brings real victories, it only hurts and brings violence and hatred to the next generations. As a team, how can we collaborate to march for world peace? Can we be the symbol for a new peacemaker or changemaker to the global community?’
Jacqueline Coté, President of Caux Initiatives of Change, highlighted how climate change, population displacement, scarcity of public goods and pandemics, coupled with conflicts in many parts of the world, have shown that we are all interconnected. She went on to stress the significant impact Initiatives of Change can have: ‘We bring you down to the individual level, a level that is within each person’s reach. Change starts with oneself. If this is internalized, change will happen in the family, the community, the country, the region and end up influencing the global agenda.’
Rea Gehring at the Opening Ceremony, representing the Swiss government
The opening ceremony also featured Rea Gehring, Minister and Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Caux is a unique place,’ said Ms Gehring when she addressed the audience. ‘Initiatives of Change has established a diverse and creative platform to explore how we can optimize collective action through our individual efforts. This year's theme couldn't be timelier.’ At a time when ‘division and a lack of trust between people have grown deeper’, Ms Gehring also stressed the importance of constant dialogue to make democracy work. "Caux provides an exceptional setting. It allows us to see beyond political rivalries and polarization. It gives us the space to think, exchange views and develop new lines of action. Caux connects individual and collective action and thus fills a gap in the current landscape of global efforts for peace and democracy."
As in previous years, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs had brought delegations from several African countries to the Caux Forum and we are grateful for our collaboration with the FDFA which has been going strong for more than 15 years.
Keynote speaker Elena Zhemkova from Peace Nobel Prize laureate Memorial (photo: Leela Channer)
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Elena Zhemkova, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Memorial, a Russian human rights organization shut down by the Russian Government in 2021. Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, along with Ales Bialiatski of Belarus and the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine.
Ms Zhemkova described honesty as ‘a tool for healing historical wounds’ and spoke about her experience in implementing that tool, and the challenges it represents. Describing the origins of her work with Memorial, she openly questioned why it had taken her so long before she began to dig deeper and learn more about the victims of repression in her country. "Did I really know nothing? Or did I not want to know?"
In the face of difficult situations, she encouraged the audience to find new ways to reclaim the truth about the past and create ‘a future that upholds the principle of non-violence, respect for human rights and the importance of every human life in human history.’ In a reference to Caux, she concluded with the image of climbing a mountain and the hope that, even though the peak might not be reached, everybody can make a contribution: "Peace is at the centre of everything!"
Panel discussion moderated by Ignacio Packer, Executive Director of Caux Initiatives of Change (photo: Leela Channer)
Mô Bleeker stressed the importance of dealing with the legacy of conflicts and atrocities through acknowledging what has happened and taking responsibility to address the consequences. ‘If we seriously wish to engage in healing the wounds of the past, the how is as important as the what,’ she explained. ‘In today's world the constructive management of diversity is not only a challenge but also one of our greatest opportunities.’
She concluded by sharing a quote from the preamble of the Swiss Constitution: “Let’s all together commit to promote a world where the strength of our global community is measured by the well-being of its weakest members,” and by calling on the audience to be “courageous, ethical and creative”.
From left to right: Ignacio Packer, Elena Zhemkova, Corinne Momal-Valian, Mô Bleeker
Corinne Momal-Vanian emphasized the role of youth and urged the audience to remember that the same young people set aside when peace agreements are negotiated will probably be the ones implementing them. ‘Young people, better than politicians, have a capacity to envision the future. They are able to project themselves and they must. They have a key ability to play an important role in reconciliation efforts.’, she explained in her passionate speech and underlined the importance of making young people aware of ethical frameworks, enabling leaders to make just decisions, to take responsibility for mistakes and to put people back into the centre.
Norvegian artist Sveinung Nygaard on stage in the Caux Palace theatre (photo: Leela Channer)
The arts have always played an important part in conveying Initiatives of Change's message and Norwegian musician Sveinung Nygaardadded an artistic touch by performing one of his compositions. The Opening Ceremony was wrapped up by Nick Foster from the United Kingdom, thanking the audience and the speakers.
We are grateful for this summer and the many enriching moments with those who came to Caux. Colorful, diverse, creative, inspiring - the 2023 Caux Forum was the perfect proof that we are all connected, wherever we come from and whoever we are. As one participant summed it up:
This is what I dream humanity could be about: people being patient with each other, people appreciating the diversity we have.
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