International Caux Conferences Report 2014

INTERNATIONAL CAUX CONFERENCES

REPORT 2014 www.caux.ch

Exploring the Human Factor in Global Change

CONTENTS

Conferences are organized by the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation (CAUX-IofC) and Initiatives of Change (IofC) International every year in Caux, above Montreux, in Switzerland. CAUX-IofC is a charitable Swiss foundation that owns and runs the Caux Conference Centre. It is a founding member of IofC International.

This report is a short overview on each conference of the 2014 season. For more information on individual conferences, including videos and pictures, please visit our website www.caux.ch/2014.

Editorial

3

Children as Actors Transforming Society

16

Facts and figures

4

Impact Initiatives for Change

18

Award

5

International Peace-Builders’ Forum

20

Special events

6

Caux Scholars Program

22

Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business

7

Interns and Volunteers

23

Caux Dialogue on Land and Security

8

Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy

10

Just Governance for Human Security

12

Seeds of Inspiration

14

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N.B.: ‘Caux’ is often used as an abbreviation for the Caux Conference Center and the community of volunteers, interns, staff and participants.

EDITORIAL

Caux: Real and Relevant I have spent the last three years intimately involved in the Caux-IofC programme of events. When asked ‘what do you do for the rest of the year?’ I assure the questioner that while it may seem as though the conferences just materialize sometime in June, preparation starts at least one year prior. I help coordinate an incredible, largely voluntary, group of people who carry the preparations for conferences, the service departments and programmes throughout the year to bring the summer season to life.

There are profound and exciting developments emerging across the conferences and other summer activities, as well as some very powerful reminders of why Caux needs to exist.

Building on the narratives of previous years, pressing issues were tackled in 2014. We examined the gritty reality of ongoing corruption and conflicts in places such as Ukraine, Gaza, South Sudan and Zimbabwe during Just Governance for Human Security. Developed with high-level international partnerships, the Caux Dialogue for Land and Security conference focused on the need to reduce conflict to recover dry and wetlands around the world. The exciting momentum that is Children as Actors in Transforming Society (CATS) ex-

plored the imperative to enable participation of younger people in co-creating the future. Economic challenges have been examined since 2006 through the Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy (TIGE) conference, driving forward truly sustainable economic models and providing structures and training to support them. This was closely connected to Heart of Effective Leadership (HEL), Entrepreneurs, Pathfinders, Innovators and Changemakers (EPIC) and Impact Initiatives for Change. There was also some much-needed time dedicated to the sharing of inspiration and creativity between changemakers in this year’s second edition of Seeds of Inspiration.

Two new events were launched: Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business, forging a think-tank for a constructive repositioning of Europe, and the International PeaceBuilders’ Forum using the platform of Caux to promote vital refreshment and connection between those working for peace.

Overall there was little ‘gap’ between the conversations taking place over the dining room tables and the news flooding in via the internet. Indeed some volunteers represented countries, communities and even families traumatized by

geopolitical events around the globe; the discussions were, and remain, more than ‘close to home’.

Our volunteers’ survey reflects that lives have been profoundly and positively impacted by the activities in Caux. A lasting memory of 2014 for me will be hearing a paper aimed at peacebuilding presented by Russians and Ukrainians read out in the plenary the very day the Malaysia Airlines flight came down. Not long after that, on August 4th, we commemorated the centenary of the first shots of World War I. Have we progressed in taking on responsibility for the future since then or are we hiding behind our digital interfaces? One thing is sure: the need for safe spaces, like Caux, for people to meet, face to face, in a way that can facilitate changes of heart and direction towards peace, responsible politics and economics, and sustainable living. I am proud to play my part in that effort.

Nick Foster Conference Manager CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation

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FACTS AND FIGURES

Caux Conferences – Summer 2014 People

1551 142

64 19 75

29 29 74

Participants Volunteers Interpreters Staff Interns Scholars Artists Visitors/Guests IofC IofC Global Assembly

1153 142 64 19 75 29 29 74 57

Nationalities

104

Europe Asia Asia & Middle East Africa Africa N. N. & S. America Australia Australia

71 % 11 % 8% 8% 2%

57

1153

Age groups

861

350

Amount

300 250 200 150 100 50

690

0 0–5

6–18

19–25

26–35

36–45

46–60

61–80

80+

28

199

239

346

215

289

210

25

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female male

861 690

AWARD

IofC awarded the fourth Ousseimi Prize for Tolerance IofC rewarded for its ‘relentless contribution to greater tolerance’.

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he ceremony began with a speech by Ambassador Anne Lugon-Moulin, Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, in which she congratulated the Caux Conferences and Initiatives of Change for their innovative methods.

Mrs Ousseimi then made the presentation and outlined the reasons for honouring Initiatives of Change with this award, whose previous recipients include Nelson Mandela, stating that Initiatives of Change has ‘systematically and relentlessly contributed to greater tolerance in our complex and divided world’.

In his acceptance speech, Cornelio Sommaruga, Honorary President of Initiatives of Change International, called for responsibility to be globalized to usher in a tolerant world. He stated that in order to achieve this, we need personal change towards ‘honesty, transparency, humility and freedom’. Mr Sommaruga added that tolerance is ‘a courageous act’; it is the

‘strength to know how to listen to the other to try to understand them, so that a dialogue based on mutual respect can take place’.

The Ousseimi Foundation endorses the idea that ‘success is meaningful only if its fruits are shared with others’. Initiatives of Change International and the CAUXInitiatives of Change Foundation are therefore happy to share this distinction with the numerous volunteers, conference participants, organizers of the Caux conferences and with the Initiatives of Change international network – in recognition of their decisive contribution towards initiatives of change.

Anne Lugon-Moulin, Omnia Marzouk, Maria Ousseimi, and Cornelio Sommaruga around the 4th Ousseimi Prize for Tolerance CAUX REPORT 2014 5

SPECIAL EVENTS

World War I Commemoration On 3 August Caux commemorated the centenary of the declaration of WWI by sharing stories and reflecting on the future of promoting peace.

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ntoine Jaulmes, President of CAUXInitiatives of Change, opened the ceremony by sharing elements from his own history, the war having divided the German and French sides of his family.

He reminded those present that ‘our responsibility, as French, Germans and Europeans, is to remember that since 1914 we have initiated two world wars. We have done this either actively, or we have stood by passively, not knowing how to stop it.

It is therefore our responsibility to put into place all that we can to stop further conflicts and to mend the damage caused by the previous ones.’ Given IofC’s work to solve conflicts and prevent new ones, it was fitting to commemorate the First World War in Caux, even though Switzerland was spared.

Antoine Jaulmes, president of CAUX-IofC, opens the Commemoration Ceremony

Participants did not stop at remembering the millions of victims of the First World War, they also commemorated all those who continue to suffer from ravaging conflicts around the world. At the closing of the commemoration, people were invited

to gather around the tree planted in remembrance of the Jewish refugees housed in Caux during the Second World War. In silence, each person placed a rock at the foot of the tree, as a symbol of their commitment to peace.

20th anniversary of the Caux Round Table (CRT) Principles for Business ‘Do not start to write a declaration about what other people should do but start with your own company and begin with the changes that will solve the problem.’

Frederik ‘Frits’ Philips, co-founder of the Caux Round Table

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obert MacGregor, one of the initiators of the CRT Principles for Business, invited conference participants for an evening of reflection and story-sharing.

The Caux Round Table was founded in 1986 at a time when a trade war between Japan and Western economies was feared.

The CRT imagined a greater role and responsibility for business in social and economic aspects of society. In July 1994, senior business leaders from Europe, Japan and the USA formally launched the Caux Round Table Principles for Business, a predecessor of today’s Corporate Social Responsibility principles. They included the Japanese concept of Kiyosei – living and working together for the common 6 CAUX REPORT 2014

good – and the importance of Human Dignity. The CRT presented the Principles at the United Nations World Summit on Social Development in 1995. They quickly became what MacGregor claimed are one of the ‘most widely used’ codes of best practice around the world and have been translated into 12 languages.

The 81-year-old MacGregor closed by urging young entrepreneurs to live and act the way they would like to see the CEOs of big corporations act and live.

Robert MacGregor shares the history of the Caux Round Table

ADDRESSING EUROPE’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS

‘Actions for a more peaceful, more united Europe’ Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business (AEUB) sought to reconnect European peoples with the ‘peace and reconciliation’ inspiration of the European project as presented in the Schuman Declaration* of 9 May 1950.

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otivated by the 2014 European commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI and of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, the two-day seminar provided a good opportunity to reflect on some of the current European challenges: • Changing paradigms in the eastern regions of Europe; • The challenge of immigration; • Ethnic identities and minority rights in a democracy; • War-based or peace-based identities – or how to associate national identities in a common story-telling about European history and values.

On 27–28 June, AEUB brought together participants from 20 different countries.

Cornelio Sommaruga, former President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Honorary President of Initiatives of Change International, Catherine Guisan, political science professor at the University of Minnesota, Aurora Martin, professor at the Russian Presidential

Catherine Guisan, Antoine Jaulmes and Cornelio Sommaruga

Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, and Antoine Jaulmes, President of the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation, were keynote speakers.

When referring to Europe, AEUB refers to the member countries of the Council of Europe. Representatives from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia were in fact present at the seminar at the very time their governments were ratifying Association Agreements with the European Union. As

one participant, Katerina from Ukraine, put it: ‘This seminar helped me understand what this agreement really meant for Ukraine. I will try to bring back that knowledge to my country.’

Participants had the opportunity to discuss and exchange their personal positive and negative experience of Europe, in plenaries and workshops. Various initiatives to help pave the way for a more inclusive and cohesive Europe were born, including: • An appeal to European governments to take concrete measures in line with universal principles of Human Rights and dignity regarding the treatment of illegal immigrants (you can find the statement on our website www.caux.ch); • Projects to encourage Ukrainian, Armenian and Georgian youth to understand European institutions, through reciprocal visits, cities twinning and other initiatives; • A four-year project to help spread reconciliation stories throughout Europe.

To reflect further on the personal and global challenges of Europe it was agreed to convene a longer seminar next year.

AEUB will take place for three days from 16 to 19 July 2015. *First document to promote the creation of the European Union CAUX REPORT 2014 7

CAUX DIALOGUE ON LAND AND SECURITY

‘Mitigating Risk; Responding to Threat’ Two hundred people took part in the second Caux Dialogue on Land and Security (CDLS) from June 29 to July 4. Organised by Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace (ILLP) in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), its aim was to address the connections between poverty, conflict and land degradation.

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his year’s conference brought together representatives of the private sector, government, academia and civil society with about 40 NGOs of which nearly three quarters were represented at Caux for the first time. Major new stakeholders were present such as NATO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ramsar Convention on the world’s wetlands. Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of UNCCD, and Julia MartonLefèvre, Director General of IUCN, both participated in the programme.

Luc Gnacadja, former UNCCD director, and Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO

A strong delegation came from Kenya, where ILLP, Initiatives of Change Kenya and Excellent Development have on-theground projects integrating both technical work and trustbuilding, in a partnership arising out of the 2013 Caux Dialogue.

Encouraging trust and partnerships Many activists mistrust agri-business particularly those businesses which develop and market Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Both sides of this divide were represented at the Caux Dialogue, and engaged in lively discussions. ILLP and Caux hope to continue to provide a platform for such conversations, believing that land restoration on the scale required cannot be achieved without the resources and expertise of business, sustainably applied.

During the Dialogue two networks – Drynet, a global initiative for the development of drylands, and World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technolo-

Reaching a new generation: ‘2050 – hopes and realities’ Caux is first and foremost a place for encounters. About 50 students and young professionals present at the CDLS conference had the opportunity to meet in an informal meeting with Monique Barbut, Julia Marton-Lefèvre and Martin Frick, diplomat and Chair of the ILLP Steering Group. The youth and the experts shared their hopes and dreams, but also their concerns for the future.

Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN, and Monique Barbut, UNCCD, in conversation with a Caux intern

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First, the experts shared their personal stories, how they started their professional careers and what really motivated them.

The discussion then went on to the state of the carbon market, the cost and benefit of land restoration for farmers, youth involvement in local initiatives, the role of women in agriculture and a changing African society, and the future world leading countries in international negotiations. It was an opportunity for the youth to ask questions, but also for the senior staff to

get some honest feedback and points of view from the audience.

The experts then asked the young people what they were doing for ‘our home, the earth.’ Many participants described their commitment, whether it was through networks or local actions.

Both Julia Marton-Lefèvre and Monique Barbut applauded these youthlead initiatives. Marton-Lefèvre called for further action: ‘Make a commitment to go home and get involved! Your generation can do it! Keep in touch with each other, networks across borders are so important. Run for office!’

As night fell, the experts and the youth parted ways, feeling richer thanks to an exchange characterised by real and authentic concern for the earth’s future.

Agri-business representatives share a panel with NGO representatives

Imam Ashafa Dryland millet is served to illustrate the benefits of land restoration

Film Premiere Following the success of The Imam and the Pastor and An African Answer, Alan Channer’s latest fi lm about Nigerian peace-builders Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa Tchad – un chemin vers l’espoir (‘Chad – a path towards hope’) was premiered during CDLS. It shows how a nationwide network of mediators is being set up and trained in Chad, to build trust between divided communities and to promote good governance. Both protagonists were present at the premiere. Pastor Wuye said he hoped the fi lm would be ‘used as a catalyst for initiating dialogue in African Francophone countries.’ This film is meant to bring help about reconciliation. The Imam continued: ‘We want to build a bridge of reconciliation with all the human family, and that’s why we’re here to participate in this conference.’ The pastor concluded: ‘We hope to go back immediately with the ideas we have gathered here to implement pragmatically on the ground the solutions we are hearing about in the workshops.’

Initiatives of Change in collaboration with IUCN and UNCCD is taking discussions around these concerns into the international arena. They are shared by the local people of drylands and vital to their livelihoods and security.’

Scaling up land restoration Ambassador Laura Thompson, Deputy Director General, International Organization of Migration

gies (WOCAT) – signed a mutual collaboration agreement. In its closing statement, Drynet stated: ‘This year’s Dialogue highlighted debates around land grabbing, insecure land user rights, different drivers of land degradation such as soil sealing, chemical contamination and displacement of people.

It was a great honour for Drynet members to participate and contribute to this year’s Caux Dialogue on Land and Security.

Drynet is a network of Civil Society Organisations in 15 countries working with local communities of drylands. For this reason, Drynet highly appreciates that

There are many successful land restoration projects around the world, which have been shown not only to increase food and water security and economic development, but also to reduce or prevent armed conflicts. The 2014 Caux Dialogue highlighted some of these projects and focused on what conditions are needed to enable a massive scaling up of land restoration.

CAUX REPORT 2014 9

TRUST AND INTEGRITY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

TIGE visit to Nestlé headquarters in Vevey

‘Inspiring people and purpose for sustainable prosperity’ It is often in times of crisis that innovation takes place. As the global economy is still struggling to recover, the vibrant 8th annual TIGE conference gathered an incredible mix of experts and leaders from all walks of life and backgrounds to talk about new models of economy and of global community. TIGE has proved once more that not only are new models possible but that some already exist.

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n his opening keynote speech Christian Felber, renowned economist and initiator of the social movement ‘Economy for the Common Good,’ advocated for an economic model that aims towards the common good and cooperation rather than financial profit and competition. Felber wants to ‘rewrite the rules to make sure economic players can be successful while being ethical’.

is my drive every day. It’s about creating beauty. It’s about creating true luxury that brings wellbeing to everybody that is in touch with it.’

Pedro Langre, Managing Director of the Oxford Leadership Academy Mexico, spoke of the importance of leading responsibly, ethically and from the heart in order for businesses to grow. Lisa and Charly Kleissner, founders of the KL Felicitas Foundation, adopted a more individual point of view. ‘How can we, as individuals, be doers of justice in the economy?’ they asked. They promoted ‘impact investment’, the commitment to invest in projects that contribute to a fairer world.

Kleissner stressed that integrity is to act according to our life goal and our values.

Guya Merkle shared her inspiring story on how she became the owner of a luxury jewellery business at the age of 21 due to

Business Leaders Forum In parallel to the conference, an international group of 20 senior business leaders and academics gathered in Villa Maria for a three-day Business Leaders Forum (BLF). Inspired by the ethos of Caux they met to share insights and launch an initiative towards a globally sustainable economy, based on trust building and ethical leadership – a hallmark of the spirit of Caux.

10 CAUX REPORT 2014

Christian Felber advocates for a common good approach to economics

her father’s sudden death. After some soul-searching and a visit to the gold mines of Uganda and Peru, she opened up a market for ethically sourced gold, by being the main instigator and buyer. ‘This

Emma Ihre, Special Advisor in Sustainable Business for the Swedish Ministry of Finance, tackled the important exemplary role of public entities and explained how the Ministry of Finance ensures that stateowned corporations become sustainable.

She referred to the fact that it is important to recruit directors who have ethical values and a corresponding attitude: ‘We must dare to have high expectations and focus on transparency and cooperation.’

EPIC: Entrepreneurs, Pathfinders, Innovators and Changemakers Young professionals and entrepreneurs filled with great expectations and wanting to defy the status quo found kindred spirits in this year’s new workshop: EPIC. Marcello Palazzi, founder of Progressio Foundation, Netherlands, is one of the creators of the workshop: ‘The word leadership is overused. We realized that there are these four categories of people that are shapers, heroes of our society: the Entrepreneurs, the Pathfi nders, the Innovators, and the Changemakers.’ For one week, young active individuals from various backgrounds, selected by Palazzi challenged and supported each other, sharing experiences and best practices as well as new perspectives and ideas. They also took time to reflect and connect with themselves and with nature, enjoying the scenery of Caux and hiking up the

Economist Bernard Lietaer

Rochers de Naye, a symbolic physical illustration of overcoming inner and outer hurdles. From UN workers to young social entrepreneurs to individuals looking for a new orientation in their lives, the participants left the programme energized, empowered and equipped with a new supportive network.

EPIC has been so successful that the workshop will become a conference in 2015, teaming up with the Impact Initiatives for Change Conference.

Leire Corra, Strategy Consultant at Deloitte, concluded: ‘When you are stuck in the routine it becomes hard to change and be aware of the greater scheme. Coming here gives you peace and time to stop and think.’

Bernard Lietaer, author, financial expert, and co-designer of the ECU (the monetary mechanism that later became the Euro), presented compelling arguments for new financial systems and alternative currencies. Lietaer drew the bigger picture of a failed currency system in need of change. ‘Every dollar you see is someone’s debt; governmental, corporate or private.

That is what we now consider normal, but that is far from normal.’ According to him, this approach makes money unstable. It amplifies business cycles and concentrates wealth through interest. His solution for long term sustainability is a new type of currency called Terra that is based on the most important commodities of the market. This way, the Terra is less volatile, fully backed and is issued based on inventory.

Profit must benefit people

Panel on trust and integrity in business with Guya Merkle and Pedro Lange

In the workstream Leading Change for a Sustainable World, developments in social and environmental responsibilities in the private sector were addressed. As part of a case study on the positive impact of society’s pressure on profit oriented companies for greater transparency and greater sustainable practices, TIGE participants visited Nestlé’s Shared Value Department in Vevey, in which matters of responsible sourcing, community development and human rights issues are addressed. This

‘The EPICs are people who don’t take things for granted, and act towards change.’

was made possible by Pascal Gréverath, Nestlé’s Assistant Vice-President and Head of Environmental Sustainability.

The ideas expressed during the TIGE conference were reinforced by a statement to the organizing team from the Vatican’s Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, that called for an ‘inclusive economy, which implies a market economy, animated by a pluralistic entrepreneurship and guided by principles of social justice and generosity’.

On the same note, Monsignore Stefano Ottani, President of the Ecclesiastical court in Bologna, spoke about putting the economy back in its rightful place. ‘The economy is here to meet people’s needs’ he said. He reminded participants that, etymologically, profit means do (fit) for (pro), i.e. ‘acting for the benefit of.’ ‘Profit must therefore benefit people, it must serve them.’

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JUST GOVERNANCE FOR HUMAN SECURITY

‘Structures and personal qualities which foster ethical, inclusive governance’ ‘There is a massive trust deficit in the world today. How do we address this?’ asked Michael Møller, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva. He went on to answer his own question: ‘I take inspiration from the ethos which underpins the initiative of Caux – the centrality of the individual. The only way to build trust is between people. Structures are enablers, people are the doers.’

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r Møller was speaking in a plenary on ‘Trust as a key to peace’ during the conference on Just Governance for Human Security. The five-day conference brought together 200 people working for better governance in 32 countries. Many of them came from situations of conflict and tension – from Israel and Palestine, from Turkey and Armenia, from Somalia.

They came searching for steps which could unite warring factions. The conference focused on the human factors which enable both leaders and citizens to work together towards an inclusive, democratic approach.

Sahel Delegation 28 civic and political leaders and government officials came from Mali, Chad and Niger, sponsored by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

The FDFA has been sponsoring groups to Caux from the region for the past four years. This year the group included government ministers and former ministers, parliamentarians, senators, academics, jurists, journalists, directors of NGOs, an imam and a pastor. They arrived four days early to take part in workshops led by a team from the FDFA on ‘Dealing with the Past’. Then most of them stayed on for the conference on Just Governance.

They valued the discussion on dealing with the past, both with the FDFA team and, during the conference, with experienced mediators such as Matthias Stiefel, founder of Interpeace. Many of the group have suffered from past injustices. ‘My life has been punctuated by arrest and prison’, said Dr N’gothe, MP, President of Chad’s Economic and Planning Commission, ‘and when I first came to Caux I was filled with hatred and destructive forces. As a victim of the regime of Hissen Habre, I was determined to put him on trial. But the exchanges which took place here changed me, and my response to the injustice of the past has also changed. Maybe there is a different way to achieve justice.’

During the conference, they sought strategies to improve governance. ‘Without any exaggeration,’ said a senior official, ‘bad governance and corruption were the cause of crisis in Mali.’

Overcoming corruption A series of workshops on defeating corruption were led by Katherine Marshall, former Senior Advisor to the World Bank, 12 CAUX REPORT 2014

now advising the International Anti-Corruption conference. Neil Buhne, Director of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Recovery in Geneva, detailed a variety of approaches to defeating corruption, including little-known success stories such as Botswana and Bhutan. Prof Eugene Sensenig-Dabbous of Notre Dame University Lebanon led a workshop on overcoming corruption in the extraction of

Rama Mani and Yolande Ambiana performing ‘Healing the wounds of war’

Going out from Caux From Caux the participants have gone out with new energy to grapple with the difficult situations they face.

In the Sahel, the Chadians have created a local association, the ‘Reflection Group for Peace and Development in Chad’. Caux groups are emerging in other Sahel countries.

‘The spirit of Caux,’ an oft-used phrase in their circles, represents hope for a different kind of relationship between people. One participant mentioned the ‘sincere approach that comes from the heart and stands in stark contrast to official narratives on national reconciliation’.

Conflict, corruption, abuse of rights – these are some of the issues that preoccupy their discussions. As Michel Kipoké, a founder of the Initiatives of Change programme in the Great Lakes region of Africa, said: ‘Initiatives of Change does not solve problems, but it creates the atmosphere in which they can be solved.’

‘Trust as key to Peace’ Plenary

natural resources, a concern he has become involved with as a result of the discovery of oil in the sea off Lebanon. Among the speakers was Farai Maguwu, Director of Zimbabwe’s Centre for Natural Resource Governance. ‘My experience at Caux led me to apologise to my brother,’ he said, ‘a step which healed our broken relationship.

This opened my eyes to new possibilities in my work. As a human rights advocate I have exposed much abuse in our extractive industries. But I had never thought of talking to them. When I phoned a mining company notorious for bad community relations, and asked for a meeting, they were amazed. We met and talked for two hours. They asked us to help overcome their impasse with the community, and they are heeding our advice.’

Ukraine and Russia There was also valuable experience from Ukraine on confronting corruption.

Hanna Hopko is the coordinator of a civil society movement there, the Reanimation Package of Reforms, which is fighting corruption through developing laws which reform the judiciary, the tax system for mass media, and much else. Many NGOs have joined them, and over 150 people with relevant expertise are working to develop ideas and draft legislation. ‘We work with a group of 24 Members of Parliament,’ she said. ‘So far the Parliament has adopted 10 laws which we have developed.

Each has been a difficult struggle.’

She was one of 35 Ukrainians who came from East and West Ukraine and from Crimea. There were also a number of Russians. Intense discussion took place between them all, sometimes heated. Yet people recognised the importance of genuine dialogue, however painful. Out of these discussions came a ‘Platform for Ukrainian-Russian Contact, Dialogue and Initiatives’. While condemning Russian aggression towards Ukraine, they say that it is vital to build bridges between their countries, and they commit themselves to ‘improve relations through dialogue and joint initiatives’. Not all participants felt able to endorse it, but many did. It is now circulating in Russia and Ukraine, and civil society activists in both countries have written asking to cooperate with this Platform.

Russian pianist Victor Ryabchikov CAUX REPORT 2014 13

SEEDS OF INSPIRATION

Finding Inspiration through Arts and Reflection The Seeds of Inspiration conference returned to Caux in 2014 for a second year. Singing, dancing, painting and creative workshops formed part of the programme, as well as opportunities for personal reflection, meditation, and free time to relax and let friendships develop.

‘Humour and laughter … a blend of the serious and the flippant.

Both are vital.’

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he event offered more than 70 participants a deeply human experience; an opportunity to reconnect with themselves, go back to their roots and to reach out to other people. At the heart of the conference were the community groups, where participants met each day for discussion and/or to serve in the kitchen or dining room. Their exchanges were fed by thought-provoking plenary sessions. The first included a message from a woman who had been unable to leave Syria to

Commedia Gillet, the Swedish theatre company, livened up the SEEDS conference

SEEDS and the arts: Following a Caux tradition It was during the SEEDS conference that Caux’s embracing of the arts came across the strongest. Caux has always used the arts in its approach to reconciliation, recognizing both the different perspective they bring to situations, and the power of self-discovery they carry.

Throughout the years, Caux has been a place for theatre representations, film showings, live music, photographic exhibitions, painting, writing, and numerous other artistic expressions. Participants have been moved towards change in new and different ways through Caux’s exploration of the arts.

During this year’s conferences, participants were able to hear music performed by musicians from two countries whose conflict has shaken Europe: the Russian pianist Victor Ryabchikov and the Ukrainian violinist Dima Tkachenko.

Participants were also encouraged to step across the generational gap, as Music for Cities, a British initiative to reintegrate troubled youth through music,

14 CAUX REPORT 2014

brought rap and rock acts to the Caux stage. The SEEDS conference was a strong illustration of how art can be more than a mere exploration of creativity. Art can also be a tool for transformation which challenges people to expand their perspectives and understanding of others.

Concert Pianists Victor Ryabchikov from Russia and Penelope Thwaites from Australia with Ukrainian violinist Dima Tkachenko Music for Cities brings a rock music act to the Caux theatre

attend the conference, calling for forgiveness, responsibility, respect and healing.

‘Without this we will continue to be torn apart, and we will all suffer, because we are one fabric’ she said. This theme was further developed the next day in a session on conflict and forgiveness.

In an innovative plenary on inspiration, participants were arranged in two concentric rings around four story tellers. As each of these spoke about their lives, the inner ring responded by writing and the outer ring by drawing, painting or modelling.

Meet Amina living in the UK and originally from Somalia, who has worked with IofC for 7 years, promoting peacebuilding and reconciliation in schools.

Can you tell me about your involvement with the Seeds of Inspiration conference?

I was part of the coordination team and was asked to run a workshop on Peace begins at Home. This project is so dear to my heart because it was drawn out of my journey in life, including the struggles of growing up during the war in Somalia and moving to Europe with my parents in search of a safe haven. These experiences made me look at the intergenerational conflict within diaspora communities and draw up a training program. It is not

Workshops ranged from ‘Finding the Clown within’ to mindfulness. Evening programmes included a screening of the film, Beyond Forgiving, which tells a remarkable story of forgiveness from South Africa; a presentation by the Swedish theatre company, Commedia Gillet; a one-man play about the Christmas truce during World War I; and a talent evening.

From its earliest days as a conference centre, Caux has been a place where people from different countries, backgrounds

and perspectives can meet heart-to-heart and connect both with each other and themselves. Seeds of Inspiration follows this Caux tradition, and seeks to reflect the ‘spirit of Caux’ in its focus on personal development, spiritual openness and the building of relationships.

just a training program, but a personal tool, as I am learning more about this topic in the process. We live in a very unsafe world that seems to become ever more corrupt. We see war everywhere. Promoting peace and reconciliation requires something beyond just energy and investment of time. It requires real people, who can give the right leadership.

Amina

With everything that is going on in the world, your home is your only sanctuary.

If you don’t have safety and security there, then where can you turn? In Europe there are a lot of broken homes, and that is a great concern. Great Britain has the worst record of family breakdowns in all of Europe. If you don’t have the right relationship with your family members it becomes very hard to find peace within yourself. If our motto at Caux is ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’, we need to feel

that change within us. Peace begins at Home is very much around that. Being part of Seeds of Inspiration was one step towards the change that I wanted to create. If I had any expectations, this conference exceeded them by far. It brought back the element of spirituality, as a Connector between who we are and what we do. This connection was at the core of Seeds of Inspiration.

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CHILDREN AS ACTORS FOR TRANSFORMING SOCIETY

Young Advocates for Change In its second edition, CATS centred on children’s participation. Twenty-five years ago, the International Convention on the Rights of the Child promised children the right to participate; the promise has been slow to come, and one of CATS’ dreams is for the promise to become reality. This year’s theme, ‘Young Advocates for Change,’ saw 170 young people and children out of 367 total participants from around the world come together to discuss various topics including children as advocates, educators, health activists, and media makers.

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he aim was to bring together children, young people, and adults who are all actively engaged in children’s issues to share their experiences and find ways forward together to move child participation from promise to reality. Jonathan Levy, one of the conference’s main coordinators, noted that Caux’s longstanding history of creating the right conditions for everyone to find their place made it an ideal environment for such a gathering.

The programme was put together following a strategic document, crafted by the CATS Advisory Group, a group made up mainly of children. Highlights of this year’s conference included a mock children’s court in the style of Janus Korczak, renowned children’s rights advocate, and a ‘Speakers Corner’ where all participants could argue their opinions in front of the public. This year’s conference saw practical results including a draft of the Caux Declaration on Children’s Rights to Participation – an idea initiated by the Peru-

vian delegation – created and written by children and young people at the conference, in coordination with a Council of Europe representative, to take back and present to the Council. In addition, conference participants supported the ‘Save Funky Dragon’ petition to convince the Welsh government to continue funding Funky Dragon, the Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales, and a partner of the CATS Conference.

CATS 2014 was a success. Not only was it the best attended conference of the summer – extra beds and mattresses were needed to complement the 425 normally available – but it also had engaging speakers. Participants heard first-hand stories of children’s participation in society from young people from Peru, India, Brazil, Romania and the UK. They finished the week off invigorated and motivated to spread the word about the positive effects of children’s participation.

Meet Ricardo from the Peruvian Delegation

Alex’s dream comes true

‘This conference confirmed the ideas we had on the empowerment of youth. Our work in youth education is at a level that others in Caux are still aiming for – how gratifying to see that we are not going against the current, but that there are bigger institutions that are aiming for the same results and that they will partner with us for the wellbeing of the youth!

We can do big things with the people we met here and with the youth from Peru. We should not get discouraged, even if we encounter many challenges. As a small institution we might not be able to give the kids big meetings in a castle, but we can create many small castles in each of them, so they can then themselves teach other kids.

It’s important to send the kids to these conferences – it really helps them develop and make their dreams come true. Alex, for example, had always wanted to sing on stage, and he was able to do it here. It wasn’t easy to get Alex to Caux, but his smile on that stage made it all worth it.’

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Focus: Photovoice Photovoice is a charity based in London but working worldwide. It is based on participatory photography with marginalized and vulnerable communities. Photovoice provides photography tools, so that people can be selfadvocates and bring about change.

They work in partnership with other locally-based organisations. Half their projects involve children.

At this year’s conference, two Albanian children were able to present their photos, which had allowed them to discuss issues that affect their lives and their communities with local representatives, politicians, diplomats and ministers who were present at the exhibition of their work. During the project, led in partnership with World Vision, children not only learned about photography, but they also gained great confidence in themselves.

Altin and Francesca, from Albania, share their story

Altin, 12, presented his picture (above) with the explanation: ‘We all have a shadow and the colour of the shadow is the same for everyone.’

‘We all have a shadow, and the colour of the shadow is the same for everyone.’

Lumos: founded by the author of Harry Potter

traditionally be institutionalized and isolated from society in many countries.

Active participation is not an exclusive concept, but one that is open to all members of society. This was exemplified by the delegation sent from Lumos, founded by author J. K. Rowling, which works to uphold the rights of children who would

Lumos works with NGOs, governments and communities to ensure that every child has a right to participate in decisions that affect them. During the CATS conference, children who had been helped by Lumos had the opportunity to present

and explain the process that Lumos undertakes to empower them. Thanks to the support offered to their families and educators, these children have been able to enter mainstream schools, and are involved in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

When asked about what she had learned through the project, aside from photography, Francesca, 11, said ‘In one of the pictures I said “I am not afraid of anything.” That’s what I learned.’

Photo: © Altin Dulja, World Vision, PhotoVoice

Michaela, 25, spoke about her involvement in educating adults. Having learned how to improve exchanges between adults and disabled children, Michaela finds that it is easier to find solutions that suit everyone and feels she is trusted more by the adults surrounding her. While her parents are still learning to trust her over issues of money and administration, Michaela is living an independent life and is actively involved in advocating for children’s rights. This is something that she could never have achieved had Lumos not stepped in. The participation of Lumos at CATS strongly illustrated the value of giving a voice to all members of society, showing that active participation can indeed be accessible to all.

Lumos delegation performs at CATS CAUX REPORT 2014 17

IMPACT INITIATIVES FOR CHANGE

‘Diversity and dialogue for social transformation’ From 3–8 August Impact Initiatives for Change (IIC) took place for the first time. Having evolved from the Learning to Live in a Multicultural World conference, IIC focused on personal development, reflection and putting your ideals into practice.

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alking the twin trail: IIC brought together change agents from across the globe representing different backgrounds and cultures. The heart of the conference was based around the socalled twin trail of inner growth and outer action. Meanwhile, four themes were explored: the art of listening, the art of alignment, the art of creation and the art of commitment. Walking the twin trail

was experienced literally by the participants when they climbed to the top of Rocher de Naye early one morning.

Starting with oneself: IIC took participants on a journey to (re) discover themselves and their passions. Silent time was offered three times during the day to give everyone the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences.

The first time a Caux plenary is held on the Rochers de Naye IIC participants left at 6 a. m. and climbed 1000 metres in three hours to reach the Rochers de Naye, the summit that looms over the Caux Conference Center. Breakfast was enjoyed at the top before the theme of the day, The Art of Creation, was discussed.

Surrounded by spectacular views, Tessa Wernink from Fairphone explained how her company, which deals with ethical smart phones, came into existence. From just an idea and a small dedicated team, Fairphone was able to manufacture an initial 5000 smartphones last year, and immediately had to place another order to meet demand.

As she said, setting up the project was

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risky, but the effort was worth it in the end. It proved that consumers are looking for ethical alternatives in all areas of their lives, even in the technology they use. After a three hour hike, the participants could certainly identify with the idea of overcoming difficulties to obtain positive results.

The Art of Creation was not just about creating ideas, but it was also about creating bonds between people, and this was the main point of the climb to the top. All of IIC’s participants have committed to carry out a project together, and this climb was a team-building exercise which encouraged participants to support each other through a challenging time.

Taking action: The afternoons were focused on action. The programme encouraged all participants to leave the conference with a plan of action for their own individual or group project for social change, with a measurable impact to be implemented in one year. Inspired by the speech of Martin Luther King, participants started with a poster to visualize their dream. The following days, they

Interview with Michael Sternberg, facilitator, conflict transformation specialist, Israel socially structured; we get very attached to our assumptions. When we have a group of people who work together even if it is only by talking to each other, we realize that there are more narratives than the narratives we grew up with. We learn about the pains of others, the hopes of others and others become human. Then we can create bridges of communication.

We can break away from our own way of perceiving reality; we realize it is not only about us. We can recognize this way that there is a shared humanity.

What do you find is the biggest hurdle when you try to resolve conflict?

One of the biggest challenges is how to broaden the scope of our thinking. It is very interesting how the emotions are not only something private, but are

Why did you get involved in this conference?

We live in a globalized economy; a lot of the benefits are due to this, but also many of the difficulties. I think we can have a global network of individuals, groups, people in organizations who are deeply committed to work towards equality, dig-

nity, freedom and who search for ways of making this happen. I think that a conference like this moves us in this direction.

I also find inspiring the fact that we make it practical. We had so many participants with the desire to do something in order to make the world a better place, and here we create the initial steps towards action. The idea of this conference is that there will be a follow up. The participants are invited to collaborate in order to make their ideas come true. And this is tremendous. If out of 70 let’s say, five come up with exceptional ideas and stay committed to them, then in one year we can have five initiatives that involve hundreds, or maybe even thousands of people who will be affected by what we had this week.

worked towards choosing their theme, forming groups and taking the first steps towards implementation. Experienced and trained facilitators from various European countries guided the process. More than 10 different projects came out of IIC such as The Green Mosque to make Dutch mosques more sustainable, Link2Job to increase opportunities for unemployed young people in Spain and Portugal, and Art Aid which focuses on providing asylum seekers in Sweden and Denmark with art tools to process their experiences.

Instituto de Asuntos Culturales, Spain, presents the project it developed during the conference

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INTERNATIONAL PEACE-BUILDERS’ FORUM

‘Connecting personal and systemic approaches to Peacebuilding’ This new conference was launched in response to the need for greater resilience among peacebuilding practitioners, who are dealing with increasingly entrenched and complex conflicts.

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he International Peace-Builder’s Forum aimed to increase interagency and intersectorial coordination within the peacebuilding sector. A peace-builders’ fair was organized, providing the opportunity for peacebuilding agencies from across the world to network and showcase their projects. Available throughout the four-day forum, it provided a great space for side conversations and emerging collaborations.

Creators of Peace Creators of Peace is a global programme which has enabled thousands of women to discover their role in peacemaking. Some of them met at Caux during the conference, including a group from Burundi. One Burundian wrote after their meeting: ‘We set out from Caux, if not healed, at least healing, carrying each other’s burdens, with projects to carry out. We will remember the woman who is going to visit the family of the person who killed her family. And the woman who has decided to pay to the killer of her parents the debt which her parents owed him.

And who would have guessed that I would find my brother’s murderer and tell him that I forgave him? We are finding freedom from the hate which gnawed at us, and holding out hope to those who flee at the approach of their victims.’

IPF also sought to enhance the resilience of peace-builders (‘personal approach’), leading to a wider and deeper impact of their work (‘systemic approach’). The afternoon workshops were designed to empower peace-builders. They allowed participants to share experiences but also to informally discuss important emerging issues in the sector.

Participants were given the choice to take part in one of three workshops: 1. Peace-builder self-care and resilience: dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout 2. Creating safe space and story sharing as ingredients for personal peacebuilding 3. Personal and structural dimensions in conflict transformation.

Finally, IPF sought to raise awareness on the importance of an integrated approach to Peace-building. Representatives from governmental agencies and from the private sector were invited to the forum to foster dialogue about the integration of peace-building work in other sectors in society.

Some of the most powerful moments of the conference were experienced during the group sessions where participants shared their life stories, and how they got involved in peacebuilding, what their reasons were for staying involved and what were their day to day realities. These sessions motivated and inspired many participants.

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Instruments of Peace IPF opened with a performance by Instruments of Peace, an Irish organization that promotes peace through the

Compassion Fatigue Caretakers are very good at helping others but have the tendency of ignoring themselves. Participants of the Peace-builder Self-care and Resilience: Dealing with Compassion Fatigue and Burnout workshop were reminded of the emergency procedure in an airplane: ‘Make sure you put the oxygen mask on first and then help others.’ Dr Barry Hart, Professor of Trauma, Identity and Conflict Studies at Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice & Peacebuilding, remarked

arts. Among the performers were six students from Gorey Community School, the largest secondary school in Ireland, which was chosen as a model for implementing peace through education and the arts.

been working in Iraq during peace talks and there are such incredible people here who have achieved so much …, but I didn’t think I’d have anything to contribute, yet in this setting here, everyone’s opinion is valued.’

In a short interview, Katie, aged 17, spoke about her love of writing, and how she can deliberate for hours when choosing the right word. She thinks that in real life, conflicts can be avoided if people just take the time to be careful with their words, ‘You never know the impact they can have’.

Jessie, also 17, explained why she enjoyed this conference so much: ‘I was talking to the former Egyptian ambassador who had

Grainne Mulcahy, teacher and chaplain at Gorey Community School, pointed out that when people pursue their passions, they are energized and they transmit this feeling to everyone else they meet. By bringing the ideas of Instruments of Peace into the classroom, students are taught that peacebuilding starts with small steps, beginning with oneself. By learning this, children can easily implement peaceful steps in their everyday lives.

that in humanitarian, peacebuilding or in fact any caretaking jobs, talking about emotions and feelings is often seen as a mark of weakness. The presumption that everyone is strong, even when facing traumatic situations is a false one. However, this situation is never really addressed in professional settings. Dr Hart described the different stages of compassion fatigue, not to be confused with a burnout, although both result from a toxic work environment and have similar symptoms.

After a short film about compassion fatigue, Dr Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela,

Senior Research Professor for Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation Studies at the University of the Free State, South Africa, focused on the emotional, philosophical and psychological impact of deep trauma and shared ways on how to help address it. Art, theatre or dance is often used to release tension, find balance and address the trauma in a relaxed but also liberating way. The workshop closed after participants talked about their experiences with trauma and how they have dealt with it or not. The workshop broke taboos and was an eye-opener to many.

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CAUX SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Caux Scholars Program Bringing together a very proactive network of 19 scholars from 16 different countries.

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he 2014 Caux Scholars brought a diversity of knowledge and principles to Caux this year. Through role playing, teambuilding, and conference organizing, the 2014 scholars combined traditional education with practical application. The program rests on three pillars: 40 hours of academic classes and seven hours of service each week, skill acquisition, and personal transformation. But there is more: at its core, CSP was about learning about other cultures, developing meaningful relationships, and finding personal and professional inspiration.

the world. Dr Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor at the University of the Free State and one of the 17 commissioners of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, came as a guest lecturer. Each year, scholars participate in a Caux Summer Conference.

This year, they had the privilege to fill the role of facilitators and organizers of the International Peace Builders’ Forum. On top of a busy schedule, scholars also participated in a CSP reunion and were able to interact with 24 alumni from 11 previous classes.

During a field trip, scholars visited the United Nations in Geneva and the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) where they learned about QUNO’s work all over

CSP will officially launch a Caux Scholars Program at the IofC Asia Plateau Centre in Panchgani, India, from 28 December 2014 to 16 January 2015.

Caux Interns Programme The Caux interns have long been a part of the functioning core of the conference centre operations. This summer, a total of 66 young people from 27 countries, along with a multinational faculty, converged at the former Caux-Palace to be part of the experience.

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very year, the program is graced by a diverse group of interns ranging from accomplished medical doctors to first-year university students, who are prepared to challenge themselves and who have a thirst for personal and global change.

Working alongside volunteers and conference participants, the Interns Programme is an opportunity for young people to 22 CAUX REPORT 2014

Some impressions from our communications interns: ‘Caux isn’t just about the conferences.

It’s about the people that you meet and the conversations that this space enables. Personally, this was the most enriching thing that I experienced.

Not only was I fortunate enough to work within a very supportive and talented team, but I also made great friends from several continents, which gave me an insight into many cultures that I had not previously had contact with. In Caux, there are no barriers, only people, and it’s for this very reason that so many people come back every year.’

– ANNE, Ireland ‘Luckily for me, it was part of our tasks as communications interns, to attend all the conferences taking place in Caux over the summer, which proved to be very enriching. I discovered a lot about a wide range of topics such as land degradation, leadership, and child advocacy. Most of all, I really became aware that I am concerned with these issues, even though land degradation or child abuse is not happening around me. I am responsible for taking action, even if it is a very small one. This is what I bring back from Caux, along with a lot of new friendships with the amazing people I met there, starting with my outstanding communications colleagues!’

– ELODIE, Switzerland ‘I have always had the bad habit of breaking glasses. A sign of good luck, most people would say, but I never thought I was a lucky person. Until the summer of 2014 when I had the opportunity to be part of the “Cauxmunications” team as an intern. On top of a welcoming group of people and a great venue, I had the chance to become part of the political, economic, social and cultural affairs fabric unfolding in the world. Each of us grew in our abilities, learned from each other, and contributed to issues we never dreamed of being part of, and our strong teamwork made the dream work!’

– DELIA, Romania

INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS experience the full richness of Caux.

What makes the programme unique is its blend of service-based responsibilities together with the leadership training programme that provides tools for exploration of change; inviting interns to explore their own principles of leadership and what their role is in the world. They are soon reminded that one has to be the change to see a change!

It is common for interns to leave at the end of the programme with intentions of ‘paying it forward’, and this year was particularly special; the questions of how to make the Interns Programme sustainable and more accessible to young people were picked up by the interns themselves, as they launched fundraising initiatives organised on behalf of future interns.

Caux Volunteers Programme Volunteers make the Caux Conferences possible, and have always been a strong driving force behind Initiatives of Change activities. Over the summer, volunteers supported the conferences, working in various departments or conference teams.

www.caux.ch E-mail us at: info@caux.ch Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/CAUX.Iofc Our YouTube Channel youtube.com/user/CAUXIofC Our Twitter Handle: @CAUXIofC

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volunteers came to Caux this year, some new, some who have been coming for many years. Volunteers who have been involved for some time provide invaluable background knowledge about the ‘how and why’ of the conference centre, which is amplified by the energy and capacity that new people provide. Many volunteers are in fact graduates from the Interns Programme who want to continue participating at Caux.

The CAUX Foundation is currently seeking certified recognition for the work volunteers do in Caux. Generational and cultural diversity is one of the richest aspects of the experience. Learning and growth comes from spending time work-

After having experienced the Interns Programme and the lifelong relationships that are built throughout it, many interns return to the conference centre year after year, taking up new responsibilities to contribute further to the operational backbone of Caux’s vision. The structure of the programme has evolved over the years, and is now moving into its second year of being managed by a ‘steering team,’ which consists almost exclusively of alumni that work around the year to make the programme engaging and sustainable for years to come.

CAUX – Initiatives of Change: Conference Centre Rue du Panorama 2 CH-1824 Caux, Switzerland P + 41 (0)21 962 91 11 F + 41 (0)21 962 93 55 Geneva Office Rue de Varembé 1 CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland P +41 (0)22 749 16 20

ing hard in an unusual circumstance with people from all over the world. ‘Building bridges across the worlds divides’ happens naturally as people cook together, make beds together, run the sound desks and lighting in the theatre, etc. During Ramadan this year, for example, which took place during the conferences, non-Muslims chose to learn what this period of fasting is about from an Islamic perspective. The real power of volunteering at Caux lies in the friendships made, the awe derived from the beautiful scenery around the Caux-Palace, and having life-changing opportunities to meet incredible people and do things that you never dreamed you’d try.

Luzern Office Luzernerstrasse 94 CH-6010 Kriens, Switzerland P +41 (0)41 310 12 61 Publisher: CAUX-Initiatives of Change foundation Editors: Thaïs Ruegg, Stéphanie Buri Texts and photos: Stéphanie Buri, Thaïs Ruegg, Delia Malaut, Elodie Malbois, Anne Reid, Stefanie Marxer, Frédéric Chavanne, Conference Teams.

Proofreaders: Andrew Stallybrass, Andrew Lancaster, Marianne Spreng, Ulrike Ott Chanu Design and Print: Brunner AG, Druck und Medien, 6010 Kriens, Switzerland, October 2014

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International Caux Conferences 2015 Exploring the human factor in global change 26 June – 1 July 2015 Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy 3–8 July 2015 Just Governance for Human Security 10–14 July 2015 Caux Dialogue for Land and Security

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.

The CAUX – IofC Foundation is the Swiss body of IofC International and an officially recognized independent charitable foundation.

It manages activities in Switzerland, as well as the conference centre, the former Caux Palace Hotel above Montreux.

VISION

A just, peaceful and sustainable world to which everyone, responding to the call of conscience, makes their unique contribution.

MISSION

To inspire, equip and connect people to address world needs, starting with themselves.

16–19 July 2015 Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business/ International Peace-Builders’ Forum

10–15 August 2015 Impact Initiatives of Change/ EPIC: Entrepreneurs, Pathfinders, Initiators and Change-makers

27 July – 2 August 2015 Children as Actors in Transforming Society 4–9 August 2015 Seeds of Inspiration

FOCUS AREAS

Trustbuilding: Peace and social cohesion by building trust and reconciliation across divides.

Ethical Leadership: Good governance at every level by developing a leadership culture based on moral integrity, compassion and selfless service.

Sustainable Living: Economic justice and environmental sustainability by inspiring transformation of motives and behaviour.

APPROACH

IofC focuses on the link between personal change and global change.

Its approach involves: Starting with oneself: An honest look at one’s own motives and behaviour is often the starting point for personal transformation.

Listening to others: With its intergenerational, multicultural and interreligious diversity, IofC enables honest conversations in an open

spirit, building bridges of trust and community between people of similar, different, and even antagonistic, backgrounds.

Silence: IofC places the search for inner wisdom at the heart of its approach. While some understand this experience as divine guidance and others see it as the leading of conscience, many find that the regular practice of silence can give access to a source of truth, creativty and inspiration.

Taking focused action in concrete situations.