International Caux Conferences

REPORT 2012 www.caux.ch

Conferences

 Learning to live in a multicultural world  Caux Forum for Human Security  Trust and integrity in a global economy  The vital link between the personal and the global  The dynamics of being a ‘change-maker’ CONTENTS

Conferences are organized by CAUX-Initiatives of Change and Initiatives of Change International every year in Caux, above Montreux, Switzerland. CAUX-Initiatives of Change, a charitable Swiss foundation, owns and runs the Caux conference centre. It is a founder Member of IofC International. The 2012 programme con- sisted of a series of conferences and workshops, each covered in this report. More information, including the full texts of many talks, podcasts, videos and photos can be found at www.caux.ch/2012

Editorial

A season of inspiration 3 Learning to live in a multicultural world

Learning to live with ‘the other’ 4 The ‘new we’ needs a ‘new me’ Youth as civil society actors 5 Council of Europe dialogue toolkit 5th Caux Forum for Human Security

Can memory be healed? 6 Restoring land, restoring lives 7 Australia’s ‘stolen generations’ apology Redirecting society Trust and integrity in the global economy

‘Competition and beyond: can we change?’ 8 Margaret Heffernan on competition in business Restoring trust in banking 9 Lady Susan Rice talks about shifting values in fi nance Integrity and profi tability – an Indian model Exploring the vital link between personal and global change

Change individuals’ motives and behaviour 10 Interview with Khalil El-Masry 11 The dynamics of being a change-maker

Training by Initiatives of Change 12 An intercultural week 13 Motivations of an organizer

Offi cial Day of the Caux Foundation 14

Caux Scholars Program 15

Caux conferences and beyond

Behind the scenes: volunteers and interns 16 Interview with three volunteers 17 Some facts & fi gures about the 2012 Caux conferences 18 Publisher: CAUX-Initiatives of Change foundation Texts: Adriana Borra, Marion Bouvier, Chris Breitenberg, Juerg Eberlé, Communications from Initiatives Dorothea Endres, Louisa Meury, Andrew Stallybrass and others. of Change International 19 Photos: A. Borra, M. Bouvier, Paul Briggs, D. Endres, Hiroshi Ishida, Mbindyo Kimanthi, L. Meury, Pierre-Yves Moret, Dmitriy Pritulenko, Charlotte Sawyer Design and Print: Brunner AG, Druck und Medien, 6110 Kriens, Caux 2013 20 Switzerland, October 2012

2 CAUX REPORT 2012 EDITORIAL

A season of inspiration

When former Australian Prime But Caux isn’t just about being in- more: participants, volunteers, en- Minister Kevin Rudd left the IofC spired by the remarkable stories of couragers, donors. And we look centre this summer, he remarked, ‘change-makers’, the experience of forward to welcoming you to be- ‘I think the spirit of Caux is alive multicultural community or the come part of this adventure. and well as I see it in the faces and idyllic setting of the Swiss Alps. Like the lives of the people who are IofC, Caux aims to inspire, but also As I look back in gratitude on an- here. What I see is this constant the- to equip and connect people to ad- other summer in Caux, I’m also en- matic of personal change to bring dress world needs, starting with couraged to look ahead with the about social and global change – themselves. vision of the early Swiss pioneers easy to say, hard to do. But unless who gave their possessions to buy we are refreshed in that mission by In Caux, I found a group of women the former Caux-Palace and create coming to oases capable of provid- developing skills as peacebuilders a space for Europe and the world ing that water then we lose sight of to bring tools of dialogue and sto- to reconcile after World War II. both the spirit and the power of rytelling to their home communi- May Caux always live up to their that mission.’ ties, European bankers and alterna- vision and sacrifi ce, building on the Each summer Caux offers the tive economic developers sharing work that has gone before and of world an oasis that refreshes those new ideas for sustainable growth, a those pioneers. I hope to see you who aim to build that vital link be- South Sudanese delegation forging in Caux next year. tween personal and global change. plans for good governance in their It offers a unique combination of young democracy and an intergen- space for personal refl ection, ser- erational team refi ning tools to take vice in community, discussion of personal change global. pressing global issues in a diverse Dr. Omnia Marzouk setting, skill development for sus- This couldn’t be done without cre- President tainable solutions and intercultural ative partnerships – both new and Initiatives of Change International networking. old – that include the Swiss Gov- This summer, Caux was fl ooded ernment, the United Nations Con- with stories of personal change vention to Combat Desertifi cation, leading to wider change. Many of industrial enterprises in India and these stories are included within universities in the UK and US. Nor this report. could it be done without many

CAUX REPORT 2012 3 LEARNING TO LIVE IN A MULTICULTURAL WORLD Learning to live with ‘the other’

The ‘Learning to live in a multicultural world’ conference focused on four priority areas, which are an outgrowth of the previous conferences: ‘rethinking our personal attitudes and motivations’, ‘challenging and transforming power imbalances’, ‘exploring the trans- formative role of education and learning’, and ‘strengthening and expanding relationships between communities’.

anuja Thurairajah (Switzerland/Sri recognize that they exist and talk to them. spoke about the different grassroots initia- TLanka) spoke of the lack of trust Only then we can maintain multicultural- tives supported by her organization. Pro- amongst the some 47,000 Tamils that live ism,’ he said. jects such as Quartiersacademy and Mix- in Switzerland today, and her project to Pascale Steiner spoke of the different pro- vox which she herself was involved in create a unifying narrative through stories. jects set in motion by the Swiss Federal were aimed at promoting social, cultural, Angelo Barampama (Burundi/Switzerland), Commission on Migration Issues aimed professional and political participation in a lecturer at the University of Geneva, at helping the integration of immigrants, civil society. Saliou Gueye, responsible for talked about the history of thousands of in particular the Speak Out, Nice Com- integration questions in the German town years of migration within Southern and munes project, and the creation of a Fo- of Ludwigsburg, said, ‘Migrants need to Central Africa, and the experience of rum for the Integration of Migrants play an active role in this process, so that identifying as both African and Swiss. (FIMM). Corinne Ziegler, President of other migrants can identify with them ‘First of all we need to turn to the other, the Swiss Federation of UNESCO Clubs, and follow their example.’

The ‘new we’ needs a ‘new me’

‘Combatting the black and white picture of migration, creating a calm and constructive multicultural dialogue.’

ohamed Sini is Vice President of Above: Mohamed Sini MNOV (Association for Dutch Or- Left: Denzil Nurse ganizations on Volunteering), and Presi- dent of Algebra, a network community of Moroccan Senior Professionals in the Netherlands. Arriving in the Netherlands as an immigrant, he had been faced with an intense confl ict between Turkish and Moroccan migrant workers and the host The conference in brief community. Globalization, he saw, had led to an even more suspicious and con- servative attitude towards immigrants. Denzil Nurse, a British citizen of West- The conference Learning to live in a Indian origin who works with IofC UK in multicultural world: tapping civil Sini emphasized the need to develop a the Hope in the Cities programme, criti- society’s potential was held between 1 sense of responsibility, to learn Dutch, to cized the role of media. They often spread and 6 July. It was the fourth session help his community overcome language stereotypes, he said, building walls instead of this conference cycle which builds barriers, but also on the part of the gov- of connecting cultures: ‘“Muslim” is not a on the rich experience of Initiatives ernment to concentrate on better educa- synonym for “terrorist”, and not all asy- of Change in the fi elds of relationship tion for migrants, a key issue of integra- lum seekers are begging for state aid.’ We transformation, dialogue facilitation tion. But, most importantly, the responsi- need to research personally the detailed and trust-building, with particular bility of civil society was ‘to combat a circumstances of incidents, and not adopt emphasis on diaspora communities’ black and white picture of migration,’ to the media’s information as fact, he sug- contribution to peacemaking. The keep the multicultural dialogue effective, gested. ‘What you have to say matters, no conference looked at current chal- constructive, and calm, to approach the matter how insignifi cant you feel. Step lenges through presentations and fear of the unknown by concentrating on out of your comfort zone and grow,’ he training modules. developing mutual understanding. concluded.

4 CAUX REPORT 2012 Youth as civil society actors

This year’s conference provided an opportunity for some 20 young people representing the cultural diversity in Europe to take part in a workshop for their generation.

akan Tosuner (Germany), Asma HSoltani (France/Tunisia) and Joël Hakizimana (Burundi/Switzerland) were the three facilitators of the workshop. The workshop discussed the conference themes from the angle of their generation: power, participation in citizenship and identity. Each day the participants were able to ex- change about the activities of their asso- ciations and their experiences as members of civil society. The members of JUMA (Jung Muslimisch Aktiv) spoke about the role their association plays in the interreli- gious and intercultural dialogue in Berlin and in the German media. Members of the Swiss section of the ADYNE network (African Diaspora Youth Network Eu- rope) presented a project to encourage the participation and integration of young people of African origin in Switzerland. One conclusion after this experience was to plan for further such workshops and continue their cooperation through the new youth platform created in Caux.

Council of Europe dialogue toolkit

enzil Nurse, UK, and Christoph The aim of the Dialogue Toolkit is ‘to DSpreng, Switzerland, presented a provide a hands-on and user-friendly new Toolkit for Conducting Intercultural manual’. It strives to ‘build social cohe- Dia logue. Produced and launched by sion and a human-rights based approach the Council of Europe’s Conference of to diversity issues’ in the face of increasing International Non-Governmental Or ga- xenophobia. The toolkit contains two nizations (INGO), Nurse and Spreng, crucial elements. It describes a methodol- IofC representatives at the Council ogy for establishing dialogue and also pro- of Europe, were two of the toolkit’s vides a long list of references and resources authors. to enable further research on the topic.

CAUX REPORT 2012 5 CAUX FORUM FOR HUMAN SECURITY Can memory be healed?

This question ran through the ‘Caux Forum for Human Security’. Jackie Huggins, Daphrose Barampama and Janet Jerulo discussed the healing of memory with a particular focus on forgiveness during a morning plenary.

emory is notoriously unreliable,’ sent, and therefore is always changing. To people, but also for all Australians’. ‘Once Msaid Australian Aboriginal leader understand where we are going, we fi rst people own the truths within their hearts, Jackie Huggins. In her opinion, we all must look behind. Thus, if a government we can have the real conversations,’ she have collective memories, some that are apologizes as the Australian Government said. remembered happily and others that show and Parliament did in 2008 to the Stolen our shared sense of loss and redemption. Generations, the act of recognition, justice Daphrose Barampama, originally from But memory is always related to the pre- and healing ‘was very important for our Burundi and now Switzerland, empha- sized the fact that forgiveness is a process. For her, ‘peace circles’ that brought to- gether victims and aggressors to dialogue, provided a tool to overcome the dividing hatred and anger. As one participant in a peace circle once told her: ‘I am so re- lieved to know that you will come back and help to free us from what lies so heavy on our hearts.’

According to Janet Jerulo, a Human Rights lawyer who was involved in the post-electoral tumult in Kenya in 2007-8, forgiveness is important in the process of healing. ‘Only if you forgive do you see the other person as equal.’ She believed that an apology, like the one in Australia, would have made a huge difference in Kenya. ‘An apology can change a society,’ she noted.

The conference in brief

Janet Jerulo and Daphrose Barampama The fi fth annual ‘Caux Forum for Human Security’ brought together 300 people active in human security from all continents from 8–15 July. They included politicians, diplomats, scientists and NGO leaders. Its goal was to create a learning environment focused on answering basic human needs, to build trust by giving atten- tion to historical wounds, and to en- courage collaboration between civil society, multilateral institutions and governments. Attention was given to the interconnectedness between the fi ve aspects of human security high- lighted by the Forum: healing mem- ory, just governance, sustainable liv- ing, inclusive economics and inter- cultural dialogue. A discussion group

6 CAUX REPORT 2012 Restoring land, restoring lives

Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertifi - cation spoke at a day on ‘Restoring Land, Restoring Lives’. ‘By 2030 we will need to increase food production by 50%,’ he said. He saw only one possible solution: ‘Over two billion hectares of degraded land can be restored. We can do it if we invest in people, especially in the world’s drylands.’ ‘Land degradation is about life degrada- tion, so land restoration is about life res- toration,’ Gnacadja said. ‘We are the planet’s skin disease,’ he concluded, ‘man is the desert-making species.’ The day saw a host of speakers sharing their experiences: politicians, scientists, farmers, representatives of UN bodies and NGO, activists from every continent.

Activists from every continent

Australia’s ‘stolen generations’ apology

Kevin Rudd, MP, former Prime Minister of Australia, and two leading Aboriginals spoke about the processes of healing, springing from Rudd’s public apology presented at the opening of parliament in 2008 to the ‘stolen generations’ of chil- dren, forcibly removed from their fami- lies. ‘There comes a time in the life of people or a culture when telling the truth is not a bad strategy,’ Rudd said. Refer- ring to the history of other healing pro- cesses in which Caux had played an active part, he pointed out that ‘Everything is possible if we have the heart to do it. We should be inspired by this place. Never underestimate your power as civil society. You can knock down walls over time.’

Daryle Rigney, Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Engagement at Flinders University, Jackie Huggins, who served as Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia, and Kevin Rudd MP (left to right).

Redirecting society

Mohamed Sahnoun, founder and Chair of the Caux Forum for Human Security: ‘A distinctive contribution of the Caux Forum is the concept of a “coalition of conscience”. It can bring together people of integrity and compassion in partner- ship to overcome the corrupting impact of greed and the struggle for power, and is capable of redirecting a society towards creative policies.’ Mohamed Sahnoun

CAUX REPORT 2012 7 TRUST AND INTEGRITY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY ‘Competition and beyond: can we change?’

‘Can we change? Given that we are all gathered together here under the aegis of Initiatives for Change, it won’t be giving much away to say “Yes we can!” After all – if we didn’t all believe in change, we wouldn’t be here,’ said Heffernan.

argaret Heffernan, well-known en- Mtrepreneur and author, opened the conference with ‘a tremendous sense of urgency’. She called for ‘building a parallel universe whose creativity, honesty, energy and wholesomeness are so compelling that it exerts a gravitational pull on everything else’.

Money has the potential to sever the social contract, she warned. ‘When we care about people, we care less about money – and when we care about money, we care less about people.’ Then she turned to power. Too much power damages both those who hold it – and those in thrall to it. ‘Struc- tures that concentrate vast amounts of power and wealth at the tops of organiza- tions create conditions in which everyone looks up – and few look around,’ she said. Margaret Heffernan with a Japanese participant Heffernan noted that ‘competition inter- feres with our sense of interdependency provision for and celebration of truth tell- She continued, ‘We need to think about and connectedness. Hyper-competition ers, much can and will change. The criti- how we bring out the best in others – not creates the conditions in which fraud cal sign of health may be no more than to fi x them, not to make ourselves feel vir- fl ourishes and cooperation fails … If the the quality of dissent an organization pro- tuous, but to repair our world. The prob- benchmark of a sound institution is the vokes and supports.’ lem isn’t ignorance but wilful blindness.’

The conference in brief

The core objective of Trust and in- tegrity in the global economy TIGE (17–23 July) is restructuring the econ- omy to focus on ethics and values rather than profi t. The conference explored these themes in a variety of ways, sharing fi rst-hand examples of values-based business initiatives and exploring the application of individ- ual values. Speakers emphasized the need for personal responsibility, eth- ics, and transparency to create a more sustainable and equitable world.

8 CAUX REPORT 2012 Restoring trust in banking

‘We lost sight of our values – with an “s” – in the rigorous focus on fi nancial value,’ said Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group in Scotland. Rice is the fi rst woman in Britain to head a national clearing bank, the largest within the UK.

ccording to Rice, the future of bank- Aing lies in recapturing trust, integ- rity and probity.

The Chartered Banker Institute in Scot- land, the oldest institute of bankers in the world, had recently conceived and pro- moted a ‘Professional Standards Board’ initiative (PSB), which Rice chairs. In early July, they launched their ‘Founda- tion Standard for Professional Bankers’, which sets out ‘basic values, attitudes and behavior, as well as skills and knowledge that we expect anyone working in a bank to embody’. According to Rice, this was ‘an important signal of intent, from the very top, about the changes we know need to take place’ in order to restore con- fi dence, trust and pride in the industry. ‘We believe that trust is best restored through individuals, not simply through Lady Susan Rice structural change,’ she concluded.

Integrity and profi tability – an Indian model

Suresh Vazirani builds a business on principle-based decision-making. ‘Honest business in India is possible,’ he declared.

uresh Vazirani grew up in a refugee His philosophy is also refl ected in the way happen in my lifetime,’ Vazirani says, Scamp, after the partition of Pakistan Transasia treats employees, providing ‘Honest business in India is possible. I have and India. After university studies and healthcare for all the employees’ family full faith, that one day we will succeed in working for a time with Moral Re-Arma- members, including parents, and interest- overcoming corruption.’ ment (MRA), the predecessor of Initia- free student loans for employees’ children, tives of Change, he established Transasia, to help overcome the Indian caste-system. one of India’s leading medical technology fi rms. He began with 250 Rupees ($4), Vazirani aims to live by Mahatma Gan- which was only enough to register the dhi’s principle of ‘simple living and high name of the company. But, since then, thinking’; businessmen should see them- Transasia has set a standard for other In- selves as trustees of the wealth of society dian companies. There are no strict recall rather than owners, he believes. His mis- rules in India, but Vazirani recalled a sion is to provide affordable healthcare for faulty Transasia product despite the cost. all Indians. Affording European-produced Customers have shown their trust over 20 technology is impossible, but Transasia can years, rewarding this principle-based deci- produce technology with lower labour costs sion-making. and product simplifi cation. ‘This won’t Suresh Vazirani

CAUX REPORT 2012 9 EXPLORING THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN THE PERSONAL AND THE GLOBAL Change individuals’ motives and behaviour

For over 70 years, a core belief of Initiatives of Change (IofC) is that one essential ingredi- ent for global change is a change in each individual’s motives and behaviour. Participants at Exploring the vital link between personal and global change examined what this means in today’s society and how it can be implemented for a sustainable future.

ach morning, individuals offered The intimacy of these workshops allowed give God and her fellow Rwandans for Etheir snapshot of a personal moment participants to explore deeply personal the 1994 genocide that fractured her that inspired them to take some local ac- topics. During the closing plenary, a country. Thanks to the dialogue, the op- tion for global change. An Egyptian fa- young Rwandan woman spoke about the portunity to hear and be heard, she found ther shared how he felt empowered to shame she experienced before coming to the power to forgive. protest in Tahrir Square because he shed the conference because she could not for- his fear of politics following a legal battle for custody of his son. A young Canadian woman told her story of how forgiving an abusive ex-boyfriend liberated her to fol- low her passion, fair trade which she is now actively promoting in Nepal. The experiences shared showed how individu- als were able to ‘break fear barriers’ and ‘turn judgment into curiosity’.

At the beginning of the week, participants learned about the history of Caux and various phases of IofC in workshops and dialogues, which switched to smaller group discussions of individual projects in the afternoons. Part of what made the conference unique was its fl exible format. Workshops covered a wide variety of sub- jects, from music, to affl uence and the state of the economy, to homophobia and prejudice.

The conference in brief

The fi rst Exploring the vital link bet- ween personal and global change con- ference took place between 25 and 31 July. An intergenerational and inter- national team took the participants on a journey of discovery, exploring the processes and practices of trans- formation – within the lives of indi- viduals, their communities, work- places and societies. The conference drew on the past and present of Initiatives of Change and featured personal refl ection, daily plenaries, storytelling, discussion groups and participant-led workshops.

10 CAUX REPORT 2012 EXPLORING THE VITAL LINK BETWEEN THE PERSONAL AND THE GLOBAL

A journey of transformation

Why did you choose to attend this con- What is your vision of the link between ference? personal and global change? It was so important for me to get to know It is more of a journey which can start more about the basics of IofC’s approach with one searching for personal interests, and style of work and infl uence. working to achieve personal changes and goals. Going through this crucial step of You shared your personal story. Why realization that personal and global di- was it important to you? mensions are highly inter-connected, and I shared my story because I feel that it’s ending by working for global change. inspiring to others when they hear how Khalil El-Masry, from Egypt, came for traumas and what might be perceived as How did it evolve during the confer- the third time to Caux. During a snap- bad things can turn out to be the best ence? shot session in the Vital Link conference, thing that have happened in your life! It Mainly by getting to know more people he shared about his battle for better visita- was also important because it allowed who are on this discovery journey, and tion rights of his son. others to see me deeper, building better how each single story is inspiring and giv- relationships, which made me feel part of ing more strength to all of us in our dif- the IofC network. ferent struggles.

CAUX REPORT 2012 11 THE DYNAMICS OF BEING A CHANGE MAKER Training by Initiatives of Change

A week of workshops, drawing on IofC’s programs from around the world.

his was perhaps the most multi-lin- personal encounters, community building ship’ drew on the training being offered Tgual period of the Caux season, with activities and conferences. The ‘Circles’ to senior business managers for over seven Spanish and Portuguese often spoken are a simple but effective tool to gather years at IofC India’s centre at Asia Pla- from the platform, and French-speaking women together to look at their role in teau. ‘Foundations for Freedom’ drew on Africa well represented. In the fi nal vari- the perpetration and resolution of confl ict this Ukraine-based international NGO’s ety evening, 18 Australians crowded the in the home and community. A second 18 years of promoting responsible leader- platform to sing a song together, before ‘learning track’ trained facilitators from ship in the UK and Eastern Europe. The one of them, an Aboriginal, introduced Australia, Burundi, Colombia, Israel, ‘Life Matters’ course has built a network his culture and music, with a traditional New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden and of young change-makers across Asia and instrument. The planning team was made Zimbabwe. the Pacifi c over 15 years. Members of the up of 12 people, from 11 countries, work- international ‘Renewal Arts’ network ex- ing over months via Skype, and never all ‘Connecting Communities through Trust- plored how the arts can contribute to meeting face-to-face until the last days building’ drew on the internationally rec- peacemaking and community building before the start in Caux. ognized trust building work of IofC and through creative workshops and conversa- Hope in the Cities, starting in Richmond, tions: and the trainers contributed music There were two ‘learning tracks’ on Crea- Virginia, promoting ‘honest conversa- and sketches to the meetings. tors of Peace, a global network of women tions on race, reconciliation and responsi- working with ‘Peace Circles’, workshops, bility’. ‘The Heart of Effective Leader-

12 CAUX REPORT 2012 An intercultural Week Motivations of an organizer

Jose Carlos Leon Vargas from Mexico 130 people at the conference from over was the coordinator of the The dynamics 30 countries, from ages 20 to 93. In a of being a change-maker training week. world where inclusion and diversity is more and more contested, this was a real What were the highlights of this year’s example of inter-generational, multi- training week? faith, multi-country conviviality. It was one of the most intercultural peri- ods of the summer. Thanks to a fabulous What can people learn through such team of interpreters and encouraged by times of training? Jose Carlos Leon Vargas the organizers, the participants were able They could learn the techniques, tools and to use their own languages and share their methodologies used by IofC to promote con- ideas and experiences with more confi - fl ict transformation, leadership and perso- Any effort directed towards improving dence and emotion. nal change, intercultural dialogue and ethics. the quality of people’s lives should start The morning plenaries were outstanding. by looking at the individual as the pillar The speakers had a long experience of fa- Is there a message you’d like to give to of change. When we are able to instigate a cilitating change and fostering peace our readers? change in people’s hearts and attitudes worldwide and were able to share with the I would like to encourage practitioners the road opens up towards sustainable de- audience some of the key elements of be- and activists in the fi eld of peace building velopment. In Caux, you fi nd that quali- coming a change-maker. and development to come to the Caux tative complement that makes public Conferences in 2013. In Caux, they will policy, private endeavours and social pro- Are you satisfi ed with the participation be able to see a clearer connection be- jects more humane. and the outcomes? tween the personal and the global change, Participants established links with other an element that is missing in many public initiatives around the world. We had over and international policies nowadays.

The conference in brief

‘The dynamics of being a change-ma- ker’ training week from 2–8 August offered workshops and plenaries, drawing on the best experience and trainers of the Initiatives of Change international network. The conference explored the calling, character, capabilities, and commit- ment needed by change-makers if they are to bring the needed change, drawing on IofC’s long experience in developing networks across the world. It brought together in Caux the most experienced IofC trainers, Angela Starovoytova (Ukraine) and Anna Pozogina (Latvia), facilitators of the and courses that have many years of workshop given by ‘Foundations for Freedom’. It promotes responsible leader- successful experience. ship and enhances social involvement of youth in the UK and Eastern Europe.

CAUX REPORT 2012 13 OFFICIAL DAY A warm welcome for IofC’s guests

Sunday 8 July, the Caux Foundation invited partners and friends to the traditional Offi cial Day, with a number of remarkable personalities as speakers.

r. Omnia Marzouk, President of DInitiatives of Change International, welcomed the guests and visitors warmly. She stated that ‘IofC is a worldwide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own.’ Antoine Jaulmes, Presi- dent of the Caux Foundation, retraced shortly the history of the conference cen- tre and the role Caux played in several reconciliation processes, be it in the past or more recently. He also described some initiatives that were born in Caux, and re- called that the efforts that are made by IofC and the people present could go far, and that Caux offers keys that lead to in- dispensable change. Former Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey (right) speaks with Myanmar The guests were then invited either to participants participate in a case study, to listen to a presentation of the Caux Forum for Human Security or to take a guided tour Altermatt thanked the Forum and IofC tion, then gave a lecture on ‘Dialogue at of the conference centre, the former for the cooperation with his department the service of human security’. Swiss di- Caux-Palace. which began in 2005 with a project in plomacy remained founded on dialogue Burundi and has continued since then. in all its worldwide efforts, she said, and The second part of the day was intro- He described Caux as ‘a haven of peace dialogue was indispensable in the search duced by Claude Altermatt, Ambassador, and inspiration’ and saluted ‘the fruitful for the peaceful solution of confl icts. and Counsellor on behalf of the Swiss cooperation between his department, and ‘Trust is a key factor,’ she concluded, ‘and Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. the ‘interpersonal and grassroots approach’ with trust, I include interpersonal rela- His speech led into the opening of the of IofC. Professor Micheline Calmy-Rey, tions, discretion and tradition.’ Caux Forum for Human Security. Mr. former President of the Swiss Confedera-

An appreciative audience Swiss Ambassador Claude Altermatt with a guest

14 CAUX REPORT 2012 CAUX SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The current Academic Director of the CSP is Dr. Carl Stauffer, Assistant Professor of Development and Justice Studies at Eastern Mennonite University. He has worked in the fi eld of restorative justice and reconciliation. He spent 16 years in Africa, working in 20 countries. Dr. Stauffer has also conducted training in Hungary, Israel, Palestine, Cyprus, The Netherlands, Philippines, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Why did you accept the challenge to with the best intentions will burn-out and become the academic director? drop-out of this vital work. If we want to I returned from the fi eld to teach because have a durable impact over multiple gen- of a strong conviction and commitment erations, we peace-builders need to stay to infl uence the minds and hearts of uni- resilient. versity-age students towards excellence in peace-building leadership. Discovering the Are you satisfi ed with the development Carl Stauffer with an Indian Caux Scholars Program and IofC with of the programme over the years? Caux Scholar their dedication to provide the space for The CSP has matured, grown and ex- personal as well as global transformation panded its vision and mission. It has What were your personal highlights of was an opportunity that I could hardly maintained a rich blend of bright, ener- this year’s session? ignore. getic, leadership level international students. It was my joy as the Academic Director to We have an amazing group of alumni watch a coherent, unifi ed learning com- How would you describe the role of who continue to be social entrepreneurs munity develop out of a group of highly personal transformation in peace- for transformation all across the globe. diverse scholars. They performed well as a building? team – whether through trust exercises, Transformative learning can only occur What are the challenges of the pro- networking at the Caux Human Security when personal experience penetrates our gramme? Forum, cutting vegetables or planning an inner being and our deepest desires, moti- Funding remains our greatest challenge. evening of entertainment with the Caux vations and passions are ignited. This is This limits the variety and exposure that interns. They arrived eager to learn, to ex- what we aim to reinforce at CSP. Ulti- we would like to offer the scholars. It pand their horizons and to transform mately our peace-building practice will would also be extremely useful to be able themselves in the process. Thirty days only be as strong as our personal vision to offer more scholarships to worthy stu- later, another set of young peace leaders and hope are kept alive. Without sustain- dents who otherwise could not afford to made the trek ‘down the mountain’ from able personal and spiritual fortitude, those take part. Caux and into the world. We salute them!

The Caux Scholars in the media

In brief 24heures | Jeudi 26 juillet 2012 Riviera - Chablais Since its inception in 1991, more Rencontres internationales than 320 students from over 86 countries have participated in the Caux Scholars Program (CSP), which takes place each year in Caux. Through class sessions, interaction with their fellow students and partici- pation in the Caux conferences, the programme offers students confl ict analysis tools and resolution skills. They focus on the moral and spiritual dimensions of peace building and on the relationship between individual transformation and change in the world. Find out more at www.caux scholars.org

L’Indien Nikhil Vazirani (21 ans) veut La Morgienne Lucy Linder (25 ans), Amir Kanergi (24 ans) s’attelle à rétablir rapprocher son pays et le Pakistan. première Suissesse aux «Caux Scholars». la démocratie en Tunisie, son pays.

Ils apprennent à résoudre ‘They learn to solve the confl icts of the world’. Headline in 24heures, the main regional news- les conflits dans le monde paper. The full article (in French) can be read on

les organisations internationales, fuir le Pakistan. Aujourd’hui, nos pulation, à Tunis. C’est là qu’il a www.caux.ch. Caux-Initiatives et les universités et l’économie, en- deux peuples ont gardé une cul- puisé sa motivation à venir à Changement va tre autres.» ture identique, mais nos deux Caux, afin de pouvoir travailler A Caux, les vingt étudiants qui Etats s’obstinent à faire de nous plus efficacement au rétablisse- diplômer vingt achèvent ces jours leurs cours ap- des ennemis. A mon retour en ment démocratique en Tunisie. nouveaux artisans pliqués de résolution des conflits Inde, j’entends agir auprès de no- «Après vingt-trois ans de dicta- CAUX REPORT 2012 15 de la paix. En vingt rêvent de marcher sur les pas de tre gouvernement et des médias.» ture, notre nouveau gouverne- Kahlil. Ils proviennent de 15 pays, Dans ce but, Nikhil Vazirani appli- ment manque d’expérience. Il ans, la fondationa de la Colombie à la Birmanie, en quera ce qu’il a appris à Caux, faut lui laisser le temps d’appren- formé 400 étudiants passant par la Bosnie ou le Kenya. grâce à des méthodes de réconci- dre.» Le Tunisien veut donc s’acti-

U CAUX CONFERENCES AND BEYOND Behind the scenes: volunteers and interns

The Caux conference centre is run almost entirely by volunteers and interns. Although participants meet the conference organizers and their work team leaders, they may not see how many people work behind the scenes. A total of 16 departments contribute to the running of the centre.

his year, a total of 65 interns trav- Interns have been an integral part of Caux values and the foundations of relation- Telled to Caux from 27 countries to for many years, but only in 2009 did the ships of trust, what that looks like, how cook meals, change beds, manage the din- Interns Programme take on its current form it works. I think that’s pretty rare, the op- ing room, work in reception, and help in of a service-oriented and skill-building in- portunity to connect with a range of dif- the offi ces, in addition to completing an ternship. Since then, some 240 interns ferent people, and ask questions that you Initiatives of Change training course. In- have completed the programme, many re- perhaps wouldn’t normally be able to ask.’ terns are between the ages of 18 and 30, turning as volunteers, conference assistants and span careers and continents – some or organizers, department head trainees or Lancaster has a long-term vision for the are university or graduate students, while intern coordinators. Rob Lancaster, who Interns Programme. ‘We want to take it others are professionals; the 2012 interns wrote the proposal for the new Interns to the next phase; to try to more inten- included a doctor and an ex-banker who Programme in 2008 and has been active tionally support people once they’ve been quit his job to volunteer with Initiatives in it since then, sees it as a unique experi- through the programme, provide more of Change. ence and introduction to Initiatives of opportunities for deepening that journey, Change. ‘It’s a multicultural environment and offer more of a toolkit to help them where there is space for you to explore to take their own initiatives.’

16 CAUX REPORT 2012 Why I come to Caux – three volunteers give their answers

Lynley Brophy is the Deputy Operations Coordinator in Caux

How did you get involved with Caux? Why do you keep coming back? I fi rst came to Caux in 1992. I was at a Caux has a vital role to play and I am crossroads in terms of work, and a relative committed to ensuring the continuation who knows IofC suggested that I come to of Caux through taking leadership and re- Caux. I had studied and worked as a so- sponsibility. I enjoy being of service and cial worker. I could relate to the link be- feel that continuity of service is helpful to tween personal and social change. So I the operation of Caux. was interested in the conferences, but I wanted to help with the running of the How has Caux changed you? house. I worked in the kitchen. I have become more aware of the realities For the past three years I have been deputy and situations in different countries. So I Lynley has been involved with Initiatives operations coordinator, to ensure that the am supporting the initiatives of several of Change since 1992. She is a social worker departments involved in running the house friends that I met at Caux. This is a privi- in New Zealand. are resourced and are running smoothly. lege and enriching experience.

Simon Nelson, at 17, was the youngest volunteer at Caux

Simon comes from Norway and is in the How do you like being the youngest second year of a three-year commitment volunteer at Caux? with the technical team. Most people treat me like I’m their age, so it’s a good thing. They could recruit younger How did you get involved with Caux? people than they do now, and I feel like it is My parents met here in Caux, so I was a good experience to learn from a younger an IofC child; I don’t know how many age. It can help you to decide a path when times I’ve been here, six or eight, maybe. you’re older. The experience will be in the They organized a conference ‘Everybody back of my mind all the time, it’s not Counts’, and it was during one of those something you forget. conferences that I got involved with the technical team. I had nothing to do when What about Caux has touched you the plenaries, talking to them over the dinner I was 13, 14, so I asked my dad what I most? table you get a different perspective on could do, and he told me to ask about The people – you meet people from everything. working in Caux, and two years later I countless nationalities – I’ve probably met started working here. more than 50; hearing their stories in the

Cleopadia Mohlaodi, trainee department head, dining room

Cleo is a university student from South What about Caux has touched you the Africa, studying child development. Al- most? though she loves her time in Caux, she People go home with a sense of meaning, misses her work with children at home. or hope or passion, because of the values and quiet time. Those are the things that How have you been involved with IofC? really change a person. A global family is I came to Caux with the interns program very important; when you live in a house in 2010, and my role as dining room ma- full of love and communication, you learn nager started last year. I volunteer with IofC to be able to adapt anywhere. That is what South Africa with Peace Circles; I initi- has changed me the most. ated a peace circle with teenagers who are trying to improve their leadership skills.

CAUX REPORT 2012 17 FACTS AND FIGURES

Who came to Caux?

10% 17% 46% 54% 3%

Children Students Women Men Pensioners

What did they come for? To work in the centre 171 To be trained 95 For the conferences 884 As members of partner organizations 115

Many thanks to the volunteers who gave more than 9000 hours of their time!

83 different nationalities Mother tongue English: 39% Europe: 62% French: 13% Africa: 11% German: 10% Other: 38% The Americas: 11% Asia/Middle East: 10% 59 interpreters helped Australasia: 6% all the participants to understand each other

Average stay: 10 nights Switzerland is the second most Total of 13,943 bed-nights represented country after the United Kingdom

These figures are based on the application forms and only count those participants who spent at least one night in Caux.

18 CAUX REPORT 2012 INITIATIVES OF CHANGE INTERNATIONAL IofC International: a renewed vision

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a worldwide 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.

This summer, IofC held a Global Assem- with themselves). It focuses IofC efforts on yourself/dialogue in diversity/take focused bly attended by over 100 people repre- three areas: action) to changemaking in critical situa- senting the work of IofC in 43 countries. tions for over 80 years. They also mark a The primary aim of the meeting was  Peace and social cohesion by building collective desire to bring IofC’s global re- achieved. The Global Assembly strongly trust and reconciliation across di- sources together to make the greatest im- endorsed a Strategic Framework, a con- vides; pact possible. More on these specifi c ac- sensus-driven document drafted by the  Good governance at every level by de- tions will unfold in the coming year in IofC network intended to guide IofC’s veloping a leadership culture based places such as India and South Sudan. international efforts. on moral integrity, compassion and selfl ess service; Initiatives of Change International (IofC The Framework clarifi es a renewed vision  Economic justice and environmental International) is a non-governmental or- (IofC works towards a just, peaceful and sustainability by inspiring transfor- ganization (NGO). It has Special Con- sustainable world to which everyone, re- mation of motives and behaviour. sultative Status with the Economic and sponding to the call of conscience, makes Social Council of the United Nations their unique contribution) and mission These points form the foundation of IofC’s (ECOSOC), and Participatory Status at the (IofC aims to inspire, equip and connect strategy which has brought a personal ap- Council of Europe in Strasbourg. people to address world needs, starting proach (seek inner wisdom/start with

CAUX REPORT 2012 19 CAUX 2013

International Caux Conferences 2013

29 June–3 July Just governance Explore both the personal qualities needed for effective governance, and governance structures which promote integrity and cooperation 3–7 July Healing history Overcoming racism, seeking equity, building community 7–11 July Dialogue on land and security Share experience and build partnerships in restoring land, lives and peace 13–19 July Trust and integrity in the global economy Towards economic justice and environmental sustainability 24–30 July Children as actors in transforming society The role of children and youth as active global citizens 1–6 August Learning to live in a multicultural world Imagining and co-creating a desired future in Europe through intergenerational and intercultural dialogue 7–12 August Seeds of inspiration People sharing the inspiration that shaped their lives Regular updates on www.caux.ch

CAUX-Initiatives of Change Initiatives of Change International PO Box 3909 1, rue de Varembé, PO Box 3 CH-6002 Lucerne CH-1211 Geneva 20 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.caux.ch Web: www.iofc.org Tel +41 41 310 12 61 Tel +41 22 749 16 20 Fax +41 41 311 22 14 Fax +41 22 733 02 67