2021’s Creative Leadership conference will embark from the premise that creative leadership comes from the depths of our beings: in short, from who we are. The conferences aims to shape a more hopeful future by empowering a generation of young leaders.
Its inspiration comes from more than 250 changemakers in their 20s and 30s, of 98 nationalities, who have taken part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme (CPLP). The conference is for everyone who wants to grow by looking within, to connect with changemakers from around the world and to help to redefine the concept of ‘leader’.
As Kofi Annan said in Caux in 2013: ‘You are never too young to lead, you are never too young to do what you actually believe in. We keep saying the future belongs to the young. It only belongs to you if you take it.’
Purpose
2020 was a year of many unknowns. It triggered a worldwide sense of unrest and change. Millions were faced with an uncertain future and had to find their own ways to adapt. Many have used this as an opportunity to step back and question their way forward or back to normality.
We believe that now is the time for coming generations to step forward with confidence, learn how to deal with their troubles, and partake in the critical choices that will shape their future.
Participants 2020
What are we doing?
Creative Leadership aims to engage visionary young people in questioning both themselves and the effect of the events occurring around them. Our exploration will be rooted in the realization that, to have maximum influence, leaders must begin with internal change. The conference will offer an inclusive space for diverse participants from around the globe to come together to share their realities and experiences through workshops, story sharing and dialogue groups. Self-reflection sessions will help them find peace in their lives before passing it on to others.
This conference will take you on a journey which starts with recognizing and navigating your uncertainties and then moves towards helping you to sit with your troubles and seek peace and stillness amidst the chaos. The second part of the journey will focus on transformation, and finding ways to look ahead into the future with more hope and possibility.
Event details
When: Sunday 25 July to Saturday 31 July 2021
Where: Online via zoom
Duration: Seven days with a break day on Wednesday 28 July
Timing: Sessions run from 12.00 GMT to 17.00 GMT
Language: The conference will be offered solely in English.
Registrations: Open from 1 June 2021
Sessions
The Creative Leadership conference will encourage you to grow by sharing, engaging and listening through dialogue groups, webinars, workshops and human libraries. At the heart of it all will be space for reflection, which we all need to explore our own perceptions and biases. It will also offer the opportunity for informal connections during the daily tea time space.
Dialogue Groups
An opportunity to discuss and share our thoughts on the themes. You will learn through listening others’ experiences, and in turn they will have the chance to learn from you. Through these small groups, you will be able to experience the conference on a closer level.
Quiet Time
This space for reflection will provide you with the chance to listen to your own inner voice and become empowered through a clearer understanding of yourself.
Human Library
This is an opportunity to listen to people sharing their experiences of leadership and dealing with uncertainties. Some of the human books will be alumni of the Creative Leadership – Weaving Our Narratives course. Hearing the challenges other people have had to overcome can give us a greater understanding of how to face our own obstacles and a sense of solidarity that leaves us less alone.
Scroll down for all our Human Books.
Webinars
Here prominent speakers will address various issues surrounding youth and leadership. After the session, there you will be able to ask the speaker questions.
Scroll down for all webinars.
Workshops
These spaces of active engagement will equip you with practical tools related to some of the themes.
Scroll down for all workshops.
Tea Time
This unguided session offers a place to let your social butterfly out. It is an opportunity to meet fellow conference attendees, and guide your own conversation. You will also get the chance to interact with the Human Library and Webinar speakers in a less formal setting.
Opening of Creative Leadership 2020
Who is this conference for?
The conference is open to everyone and aimed at the young at heart, who yearn to create change in the world and also in themselves. All are welcome who want to explore ways to navigate uncertainties and connect with an international network of like-minded individuals responding to the call of conscience.
Participation and commitment
Most of the sessions are open: you can participate as much or as little as you want. However, there is a benefit to taking part more. Over the course of the week, increased sharing with your peers will create trust and allow you and others to take away a more rounded and impactful experience.
The choice of whether to be a part of a dialogue group depends on how much you wish to participate. The dialogue groups will delve into meaningful discussion with the same small group of participants each day. You are likely to form your deepest and most meaningful bonds with these people. To build trust, it is important that participants attend all four sessions and are ready for deeper conversations. We really encourage you to attend, but if you prefer to only have a casual involvement in the conference, the option is there.
Expected outcomes
Through listening and sharing, you will get closer to understanding your vulnerabilities and troubles.
The conference will guide you to better navigate your uncertainties, transform them into possibilities and grow in hope.
The conference will help you to explore your inner power to continue on your journey of growth, healing and resilience.
Through active engagement, you will gain tools to develop your leadership skills.
You will join a global network of like-minded leaders who dare to follow the spirit of inner growth, ultimate human potential and community building.
Musical Guests
Oana Dinea is a Romanian pianist currently based in Geneva. After finishing her Bachelors and two master’s specialized in concerts and teaching with her mentor Dominique Weber, she started creating non-conventional piano concerts. She is the co-founder of the association “Non-conventional spaces of classical music and human connection” where, together with the social psychiatrist Cecilia Miranda, she invites people to have a human musical experience. In 2018 she took part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme and the conference Addressing Europe's Unfinished Business. This experience was a revelation: her memory of playing between life stories was one of the most important moments for her and she created other concerts in Romania and Switzerland where people can also share their story. The collaboration with other artists is also part of the spaces that Oana creates: coffee and piano, illustration and piano, piano at the Red Cross museum, mental health and piano, and other concerts that she feels that she can bring to life. Oana is also a piano teacher at the “Conservatoire populaire de Musique de Genève". She says: “I always felt that music unites us. And since 2018, I have felt the urge to create nnew spaces for classical music. I feel that this is my mission”. More on Oana here.
Shanks (Sankarshan Kini) is a musician living in Auroville, India. Born in 1978 and growing up in Bangalore he played Indian classical music as a child and transitioned into Western music in his early youth. After working as a session musician and music producer in Mumbai he moved to Auroville in 2015 where he studies and performs on guitar and voice with jazz musicians. His focus at present is studying western classical viola. (Photo Credit: Edoardo Grassi)
Rasha Eladawi is from Egypt and absolutely loves music, art, books and movies - anything that will make her a better version of herself. In addition to her passion for storytelling, she loves singing which is the most important thing to her and makes her feel alive. She tries to listen to her inner voice, face her fears and let her voice be heard. She hopes to be able to touch people’s hearts with her voice and help them feel better about the world and themselves. Rasha aspires to make a difference, to travel the world and to impact people’s lives with kindness, compassion and awareness.
Peoples' thoughts on creative leadership
"Self-expression, innovation" - Tanaka
"Being creative is brave, willingness to go into things or make choice when we don’t know the outcome. It is the wisdom to know how to adapt to different people, projects, and environments. 'Who we are is how we lead'". - Rachel
"Ability to think differently. How do you think creatively in a situation where there is pressure and people are dependent upon you. How do you have creative thoughts and ideas and put it into action? Discernment, what does that look like?" - Phoebe
"First identify what you want to achieve, how and for what purpose? How do I impart what I’ve learned at Caux to the world? How to use skills." - Redempta
"Involves visionary leadership and it gives direction and steps on how to get there. Peoples ideas matter in creative leadership and consensus are built from various voices/opinions . Creative leadership embraces listening ear to various opinions and ideas so as to make an informed and inclusive decision." - Romano
"In my opinion creative leadership is knowing what task is for who. Helping members reach their full potential in the right areas and not waste their time and effort in a place where they don't belong. Creative Leadership is also being able to solve problems in a fast and efficient way. In other words, working smarter not harder." - Sawsan
Ana (Anuki) Mosiashvili is a human rights lawyer, youth advocate and youth worker from Georgia. Ana currently works as an international coordinator of advocacy and partnership of the Y-PEER network. She is also one of the co-founders of a grass-root NGO “Center for Youth Development – XXI (CYD)” based in Sagarejo, Georgia. On behalf of the CYD, Ana has managed and coordinated dozens of projects in various regions of Georgia. The projects focus mainly on empowering women and girls, advocating for gender equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, meaningful youth engagement, and in general democratic participation. For the past 5 years, Ana has been actively involved in the national, regional, and international processes related to SDGs, ICPD +25, Beijing +25.
Guncha Annageldieva is a youth advocate from Turkmenistan. She is pursuing her Bachelor degree in Sociology. Guncha has been actively involved in volunteering work since her childhood and strongly believes in power of volunteering. YPEER Network plays a crucial role in her life. Currently, she works as International Coordinator in charge of Communication of YPEER Network. With the gained skills from YPEER Network, she was able to establish the first Students Council at University of Turkmenistan and currently she presents University students’ voice and needs. As UNRCCA Ambassador and lead coordinator of UN SDG Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Guncha closely works with the implementation of the 2030 UN Agenda both at National and International level.
Ghaith Sandouk from Syria, is a 26 years old Information Technology Engineer and Y-PEER International Coordinator in-Charge of Innovation & Digital Tools. Ghaith is an enthusiastic activist and a vital advocate for sustainable development, gender equality, and youth participation. He is currently working as a Software Project Manager in a multinational company while continuing his postgraduate studies in Master of Business Administration. During his 6 years of working experience in the developmental field, Ghaith has occupied a variety of decision-making positions with different national youth initiatives and teams working in Syria. He has also been chosen to be a speaker in several regional and international events representing the Syrian youth and youth-led initiatives. In the past year, Ghaith founded a youth-led initiative called “Bogeyman” which mainly focuses on topics of bullying, hate-speech and mental-health.
Anas Badawi from Syria, is a 25 year old civil activist focusing on public affairs, women's rights issues, gender equality, gender-based violence, sustainable development goals, and peace. He is a fifth-year student in the Faculty of Dentistry in Damascus University. Anas is currently the legislative and legal environment coordinator for civil work in Syria within the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He is also an advisory board member at the Youth Peer Network (Y-PEER) in Syria, after he was the Focal Point in charge of the network for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Anas is a peer education trainer and advanced trainer in peer education using interactive theater techniques. In addition, he is the founder and general coordinator of the Tawleh initiative, which is an initiative launched in February 2020 as an attempt to create a free, safe, and supportive civil space for dialogue among Syrians in the fields of sex, politics, religion, and feminism. For the past three years, Anas has actively participated in the national, regional and international processes facilitated by the UN within the framework of UNSCR 2254. Finally, Anas is a member of the Civil Society Support Room that works in cooperation with the OSE (Office of the Special Envoy) in Syria.
In his session Dr. Carl Stauffer will use his years of experience in restorative justice and peace & reconciliation projects to explore with participants what it means to find peace and inner content in the midst of struggle. Explaining how with patience and stillness participants can slow down enough to be consciously present with their own thoughts and emotions in order for clarity to emerge. Thus participants will understand that it is only through taking care of oneself that we are capable of taking care of others.
Speaker
Dr. Carl Stauffer currently functions as Senior Expert for Reconciliation at the US Institute for Peace in Washington DC. He has practiced trauma healing, nonviolence, restorative Justice and reconciliation for 3 decades in 37 countries. For the past 10 years he has served as the Academic Director for the Caux Scholars Program in Switzerland.
Rodrigo Martínez Romero is the main convener of this webinar. He connected with the mission of Initiatives of Change in 2010 during the visit of Usha and Rajmohan Gandhi to Mexico City, his sacred land.
Since then he has been involved with initiatives like the Trust and Integrity in Global Economy (TIGE) conference, the Caux Interns Program, the Heart of Effective Leadership (HEL) training and the Community Trustbuilding Fellowship (CTF). He takes great joy in connecting with communities of IofC across the globe and continues to be inspired by the vision of unity and reconciliation across the Americas.
It was a master thesis research on spiritual politics done at the Free University of Amsterdam, which connected him with the IofC Creative Leadership Team. Last year he was joined by 3 men to explore from a space of courage and vulnerability different dimensions of that academic construct and leadership path.
This year he is focused on taking the spiritual politics calling into social entrepreneurship by working on setting the Spiritual Politics Lab (SPL) in the Hague. True to the spirit of connection, community and service to the IofC movement, he is now inviting female leaders to share their experience of spiritual politics around a conscious politics manifesto which will be presented during our webinar.
Join us in a sacred learning space focused on storytelling, core IofC values and the passage from fear to possibility, arriving at a destiny nourished by vibrant coalitions of change. We aspire to keep learning how to create leadership formulas where the feminine and the masculine consciously integrate around a conscious politics manifesto. This is work in progress fuelled by the spirit of hope, art and creativity.
The Team
Rodrigo Martínez Romero has been serving the IofC mission for the last 10 years. His current Master’s thesis at the VU Amsterdam examines how crosscultural dynamics influence the understanding and application of spiritual politics as a practice of servant leadership and dilemma reconciliation. He initially trained to become a diplomat and follow in the family tradition of working in the civil service. Exploring the intersection between spirituality and politics with holders of ancient wisdom traditions from India, Colombian pre-Hispanic shamans and Catholic Jesuits led him to reframe his leadership as diplomacy of the spirit. This has led him to study ontological coaching, promote social justice, aspire to grow as a social entrepreneur and engage in holistic advocacy in research and education by recognizing the need to recover the soul as a valid domain of learning.
Pepe García is Country Support Coordinator for North America, Central America and The Caribbean of the Open Government Partnership. He is co-founder of the Mexican School of Conscious Politics. In addition to that, he is also the co-founder of Dulce Maguey, a former mezcal bar in Mexico City and now a traditional mezcal brand. He is a vegan and an environmental activist. His life purpose is to open governments and societies through open hearts, open minds and good public policies, to tackle systemic inequality and suffering, and to help dismantle the patriarchal-capitalist-oppressive system to build fairer and kinder societies.
Sujith Ravindran is a contemporary mystic and a serial author. He helps leaders, institutions and movements in the social, political and business domains access unforeseen realms of awareness and fulfil their true reason for existence. His mission is to help humanity realize its limitless human potential by translating spiritual sciences into contemporary life. In 2021, he was conferred the honour of Ambassador of Peace by the Council of Assissi, Italy. In addition to that, he a great lover of hot peppers.
Angelika Kobl is a facilitator, space holder and musician. Her purpose is to open spaces of encounters and reconnection - for ourselves, others and the land - to remember and tap into the wisdom that lies within all beings and be once more aware of our shared humanity and the sacredness of all life. Her objective is to heal divisions and trauma, and ultimately help people to walk together in unconditional solidarity towards a more caring, trusting, loving, mindful and wholesome future. She aims to bring transformation, she opens doors and gently points to the way/the first steps when people are ready.
Paola Schietekat is a Senior Behavioral Economist at B4Development Foundation, part of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar, which is the entity tasked with preparing the Emirates for the 2022 World Cup. As a gender specialist, Paola worked as an adviser for the Federal Congress in Mexico at the Unit for Gender Equality. She has published research on gender issues in different countries. Paola has a Masters degree in Public Policy from Oxford University and a B.A. in International Relations, with a minor in Anthropology from the American University of Kuwait. Back in Kuwait, Paola worked as a political consultant at the Mexican Embassy and directed an organization for the protection of migrant workers in the GCC. Paola authored her first novel in 2014, at age 19.
Lázaro Valiente is a muldisciplinary artist, musician, meditation guide, and mindfulness and creativity coach. Currently, he is the mental health coach of the Los Capitanes professional basketball team from Mexico City. He is a leadership consultant on Mexican and international projects, a researcher and a facilitator of Circulo HE, which offers a space for critical reflection about the concept of masculinity. As an artist he has performed and shown his art in Vive Latino, Lollapalooza, Mexico City Museum, Carrillo Gil Museum, El Museo del Barrio in New York, Wilfredo Lam Museum in Cuba, Cartier Foundation in Paris, amongst others. As a musician, he has played and collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Calle 13, Natalia Lafourcade, Devendra Bahart, Cold War Kids, Adan and Alejandro Jodorowsky.’
Deep listening and staying present in uncertainty, volatility and challenge are core skills in the work of a leader. They involve the whole self in ways that have a profound effect on ourselves as much as the world around us. The difficult realities we inhabit and witness in today’s world can feel overwhelming and can be detrimental to our health, wellbeing and work. Rather than rising above uncertainty, discomfort and pain and having all the answers, we need the capacity to swim right in these difficult places while retaining capacity for creativity, inspiration and connection.
What does it mean to listen deeply and be present to ourselves and the world? How does this keep us connected with inspiration, direction, our values, and each other?
Through interactive methods, participants will explore:
the challenge of staying present to overwhelming issues in in overwhelming times
strategies for listening deeply while also managing the impact of doing so
the link between inner and outer listening, and sustainable, whole-hearted involvement in change-making work
The Team
Agnes Otzelberger is a trainer and researcher supporting change-makers in finding their resilience, power and wisdom. Coming from a background of ten+ years in the not-for-profit sector and international development, with a focus on climate change and social inequality, she began to work on the connection between 'inner'/personal and 'outer'/system change in these demanding and volatile times.
In 2017 she founded The Good Jungle which exists to connect beyond-profit organisations and people working for the greater good with cutting edge insights and practices from the emerging meeting place between modern psychology & science and ancient wisdom - resourcing those whose work on global challenges has led them to doubt, anxiety, hopelessness, and frustration about the planet's declining health, persistent injustices and collective responses to them.
As part of this, Agnes offers training and support for those experiencing 'compassion fatigue'/empathic distress/vicarious trauma, anxiety, grief, moral injury and other symptoms resulting from their work in a change making role for people, animals or planet. Another area of focus is a deeper examination of our desire to help and change the world, and the not-for-profit world’s complicated relationship with money.
Neil Oliver is a Certified Professional Facilitator with experience of working with diverse groups across a wide range of sectors in the UK and internationally. Most of his experience comes from working with complex public sector organizations including the UK National Health Service. Since 2011 Neil has worked with the Caux Forum organizing conferences and providing training. This year Neil is part of the Tools for Change Makers organizing team. He has a particular interest in working with multi-cultural groups and teams.
Through intermodal expressive arts methodologies which include visual arts, creative writing, music and movement we will delve into deep play; discover new ways of creatively transforming our troubles and being empowered through the arts to create hope and possibilities for the world within and around us.
Bring your crayons, pencils and paper and let your child-like self take the wheel as you surrender and be transformed by the power of your imagination!
Facilitator
Maruee Pahuja is an Expressive Arts facilitator and is pursuing her Master’s in Expressive Arts Therapy from the European Graduate School. She is also a specialty contact lens consultant and ocularist. She is the creative training co-lead for People Beyond Borders. Her passion, curiosity and research lie in the direction of building a wholesome healthcare system that incorporates intermodal art practices in the medical field. Maruee finds her grounding through her love for gardening and believes that nature and art are her soul food. She was part of CPLP 2019 and is excited to connect with her global family (virtually) this year.
Riathung Ngullie comes from Nagaland state, landlocked Northeast India. He was selected to intern at IofC-India in 2013 and later on volunteered with the IofC-India, Outreach program till 2020. He also has experience working with IofC-Japan, Nepal, and the Tibetan communities living in India. Starting with IofC, India, he has worked in areas and situations focused on creating and implementing programs, workshops, and interactions focused on Trust Building, Leadership, self-transformation, Peacebuilding, and the facilitation of dialogues amongst several communities. He and his wife currently live in Chennai, India
Merna Mustafa is a young Egyptian writer who fell in love with words the moment she could recognize them. She is a writer not only for a living but also for comfort. She has always been in love with stories which lead her to IofC, which subsequently brought out the storyteller she never knew she had within her.
Rajendra Senchurey is a dedicated peace practitioner currently working with Policy Research Institute - a think tank of Nepal Government. He teaches conflict and peace studies to the post-grads in Mid-Western University as a Visiting Lecturer. He holds an MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. He has a decade of experience in the fields of interfaith, interreligious dialogue, civil resistance and nonviolence, conflict resolution, transitional justice and sustaining peace. He has worked in these areas under several national and international fellowships including the ones from UNESCO, KAICIID, ICNC and FK Norway. He regularly writes in Nepal's leading national dailies as a freelance contributor. He is the recipient of "Books for Peace 2020" Award. He is the Secretary of Initiatives of Change Nepal. He was a Caux Scholar in 2017 and a member of the organizing team of the "Towards an Inclusive Peace" conference in 2018 and 2019. He has spoken as a Panelist at the 'Just Governance for Human Security' Conference in 2018. As an intellectual from Dalit (so-called untouchables in the Hindu caste system) community, Rajendra is committed to eliminating caste-based discrimination from Nepal.
Nader Akoum from Lebanon is a Beirut-based architect and sociopolitical activist. Akoum was involved in combating the corrupt ruling class via student elections inside universities for the past 5 years. He later founded the Studio Madane collective (https://www.instagram.com/studiomadane/) which aims to engage the youth in higher level discussions, policymaking, and design interventions via multidisciplinary working methodologies. Meanwhile, Akoum was a consultant and collaborator to many pro-reform projects in Lebanon. He identifies with his advocacy: human-centered thinking, collective decision making, self-governance, impactful architecture, youth power, freedom and justice.
Researcher by profession, Marienne Makoudem Tene is a Peacebuilder by passion. She is a Research Officer in the Department of Economic and Environmental Studies at the National Centre for Education -the only public research centre in social and human sciences-, which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation. She was awarded the “2017 best Junior Researcher in Social Sciences” prize. Her peacebuilding journey started in 2014 with her participation to the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme. She then attended the Caux Sponsored participant programme in 2016 and the Caux Scholars Programme in 2018. She was a member of the organising team of the “Towards an Inclusive Peace” conference in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, she was elected National Coordinator of Creators of Peace (CoP) and member of the International Committee. She coordinates the CoP Africa task force and is a member of the national council of Initiatives of Change in Cameroon. Since January 2021, she is a member of the Initiatives of Change Hub committee. After her participation to the Caux Scholars Programme in 2018, she has organised many training sessions on leadership, peacebuilding and the promotion of living together both for individuals and for professionals. Through her own organisation called the International Consortium for Peace, Human Security and Sustainable Development (ICPH2SD), Marienne launched last year the first edition of the Summer School in Leadership for Peace, Human Security and Sustainable Development. The second edition will take place in August 2021. Marienne is a mother of 5 with 4 girls is the CSP Alumni Ambassador for Africa
Batol Gholami has always been passionate about how to become a charismatic leader. When she was a child in her village in Baghlan, her father, who was her role model in leadership, inspired her to recognize the importance of leadership skills. Since childhood, she has explored the possibilities for young women to gain more influence. As Afghan women have suffered for ages, Batool has stood up to share their voices worldwide. This has led Batol to found the Afghanistan Youth Leaders Assembly (AYLA), a platform for female empowerment and information sessions in different parts of Afghanistan.
Ehab Badwi is one of the Youth Representatives of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). A strong believer in the potential of youth, Ehab serves as founder and president of the Syrian Youth Assembly, a global network of young Syrians around the world. Ehab has worked in the past six years on youth and peacebuilding issues at the local and global level, and he served as the Regional Focal Point – the Middle East and North Africa – Humanitarian Affairs and SDG 16 Regional Focal Point (Peace & Security) for the UN Major Group for Children and Youth.
One of Ehab’s main interests is the role of youth in community development. Since 2007, Ehab has joined the Scout Movement in Syria and feels now that the movement had a great impact in shaping his personality and interests. He has also been a member of the German Scout Organization Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg (DPSG) since 2016 and is one of the Changemakers for Migration of Ashoka Network, which supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs.
Ehab worked in peacebuilding with a full focus on engaging youth in peace processes and was part of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders UNOY in the European Youth Advocacy Team. He was also a youth representative at the World Humanitarian Summit at the Global Youth Consultation in Doha 2015, and the Global Consultation in Geneva and the summit in Istanbul.
Ehab holds a Diploma in Engineering and is currently studying Political Science in Germany. A Syrian by birth, He studied and worked in Ivory Coast, Turkey, and Germany.
Trokon Redem McGee is from Liberia and a 2018 Caux Scholar in Switzerland. He works for Talking Drum Studio: Liberia Peace Center. Formerly, he served as the Country Representative for Search for Common Ground in Liberia. He develops and promotes a culture of accountability and expands approaches for the prevention of exploitations and abuses. Trokon is an expert in peace building and gender-sensitive approaches, a trained U.S. Department of State Fellow (Community Solutions Program, USA), 2017.
Trokon has worked in the following areas: education programming, gender equality and women economic empowerment, child protection, youth development, livelihood security, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and humanitarian accountability.
His current work is a hybrid project of Transitional Justice and Restorative Justice, which aims to support community memorialization and to bridge generational divides leveraging creative media products after a 14 year long civil war.
Trokon has a Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid from Kalu Institute, Spain, a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of Liberia, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Economics from the African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia, Liberia.
Ana (Anuki) Mosiashvili is a human rights lawyer, youth advocate and youth worker from Georgia. Ana currently works as an international coordinator of advocacy and partnership of the Y-PEER network. She is also one of the co-founders of a grass-root NGO “Center for Youth Development – XXI (CYD)” based in Sagarejo, Georgia. On behalf of the CYD, Ana has managed and coordinated dozens of projects in various regions of Georgia. The projects focus mainly on empowering women and girls, advocating for gender equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, meaningful youth engagement, and in general democratic participation. For the past 5 years, Ana has been actively involved in the national, regional, and international processes related to SDGs, ICPD +25, Beijing +25.
Guncha Annageldieva is a youth advocate from Turkmenistan. She is pursuing her Bachelor degree in Sociology.
Guncha has been actively involved in volunteering work since her childhood and strongly believes in power of volunteering. YPEER Network plays a crucial role in her life. Currently, she works as International Coordinator in charge of Communication of YPEER Network.
With the gained skills from YPEER Network, she was able to establish the first Students Council at University of Turkmenistan and currently she presents University students’ voice and needs.
As UNRCCA Ambassador and lead coordinator of UN SDG Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Guncha closely works with the implementation of the 2030 UN Agenda both at National and International level.
Ghaith Sandouk from Syria, is a 26 years old Information Technology Engineer and Y-PEER International Coordinator in-Charge of Innovation & Digital Tools. Ghaith is an enthusiastic activist and a vital advocate for sustainable development, gender equality, and youth participation. He is currently working as a Software Project Manager in a multinational company while continuing his postgraduate studies in Master of Business Administration. During his 6 years of working experience in the developmental field, Ghaith has occupied a variety of decision-making positions with different national youth initiatives and teams working in Syria. He has also been chosen to be a speaker in several regional and international events representing the Syrian youth and youth-led initiatives. In the past year, Ghaith founded a youth-led initiative called “Bogeyman” which mainly focuses on topics of bullying, hate-speech and mental-health.
Anas Badawi from Syria, is a 25 year old civil activist focusing on public affairs, women's rights issues, gender equality, gender-based violence, sustainable development goals, and peace. He is a fifth-year student in the Faculty of Dentistry in Damascus University. Anas is currently the legislative and legal environment coordinator for civil work in Syria within the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He is also an advisory board member at the Youth Peer Network (Y-PEER) in Syria, after he was the Focal Point in charge of the network for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. Anas is a peer education trainer and advanced trainer in peer education using interactive theater techniques. In addition, he is the founder and general coordinator of the Tawleh initiative, which is an initiative launched in February 2020 as an attempt to create a free, safe, and supportive civil space for dialogue among Syrians in the fields of sex, politics, religion, and feminism. For the past three years, Anas has actively participated in the national, regional and international processes facilitated by the UN within the framework of UNSCR 2254. Finally, Anas is a member of the Civil Society Support Room that works in cooperation with the OSE (Office of the Special Envoy) in Syria.
Dr. Carl Stauffer is currently Senior Expert for Reconciliation at the US Institute for Peace in Washington DC. He has practiced trauma healing, nonviolence, restorative Justice and reconciliation for 3 decades in 37 countries. For the past 10 years he has served as the Academic Director for the Caux Scholars Program in Switzerland.
Rodrigo Martínez Romero has been serving the IofC mission for the last 10 years. His current Master’s thesis at the VU Amsterdam examines how crosscultural dynamics influence the understanding and application of spiritual politics as a practice of servant leadership and dilemma reconciliation. He initially trained to become a diplomat and follow in the family tradition of working in the civil service. Exploring the intersection between spirituality and politics with holders of ancient wisdom traditions from India, Colombian pre-Hispanic shamans and Catholic Jesuits led him to reframe his leadership as diplomacy of the spirit. This has led him to study ontological coaching, promote social justice, aspire to grow as a social entrepreneur and engage in holistic advocacy in research and education by recognizing the need to recover the soul as a valid domain of learning.
Pepe García is Country Support Coordinator for North America, Central America and The Caribbean of the Open Government Partnership. He is co-founder of the Mexican School of Conscious Politics. In addition to that, he is also the co-founder of Dulce Maguey, a former mezcal bar in Mexico City and now a traditional mezcal brand. He is a vegan and an environmental activist. His life purpose is to open governments and societies through open hearts, open minds and good public policies, to tackle systemic inequality and suffering, and to help dismantle the patriarchal-capitalist-oppressive system to build fairer and kinder societies.
Sujith Ravindran is a contemporary mystic and a serial author. He helps leaders, institutions and movements in the social, political and business domains access unforeseen realms of awareness and fulfil their true reason for existence. His mission is to help humanity realize its limitless human potential by translating spiritual sciences into contemporary life. In 2021, he was conferred the honour of Ambassador of Peace by the Council of Assissi, Italy. In addition to that, he a great lover of hot peppers.
Angelika Kobl is a facilitator, space holder and musician. Her purpose is to open spaces of encounters and reconnection - for ourselves, others and the land - to remember and tap into the wisdom that lies within all beings and be once more aware of our shared humanity and the sacredness of all life. Her objective is to heal divisions and trauma, and ultimately help people to walk together in unconditional solidarity towards a more caring, trusting, loving, mindful and wholesome future. She aims to bring transformation, she opens doors and gently points to the way/the first steps when people are ready.
Paola Schietekat is a Senior Behavioral Economist at B4Development Foundation, part of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in Qatar, which is the entity tasked with preparing the Emirates for the 2022 World Cup. As a gender specialist, Paola worked as an adviser for the Federal Congress in Mexico at the Unit for Gender Equality. She has published research on gender issues in different countries. Paola has a Masters degree in Public Policy from Oxford University and a B.A. in International Relations, with a minor in Anthropology from the American University of Kuwait. Back in Kuwait, Paola worked as a political consultant at the Mexican Embassy and directed an organization for the protection of migrant workers in the GCC. Paola authored her first novel in 2014, at age 19.
Lázaro Valiente is a muldisciplinary artist, musician, meditation guide, and mindfulness and creativity coach. Currently, he is the mental health coach of the Los Capitanes professional basketball team from Mexico City. He is a leadership consultant on Mexican and international projects, a researcher and a facilitator of Circulo HE, which offers a space for critical reflection about the concept of masculinity. As an artist he has performed and shown his art in Vive Latino, Lollapalooza, Mexico City Museum, Carrillo Gil Museum, El Museo del Barrio in New York, Wilfredo Lam Museum in Cuba, Cartier Foundation in Paris, amongst others. As a musician, he has played and collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Calle 13, Natalia Lafourcade, Devendra Bahart, Cold War Kids, Adan and Alejandro Jodorowsky.’
John Paul Kulumba is a young Ugandan, currently in his third year studying Industrial Engineering. He is also part of the student leadership structure at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He is a keen sportsman, enjoys reading and is always looking for new experiences. He is especially interested in interacting, collaborating, and forming friendships with people from all around the world.
Anatasiia Yakush is a project manager at X23, with specific expertise in economics and business administration. She is involved in EU-co-funded programmes related to the social inclusion of migrants and refugees, with longterm and high impact scopes. She manages the EUStartGees programme and had an active role in the creation of the ME4Change Coalition (Migrant Empowerment for Change), working in close cooperation with Marika Mazzi Boém, Co-founder and Innovation Strategy Director at X23. She was recently certified as a facilitator at the Soliya Programme (Erasmus+ Programme).
Redempta Muibu spearheads the Free the Girl Initiative Project in Nakuru, Kenya, and is passionate about making a difference in the academic lives of underprivileged girls. The project specifically supports girls, who would otherwise stay out of school due to menstrual-related challenges, by providing them with free sanitary pads.
Redempta is also a member of the Nakuru branch of the East Africa Women’s League (EAWL) – a charitable organization that supports underprivileged women and children. She is currently representing the branch at the organization’s national forums.
Aside from her charitable work, Redempta has several years of professional experience in project management. For over four years, she was project coordinator and office manager for a Rapid Assessment on Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey on cataract impact. She holds a certificate in secretarial studies from Kianda College, Nairobi, and worked as Secretary/Administrator at Kenya Golf Union. She is a deaconess in her church.
Anuradha Abeykoon is a young professional in the development sector who dreams of and works for a world with social justice. He engages with conflict transformation and climate change adaptation initiatives locally and internationally, building on his academic background in Development Studies, Social Work and Diplomacy and World Affairs. Anuradha is also an alumnus of the Caux Scholars Programme and Caux Peace and Leadership Programme.
Angelika Kobl is a facilitator, space holder and musician. Her purpose is to open spaces of encounters and reconnection - for ourselves, others and the land - to remember and tap into the wisdom that lies within all beings and be once more aware of our shared humanity and the sacredness of all life. Her objective is to heal divisions and trauma, and ultimately help people to walk together in unconditional solidarity towards a more caring, trusting, loving, mindful and wholesome future. She aims to bring transformation, she opens doors and gently points to the way/the first steps when people are ready.
Elizabeth Tang (she/her) is a relationship builder, facilitator, volunteer, and deep feeler. She has spent much of her life exploring the stories of the refugees, newcomers, BIPOC and vulnerable youth she has worked with as co-chair of a resettlement program, a youth outreach worker and an ESL teacher. She currently works as a programme coordinator for an organization that supports non-profits and charities in fulfilling their missions. If she’s not theorizing about the inner workings of those she cares about, you can find her nerding out about food and ceramics.
Sebastian Hasse’s career path has been serpentine. He started out studying Computer Science in his hometown, Lübeck. Realizing that this diploma did not make him happy he followed an acting career, changed to filmmaking and finally returned to IT as a consultant in the family business.
He is first chairperson of a small volunteer-based NGO in Berlin which focuses on non-formal education for young adults in Central- and Eastern Europe. Through several international encounters over the years, he found his way to IofC and Caux. This inspired him to train in mediation and to be part of the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme in 2019. Sebastian loves stories and believes that paradoxes and contradictory perspectives are an essential part of human life.
Antoine Chelala is from Beirut, Lebanon. He graduated from the American University of Beirut in 2019, with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Social Psychology and also enjoys writing and music. In 2017 he took part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme and has been involved with Initiatives of Change ever since. Today Antoine is part of IofC Lebanon’s coordination and training team and he is the Assistant Manager of IofC Switzerland’s Caux Peace and Leadership Programme.
Antoine is a firm believer in the transformational power that young people have in changing today’s world. He is convinced that this is why it is important to equip ourselves with the right set of values, skills, and servant leadership. He aspires to work so all young voices are raised and heard in order to face the many challenges of the world.
Recent graduate Sala McCarthy-Stonex, 22, was born in Auckland, New Zealand. After her dad died in a car accident, Sala’s mum relocated the family to a Navajo reservation in Arizona, US, where they lived for about three years before moving to Laie, Hawaii. When she was 16, Sala started her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. She graduated in 2016 with a BS in Political Science, a minor in Japanese and certificates in Intercultural Peacebuilding and Mediation and Legal Studies. She went on to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and has just graduated from there with a Master of Public Administration and a Juris Doctor degree. She is currently exploring career opportunities in both the US and New Zealand. She plans to run for POTUS (President of the United States of America) in 2032, when she’s old enough.
Lorena Mier y Teran from Mexico is passionate about peacebuilding, inner development and raising awareness through dialogue and action. She seeks experiences that help her build connections with international individuals and storytellers, believing that listening and interacting with others are essential to her own growth.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is currently a Projects Coordinator at Michigan State University. She is also volunteering with Initiatives of Change, contributing to the unleashing of young people’s potential. There, she is surrounded by emerging leaders who work together on different projects aiming to inspire and encourage change-makers to take action in their communities.
Her newest co-founded project is called ‘We Love From’, an initiative inviting people to send handwritten letters of love and support to people in different destinations. This project also aims to create awareness of the challenges that people from different countries experience.
Rayan Swar is senior undergraduate student of Political science and international relations department , at Soran university. Has excellent background in leadership and debating, Currently in association with different international hubs and forums as well as being a fellow at NDI leadership program (Hassa shabab) in Iraq.
Rayan is passionate about human rights, gender equality, peacebuilding and Kurdish rights especially in relation to identity, culture and policy. She believes that people anywhere in the world should have the right to make decisions about their lives and supports civil society so that it may be the cornerstone of improved maintenance of public affairs in emerging societies and countries.. Rayan strives for a society that is open, informed, engaged and responsible with an active participation of youth in shaping a society where cultural, ethnic, racial and other differences are a source of enrichment rather than conflict.
Tanaka Mhunduru is a young man from Zimbabwe who is an active advocate for peace building and social change in the world. Tanaka has been involved with the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme for three years and he is always looking for ways to be of service to his community and the world. Since attending the CPLP in 2017, Tanaka has seen the power of global collaboration and has gained a much deeper respect for diversity and creativity when it comes to approaching the issues we see today in the world. Tanaka is also involved in small scale farming and he spends most of his time working with the youth in his church and community. His hobbies include playing music and sport.
Shrouk Gamal is a CEO and Founder of Yellow vs Blue initiative, a project manager/consultant with Equip. She is also a Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange certified facilitator, and works as a cross-culture dialogue facilitator with Soliya. Shrouk facilitates with NOW in Switzerland the Changemakers reflection groups. She is also a mentor with MCW Global in New York, US and a former Global-side mentor with HLAB in Japan.
Daniel Hugo, 22, is from from Cape Town, South Africa. Currently, he spends his time studying toward a degree in actuarial science at the university of Stellenbosch and helping to run a non-profit organisation called 60Cycles. He got involved with Creative Leadership somehow of by accident this year, but he feels this is one of the best strokes of luck he has had so far. The vision and idea behind the Creative Leadership excites him to his core.
Daniel has a passion for leadership and entrepreneurship and believes that no problem is too big to solve if you get the right group of people behind it. He looks forward to meeting like-minded individuals from all over the world!
Lilian Anold was born and raised in Tanzania with a background in tourism and wildlife. From an early age, Lilian grew up loving volunteering, wildlife, and adventures.
Traveling has changed the way she views the world, and it has helped her become more aware of her boundaries. She has been twice to Caux, Switzerland as a CPLP participant, and she is very excited to be part of the Creative Leadership journey. Lilian is looking forward to learn and share with everyone and help bring hope to our world. She is very grateful to Caux for transforming her life and planting a seed of understanding, respect, and love for others.
My name is Nour Diab and I work within a humanitarian organization serving refugees in Lebanon. We ensure that children are safe and get their rights. I’ve been involved with IofC since 2016. I took part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme for two summers in a row and it was a life-changing experience for me. I had the chance to learn more about leadership, connect with people and most importantly serve others. I am excited about this year’s virtual experience with Caux, especially the Creative Leadership conference.
Rachel Howden is currently living in Utah in the United States having completed her BA in Intercultural Peacebuilding and Anthropology from Brigham Young University in Oahu, Hawaii. Rachel is passionate about young people having the space and education to develop critical thinking skills and emotional literacy for building sustainable peace. She is honoured to participate in the Creative Leadership Conference and excited to collaborate with others to listen and learn under the IofC values. She explains how even though we cannot be at Caux again in person she is grateful to have this online opportunity to self-reflect, discuss and be inspired to use our power for good. She also mentioned how she knows that we can improve our families, communities, and environments when we apply our unique perspectives and skills.
Shadi Malak is a highly motivated global citizen who believes in the power of volunteering, self-development, compassion, and leading by example to promote human dignity and create a more peaceful world for all living beings. For many years he worked with refugees in Egypt as a legal assistant and educator, and currently works for a programme that offers capacity-building training to refugees. He holds a Master's degree in International Law and has a background in youth empowerment, curriculum designing, and development. Shadi loves to listen to other peoples' stories and believes that sharing stories can create miracles!
We are delighted that Maruee Pahuja from our Creative Leadership youth programme was nominated for the inaugural Love Force Awards at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad/India....
“As crises multiply, we are in dire need of courageous and ethical leadership!” said moderator Ahmad Fawai, in his opening words at the Peace Address, entitled “Rising Peacebuilders”. His words set th...
On 15 October 2024, Maruee Pahuja was a panelist at this year's Kofi Annan Peace Address where she discussed with Mary Robinson, first woman President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Huma...
In September 2024, Caux Initiatives of Change participated as a knowledge partner in the Global Ethics Forum, with contributions on 3 panels from Sidra Rislan, member of the Creative Leadership youth ...
How can singing make a difference in people's lives? Pioneering Egyptian musician Dalia Younis was a guest speaker at the Creative Leadership conference in 2022 where she talked about how she uses sin...
Afghan soccer player and women’s rights advocate Kawser Amine doesn’t believe in giving up. On International Women's Day 2023 she talks about her remarkable journey and her fight for every woman to be...
Creative Leadership 2022 guided participants on a six-day journey from healing to action. The conference took place online from 23 to 29 July – with a break day in between – and brought together aroun...
Arpan Yagnik, a participant of last year's Creative Leadership conference and team member of the IofC Hub 2021, talks to Mary Lean about creativity, fear and vocation. ...
How can we face times of uncertainty as individuals and as an organization? Anas Badawi from Y-Peer was one of four young leaders who presented their perspective on overcoming fear and responding to s...
2021’s Creative Leadership conference took participants on a six-day journey ‘From Uncertainty to Possibility’. Between 25 to 31 July around 150 online participants living in over 50 countries engaged...
'I have never been to Caux, because of visa issues. So when I received an email asking about the impact of the conference, I wrote as part of my reply, ‘Thank you for bringing Caux to us’. - Betty Nab...
'The conference showed me how much I really love to socialize with people. The members of our dialogue group asked me questions I never been asked before. This made me think about lots of things, in n...
Manuela Garay from Canada was part of the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme in 2017 and reflects on the impact her participation has had on her and her perspective on life and other people ever sin...
'This extraordinary conference has changed me to be more ambitious, intellectually honest and more consistent', said Hani Abou Fadel from Lebanon after his participation at last year's Creative Leader...
'I wouldn’t have imagined that with a piece of paper, a pencil and a little bit of your time and effort, you can really make a difference in someone else’s life!' - Georgina Flores and Lorena Mier y T...
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