"Inner Development for Outer Change" – A Heartfelt Dialogue at the International Day of Conscience

On 4 April, 2025, in honour of the International Day of Conscience, a unique and moving conversation unfolded at the Palais des Nations in Geneva between three voices from different parts of the world, united by a shared belief: lasting change in the world begins with transformation within.

Ignacio Packer (Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change), Saïd Touhami (LoveForce Ambassador and peace educator, Morocco/Netherlands), and Maruee Pahuja (Creative Leadership initiative of young leaders and LoveForce Ambassador, India) came together not to deliver speeches, but to hold space—for reflection, vulnerability, and deep listening.

This wasn’t your typical panel. Instead of statements and solutions, the conversation offered a quiet, reflective space—an intentional pause from the busy programme—where the audience was invited to slow down and tune into the inner dimensions of change-making.

A Conversation Rooted in Conscience

Ignacio Packer opened the space with a simple yet powerful question: "We often speak of changing the world, but how often do we reflect on the inner transformations needed to truly create that change?"

He spoke honestly about his personal struggles with staying present, and how long-distance running became his form of meditation in motion—a practice that taught him awareness, resilience, and clarity. “Leadership,” he said, “is a bit like running: it’s about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it’s hard, and staying connected to why we began.”

For Ignacio, being present, building inner clarity, and fostering emotional resilience are non-negotiable qualities for leaders seeking sustainable impact.

The Ocean in a Drop

Maruee Pahuja (India) brought in the perspective of the arts, creativity, and the collective journey of self-discovery. Quoting Rumi—“You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the ocean in a drop”—she reflected on her personal journey of picking up pastel colours one day in 2014, which unexpectedly opened the door to a deeper, playful, and healing connection with herself.

Since then, her path has led her to facilitate over 400 arts-based workshops globally, including initiatives in well-being, leadership, and peacebuilding. Maruee’s vision is clear: “There are as many ways to love as there are hearts. Inner development is personal—but when shared, it becomes a powerful collective force.” She invited the audience to imagine a world where expressive arts are not an extracurricular luxury but a gateway to empathy, healing, and conscious action.

Dialogue, Education, and Peace

Drawing from his background in international public policy and peace education, Saïd Touhami (Netherlands) brought in the essential role of dialogue and education. He asked: “What if schools didn’t just teach knowledge, but also inner development—empathy, deep listening, and emotional resilience?”

Having helped create the “School of Peace” in the Netherlands, inspired by Shaykh Khaled Bentounes' vision of a Culture of Peace, Saïd emphasized that true education must nourish the heart as much as the mind.

From Fear to Love: Leading with Conscience

One of the most resonant moments came when Ignacio posed a powerful question: “Am I leading from fear, or from love?”

This question, he explained, continues to shape his choices as a leader. Fear often drives us to control, to rush, to judge. But when we shift to leading from love—through compassion, curiosity, and presence—we build trust, connection, and transformation.

The dialogue didn’t offer quick fixes. Instead, it asked questions—soulful, sincere ones—inviting the audience to reflect.

To conclude, Maruee closed with a poetic reflection: “Great ideas, it is said, come into the world as gently as doves. Perhaps if we listen carefully, amid the uproar of nations, we might hear the flutter of wings—the gentle stirring of life and hope.”

A Seed Planted on the International Day of Conscience

Held as part of the Caux Initiatives of Change’s ongoing commitment to ethical leadership and inner transformation, this conversation was intended to plant seeds—of reflection, of community, and of quiet courage: Begin within. Be still. Then act.

Missed the event? Watch the replay on our YouTube channel

Maruee Pahuja is part of the Creative Leadership team of young leaders organising Reimagining Democracy(ies), a training course for young changemakers from 5 - 12 July 2025 at the Caux Democracy Forum. If you are aged 18 - 35, passionate about reshaping democracy and exploring its values, find out more and apply now! 

Maruee is also a member of the advisory committee of the Caux Arts and Peace Encounters event at the Caux Palace (12 – 14 May 2025) where she will be delivering a workshop on "Exploring Boundaries and Peace through Expressive Arts". You can be part of this conversation, deep-diving into the connection between the arts and peace! Discover the event and register here!

__________________________________________________________________________

IGNACIO PACKER is Executive Director of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, a Swiss private charitable foundation with the mission to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organizations from around the globe to engage effectively and innovatively in the promotion of trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security. Ignacio has over 30 years of experience in humanitarian work and development issues. He is an expert on human rights and social issues and has been strongly engaged in global advocacy on protection frameworks for migrants and refugees with a particular focus on children and youth.

MARUEE PAHUJA is an Expressive Arts Consultant, Process Facilitator, Visual Artist, and Eye-Care Practitioner dedicated to bridging science and the arts to foster healing, leadership, and peace. A core team member of Creative Leadership and consultant with the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, she designs and facilitates arts-based interventions for personal and collective transformation. With over 300 workshops held globally and collaborations with 25+ nonprofits, Maruee brings creativity and compassion to peacebuilding, wellbeing, and leadership. She has spoken at platforms like Geneva Peace Week and the Caux Democracy Forum. A prolific artist with over 5,000 multimedia works, she continues to explore the power of artistic expression to inspire change and resilience across cultures.

With a background in International Public Policy, SAID TOUHAMI is a dialogue-moderator, peace-educator, and chairman of the House of Peace based in the Netherlands where he also contributed to the creation of the public Elementary School of Peace, inspired by Shaykh Khaled Bentounes’ initiative for the Education for a Culture of Peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

For #IDC2025, we were proud to collaborate with BeTheLove, the Alliance Internationale des Objectifs du Développement Durable (AIODD), and many others, including the support of the City of Geneva and the Permanent Missions of Bahrain, France, Morocco & the Marshall Islands in Geneva.

 

Photos: Ines Mokdadi, Antonin Lechat, U. Ott Chanu