The Initiatives of Change Switzerland Foundation has received the sad news of the sudden death on Saturday 21 August of Marianne Spreng, who has been a mainstay of the IofC centre at Caux for half a century.

Thousands of people from every corner of the globe have walked through the doors of Caux Palace in Switzerland to be greeted warmly by Marianne, with a kind enquiry that encouraged and nurtured.

Marianne was a self-confessed introvert, but she fought that, and her voice was clear and strong, whether welcoming people from the stage, talking to people at the dinner table or chatting in the sunshine on the terrace. 

Her name springs to mind for many, many participants and conference team members, when they recall important encounters in Caux. She was unimpeded by the switch to the virtual world brought by the pandemic and was a constant steady presence in online international meetings and events, offering her wisdom and sharp intellect through all the challenges of the last two years. 

Marianne embodied Muriel Smith’s and Ann Buckles’ song ‘The world walked into my heart‘ and her passion for people and situations all over the globe was undimmed at the age of 74. India, Italy, Ukraine, Egypt and Japan were just a few of the countries she committed to support and frequently visited. The flood of messages expressing shock and grief at the news of her death offer just a glimpse of the impact of her enduring selfless dedication to Initiatives of Change – the friendships she built, the programmes she supported, the events she made possible. Her wisdom, love of languages (and endurance as an interpreter), wit and sound instincts will be sorely missed.  

Perhaps most of all, she was a proud and joyful Swiss. She and her husband, Christoph, were a formidable partnership of love and action. Their playful relationship provided a beacon of light and hope for those around them who wanted to find a strong healthy life partnership. As we recognize her incredible contribution and the huge hole she leaves behind, we think especially of Christoph and of her sister, Monica, at this very sad time.  

The Council of the IofC Switzerland Foundation, which she served faithfully for many years, salutes both Marianne and Christoph, and honours the wonderful legacy that she, and they, have created.  

Rest in peace, Marianne.

Marianne Spreng
19.07.1947 – 21.08.2021

Memorial Service:
10 September 2021 at 01:30 pm CEST
Lukaskirche, Morgartenstr. 16, 6003 Luzern (behind the main station)
Maximum occupancy of 100 people due to Covid-19 restrictions

By Alan Channer

The Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 brought together 29 participants from 20 countries. From Egypt and Senegal to the United States and Thailand, zoom windows opened for six hours every day for five days during the last week of July. The course was co-organized and convened by Anna Brach, Head of Human Security at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy Dr Alan Channer, a peacebuilding and environment specialist with Initiatives of Change, and Louise Brown, Founding Director of Triple Capital in Namibia.

Watch the replay of the first plenary (26 July 2021)

The Summer Academy, which takes place within the framework of the annual Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security (CDES), was conceived in response to the threats to human security posed by the climate and environmental crises. It is based on the premise that both interdisciplinary solutions and collaboration across boundaries of discipline, sector and nation state are needed to respond to these crises.

The course provides an overview of core concepts in the fields of human security, sustainable land management, climate change and climate finance, and explores potential solutions at the nexus of conflict, land degradation and climate change. It consists of high-level webinars, case studies and intensive group work.

Running through each Summer Academy is a focus on the enabling factors that are often critical to the implementation of solutions on the ground – appropriate policy, effective governance, property rights, technology, access to finance, data, knowledge, transparency, local ownership, trust and collaboration. Both the core concepts and these ‘enablers’ were illustrated with case studies from the real world.

Second plenary (27 July 2021)

Aiban Swer, Director of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, and Bremley Lyngdoh, CEO of Worldview Impact, described how government and civil society in the North East Indian state of Meghalaya are endeavoring to assure the land rights of indigenous communities in the face of mining interests, climate change and insecurity.

Tom Duncan, CEO of Earthbanc, a digital banking platform for impact investment and green bonds, described how his company is pioneering methodologies to bridge ‘the last mile of climate finance’ and reward small-scale farmers in Meghalaya for implementing regenerative agriculture.

Hilma Angula, of the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resource Management Support Organizations (NACSO), Johanna Hainaina, of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, and Karine Nuulimba of Maliasili shared experiences of community-based natural resource management in Namibia, which have improved rural livelihoods and increased numbers of wildlife over large swathes of previously degraded land. They highlighted the benefits of devolving land rights, incentives and responsibilities to local communities, explained how good policies can empower local governance and discussed the role of climate finance in amplifying local solutions.

Dr Dhanasree Jayarman, Assistant Professor of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India, Dr Chad Briggs from the University of Alaska and Dr Serge Stroobants, Director for Europe and the MENA regions for the Institute of Economics and Peace, explored how climate and security interact in their regions, drawing out both differences and common principles.

Group work focused on generating interdisciplinary solutions to specific problems – for example, insecurity exacerbated by climate change in the Sahel, land degradation and farmer-pastoralist conflict in Nigeria, and seawater inundation in a small Pacific Island state. During the final group exercise, teams elaborated and pitched project proposals on solutions which they themselves had identified, based on what they had learnt during the week.

Each Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security is the beginning of further exchanges, networking and potential collaboration. The Summer Academy alumni network now has 74 members. It embodies the will to work for a secure and sustainable future for humanity, based on shared values of dialogue, mutual respect and collaboration.

Summaries of the three high-level webinars, which featured global authorities on the subjects at hand, can be read here.

Final plenary (28 July 2021)

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What they said

'I had to get up at 4am every morning [in Bolivia]. I didn't think I could do it but the course and the participants gave me the energy.'

‘The course was comprehensive and interactive, combining learning and sharing.’

'It was like a miracle. I had been wanting to do a course just like this.'

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The Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 was made possible through the generous support of the Africa Climate Change Fund of the African Development Bank, the Silvia Zuber Fund, in-kind support from the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and individual gifts.

• Discover more on the Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security
• Find out more about the Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security
• Learn more about the Caux Forum Online 2021
• Find out more about our events and programmes
• All our videos on YouTube

By Karina Cheah

The Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security (CDES) 2021 ran online from 20 July until 30 July, for the second consecutive year, comprising three open plenaries and seven workshops. This year’s discussions, in collaboration with the United Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), the Africa Climate Change Fund of the African Development Bank, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and Triple Capital, centred on ‘Remaking a World in Peril: forging the collaboration for a secure and sustainable world’.

Almost 300 participants from each region of the world attended the 10 events, organized by the Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace executive team. Discussions addressed climate change, plastic waste, oceans, conflict prevention, trustbuilding and land restoration, under the broader themes of sustainable living, environmental leadership and human security.

The open plenaries were carried out in partnership with the Summer Academy on Climate, Land and Security 2021 and co-organized with the GCSP and Triple Capital. (read the full report on the Summer Academy here)

One workshop, on 21 July, was held in French and organized in collaboration with the Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). (read the report here)

Speakers hailed from numerous organizations including the United Nations, the European Union, the Institute of Economics and Peace, the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, the World Resources Institute, the Rwanda Green Fund, Vlinder Climate, Beta Earth, the Rethink Plastic Alliance, the Global Evergreening Alliance and REGENERATE Forum.

The panelists drew many questions from a varied and engaged audience, generating exciting and thought-provoking conversations. CDES 2021 inspired hope for solutions and opened the door to possibilities for innovation from future leaders. New collaborations have been formed and the dialogues will continue to stimulate action and change.   

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Plenary 1: Navigating Climate Peril: what kind of leadership will it take?

The message from this plenary, moderated by Anna Brach, was urgent: climate leadership is needed now. It will take a lot of work to achieve, as the discussion between our panelists established. Dr Martin Frick, Mukhtar Ogle and Major General Muniruzzaman (Retd.) highlighted that grassroots activists must be integrated into solutions and decision-making processes, and leadership in governments must be horizontally and vertically integrated for constant communication. Climate change is a complex problem and will require complex leadership structures and solutions. Rising young leaders are well equipped to meet the challenge.

When: Monday 26 July 2021

Chair: Ms Anna BRACH, Head of Human Security, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)

Speakers:

• Dr Martin FRICK, Deputy to the Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 at United Nations (video message)
• Mr Mukhtar A. OGLE, Secretary, Strategic Initiatives Department of Cabinet Affairs Office in Executive Office of the President, Kenya
• Major General MUNIRUZZAMAN (Retd), Chairman, Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change (GMACCC) and President, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS)

Plenary 2: From Evidence to Impact: advancing solutions for landscapes, livelihoods and peace

The spirit of Caux took centre stage in this plenary moderated by Alan Channer. It highlighted the strong need to empower individuals, create stories and build bridges between governments and communities for indigenous solutions to problems of peace and security.

Luc Gnacadja, Steve, Steve Killilea and Dr Antje Herrberg emphasized the importance of connecting environment and ‘positive peace’ with issues of migration, violence and food insecurity. Regenerating our societies to meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century requires an understanding of the bigger systems they depend upon.

When: Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Chair: Dr Alan CHANNER, Initiatives for Land, Lives and Peace

Speakers:

• Mr Steve KILLELEA, Founder & Executive Chairman, Institute of Economics and Peace
• Dr Antje HERRBERG, Senior Mediation Advisor, European External Action Service
• Mr Luc GNACADJA, Design 4 Sustainability, Past Executive Secretary of the UNCCD (2007-2013), Minister of Environment and Urban Development (Benin, 1999-2005)

Plenary 3: Empowering local solutions through climate finance

Moderator Louise Brown guided a discussion between Prof. Saleemul Huq, David Jackson and Teddy Mugabo, which highlighted a key missing piece in climate finance mechanisms, which are currently concentrated on central and global institutions.

There must be a means of getting resources to local levels which have the mandate, capacity and responsibility to address climate adaptation. There must also be mechanisms for holding all institutions accountable to climate adaptation, which will mark key changes in the way we live.

When: Wednesday 28 July 2021

Chair: Louise BROWN, Founding Director, Triple Capital, Namibia

Speakers:

• Prof. Saleemul HUQ, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) in Bangladesh
• Mr David JACKSON, Director of Local Development Finance at the UN Capital Development Fund
• Ms Teddy MUGABO, CEO of the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA)

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Workshop 1: Plastics and Single-Use Consumption: inspiring systematic change through personal transformation

Three panelists shared their personal journeys in changing consumption practices and spoke about the importance of community values and education around waste management practices and sustainable development.

Key takeaways from the panel and breakout rooms included the importance of seeking accountability from polluters, the fact that every actor has a different drive for change and the need to have love and respect for everything surrounding us. The workshop was moderated by Sofia Sydorenko.

When: Tuesday 20 July 2021

Moderator: Sofia SYDORENKO, representative of Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine and Foundations for Freedom

Speakers:

• Justine MAILLOT - Policy Coordinator at Rethink Plastic Alliance and Break Free From Plastic
• Jack MCQUIBAN - Zero Waste Cities Programme Coordinator at Zero Waste Europe
• Anna PONIKARCHUK - Co-Founder of the first zero waste shop in Ukraine, Ozero

Workshop 2: Synergies in Security: soldiers, climate warriors and peacemakers 

In this workshop, moderated by Peter Rundell, panelists spoke on the complex relations between land, community, conflict and climate change, particularly in West African countries.

Some key takeaways were the importance of building trust between the multitude of local actors, and the growing need to integrate climate concerns into security and land governance discussions. Participants committed to work together on these challenges in the coming months.

When: 21 July 2021

Moderator: Dr Peter RUNDELL, CBE FSS, Conflict and Strategy Advisor

Speakers:

• Dr Camilla TOULMIN, Senior Fellow, IIED and author of several books including Climate Change in Africa
• Dr Leena HOFFMANN, Chatham House, Senior Fellow at Evergreening Global Alliance
• Dr Tobias IDE, Murdoch University, author of numerous articles including The Dark Side of Environmental Peacebuilding (2020)
• Dr Olivia Lazard, Carnegie Europe

Workshop 3: Catalyzing Political and Community-based Solutions for Land Governance in West and Central Africa: a pathway to peace and prosperity

This interactive exchange, co-organized with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affaires (FDFA), was based on concrete experiences of the cross-cutting dimensions of land governance in West and Central Africa. The intersection between land governance and food security, environmental degradation, climage resilience, transhumance, protected areas, natural resource extraction, resource competition, marginalisation and armed conflict, amongst others, was explored with the objective of stimulating fresh thinking, strengthening regional collaboration and contributing to generating policy shifts for a brighter future for the region.

Read the full report about this workshop here.

When: Wednesday 21 July 2021

Moderator: Luc GNACADJA, Founder and President of the think tank GPS-Dev (Governance & Policies for Sustainable Development); former Execytive Secretary of the UNCCD (2007 - 2013); former Minister of Environment and Urban Development (Benin, 1999-2005)

Co-organizers: Dr Alan CHANNER, Peacebuilding, Environment & Communications Specialist, and Carol MOTTET, Senior Advisor, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

Panel:

• Boubacar BA, Director, Centre d'Analyse sur la Gouvernance et la Sécurité au Sahel/ONG Éveil - Mopti, Mali
• Ousseyni KALILOU, Co-chair of the Forest Interest Group (FIG), Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAX), Niger/USA
• Salima MAHAMOUDOU (Niger), Research Associate, Global Restoration Initiative, World Resources Institute, Washington DC, US
• Abdoulaye MOHAMADOU, Executive Secretary, Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel - CILSS

Workshop 4: Harnessing Nature-based Solutions to Restore Land and Lives

‘[Conflicts are the] consequences, not causes of instability.’: The panelists of this workshop shared previous successes in implementing Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and other nature-based regeneration in the Sahel region of Africa and how these successes can inspire future land restoration and conflict resolution. They stressed the importance of working with communities to transform indigenous knowledge into a vision of regeneration. The workshop was moderated by Patrick Worms.

When : Thursday 22 July 2021

Moderator: Patrick WORMS, Senior Science Policy Advisor, CIFOR-ICRAF; Senior Fellow, Global Evergreening Alliance; President, European Agroforestry Federation

Speakers:

• Natalie TOPA, Global Advisor for Regenerative Resilience and Circular Bioeconomy, Danish Refugee Council                                   
• Sarah TOUMI, UNCCD GGW Accelerator                                 
• Paul TAYLOR, Senior Fellow, Friends of Europe                    
• Dennis GARRITY, Founder, Global Evergreening Alliance  

Workshop 5: Heads, Hearts and Habits  

Pinaki Dasgupta moderated a workshop on 3H (Heads, Hearts and Habits), whose overall philosophy  is to inspire and develop consciousness through a journey from inner self to outer space. Our thoughts and actions can be an anchor for peace and nature conservation.

The key message was the need to amplify peace from a personal practice to a global level, so as to enhance well-being and inspire nature conservation. Participants were exposed to the transformational leadership tool of the Life Balance Sheet and to creative, out-of-the-box thinking. Watch out for the full report coming up soon.

When: Thursday 22 July 2021

Moderator: Pinaki DASGUPTA

Facilitators: Dilip PATEL and Archana DUBEY

Workshop 6: Regeneration through Innovation: blending technology and decentralized business models

The question at the centre of this workshop was: ‘How do we develop solutions to include local communities and equip and empower them to be long-term environmental stewards?’ In a discussion moderated by Lauren Fletcher, the consensus response was that it is critical to take a needs-based approach. In understanding a community’s needs, it is easier and more efficient to work with local experts and discuss what technologies can be ‘married’ to the right solutions and the right environments.

When: Friday 23 July 2021

Moderator: Dr. Lauren FLETCHER, co-founder Beta Earth Venture Studio,  Steering Group member of Initiatives of Land, Lives and Peace

Speakers:

• Sonja BETSCHART, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of WeRoboticsa US/Swiss based non-profit organization
• Sergei IVLIEV, Co-Founder of Vlinder, a blue carbon blockchain-driven company
• Habiba ALI, CEO of Sosai Renewable Energies in Nigeria

Workshop 7: REGENERATE: from soil to soul to economy

This workshop was dedicated to exploring the personal and collective transition toward a regenerative economy. Key takeaways included the importance of connecting business with the regenerative farming world and the need for a global effort to generate global impact. The final message was that our current system is not fit for purpose: instead of mending the old one, we should work together to create a new, regenerative one.

When: Tuesday 27 July 2021

Hosts: 

• Dr. Jan-Gisbert SCHULTZE, Venture Capitalist & Founder REGENERATE Forum
• Katharina SERAFIMOVA, Social Enterpreneur & Co-Founder REGENERATE Forum

Regenerative Pioneers: 

• Alan LAUBSCH, Entrepreneur, Connector, Impact Investor
• Benedikt BÖSEL, Regenerative Farmer

Moderators:

• Oswald KÖNIG, Social Innovator, Facilitator & Weaver
• Theo FISCHER, Facilitator of Radical Change & regenerative wine-maker

We would like to thank all participants and panelists for a wonderful and engaging conference, and we look forward to continuing these discussions throughout the year!

• Discover more on the Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security
• Learn more about the Caux Forum Online 2021
• Find out more about our events and programmes
• All our videos on YouTube

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 in meaningful dialogue, listened to inspirational stories and gained tools from experienced speakers. At the heart of it all, the Creative Leadership conference offered space for inner reflection and network building.

The conference was a response to the worldwide sense of unrest and change after the events of 2020. The Creative Leadership team were certain that NOW was the time for rising generations to step forward with confidence, learn how to deal with their troubles, and take part in the critical choices that will shape their future.

The Team

The inspiration for the Creative Leadership conference came from more than 250 young changemakers of 98 nationalities, who have taken part in the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme (CPLP) in recent years.

This year’s conference was developed by an international group of ten passionate changemakers who follow the values of Initiatives of Change, with the support of 16 facilitators. Six other team members offered assistance, as did the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme team, the Caux Forum and the team of IofC Switzerland.

The Journey

The Creative Leadership conference enlisted eight human library speakers, 11 webinar speakers, three workshop hosts, four quiet time space holders, and three musicians, who all hosted remarkable sessions. Below is a glimpse of what took place.

Watch the replay of the Opening Session (25 July 2021)

Dialogue Groups

This year, the Dialogue Groups embarked on a four-step journey. First, participants explored the sources of their uncertainties through guided meditations and reflections. They then moved on to choosing which of their uncertainties to explore throughout the conference and sat with them, observing how this felt, without instantly reaching outwards. In the third session, participants started to explore ways of transcending these troubles and moving forward into hope through sharing their stories. On the last day, they wrapped up the week’s journey and focused on unearthing their courage and hope.

Each set of facilitators had the freedom to shape their Dialogue Group according to their own facilitation style. This mean that every group tailored its own unique space and built its own special connection of trust. Some of the reactions shared on the last day were:

‘Throughout the journey, we focused on being more positive, action-focused. As we pictured moving forward, we focused on those things that help ground us and help us find purpose. As we find perspective and shift our attitude, we can think about how we can actively take control of our lives and stimulate progress. I've walked away feeling inspired and with a vast global community who relate to me and I relate to.’

- Participant

‘We learnt that coming out of the troubles during our journey we have to have courage and empathy to go to our destiny, and to empower others.’

- Participant

‘I felt like I was a little rock that was close to the bank of a flowing river. There was some sort of divine intervention, some force that picked up that rock and threw it closer to the flowing water. The flowing water is the Creative Leadership experience, which is filled with so many good things, and now I am being constantly washed and purified. Re-learning and unlearning. That is how I would summarize my experience.’

- Participant

Human Libraries

In the two Human Libraries events, changemakers from eight countries shared their stories, in the context of personal, societal, national or international challenges.

Under the theme of Holding the Troubles, four human books shared stories about the challenges they faced growing up, due to cultural or community traditions, personal difficulties and restrictions. Ehab Badawi (Syria), Merna Mustafa (Egypt), Rajendra Senchurey (Nepal) and Rathung Ngullie (India) each shared in around 10 minutes how they had stepped out of their troubles and found hope, starting from acceptance and forgiveness. They described how they had explored the path of possibilities that led to action and to change in themselves and the community around them.

The second human library, on the fourth day, took the theme of Transforming Fear and Uncertainty into Hope. Batol Gholami (Afghanistan), Marienne Makoudem Tene (Cameroon), Nader Akoum (Lebanon) and Trokon Mcgee (Liberia) shared their experiences in breakout rooms.

Discover the Human Library session with Nader Akoum from Lebanon

Trokon Mcgee, who is an alumnus of the Caux Scholars Programme, offered some tips that had helped him move from uncertainty to possibility. He encouraged participants to be confident in their skills, to keep trying to find means to overcome challenges and never to forget to extend a helping hand. He described how his mission to support his family and help educate his siblings motivated him to rise above his challenges.

Marienne Makoudem Tene spoke about her life in Cameroon and her journey to becoming a changemaker and helping other people to become creators of peace. ‘The best weapon I have been using to overcome fear and uncertainty is service to others, ‘ she said. ‘Serving others is useful from two perspectives. First, when you serve others, you discover yourself. Second, they have the opportunity to discover you.’ She also shared a statement from the UNESCO constitution: ‘Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.’ This had helped her understand what she can and cannot do, and had helped to answer her feeling of being powerless.

Webinars

The webinars offered participants the chance to listen to experienced changemakers from around the world.

Webinar 1: Facing Uncertainty

The first webinar, Facing Uncertainty, featured representatives from Y-Peer, who engage with local communities to empower women and girls, advocating for gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, meaningful youth engagement and broader democratic participation. The four speakers – Anuki Mosiashvili (Georgia), Anas Badawi (Syria), Ghaith Sandouk (Syria), and Guncha Annageldieva (Turkmenistan) – shared their uncertainties as individuals and as an organization. They asserted that, to overcome challenges, it was important to understand who we are. Confronting our mental barriers enables us to make the decisions which lie at the core of uncertainty.

Webinar 2: Holding the Troubles

The second webinar, on Holding the Troubles, was hosted by the Academic Director of the Caux Scholars Program, Dr Carl Stauffer, who has practised trauma healing, nonviolence, restorative justice and reconciliation for three decades in 37 countries.

He emphasized the importance of taking care of oneself so as to be able to help others, and stressed the need to understand oneself and to come to terms with the past, by recognizing the pain, hurt and hate that exists within. He also used personal stories to illustrate the fact that trauma doesn’t only affect those directly involved in violence or disasters, but also people who have been exposed to those situations second hand.

Webinar 3: Transforming Fear and Uncertainty into Possibility

The final webinar brought back Rodrigo Martínez Romero (Mexico), who had taken part in last year’s conference, and his team from Spiritual Politics: Angelika Kobl (Germany), Lázaro Valiente (Mexico), Paola Schietekat (Mexico), Pepe García (Mexico), and Sujith Ravindran (India). They shared with vulnerabilty from their experiences of Transforming Fear and Uncertainty into Possibility. They took participants on the journey of personal and societal healing, highlighting the importance of love and empathy in politics, and of listening to the voice within us.

Workshops

This year’s conference included two workshops, which provided an interactive safe space, where participants were offered knowledge, tools and new concepts. The aim was to spur participants to further investigation and to support them on their leadership journey.

Workshop 1: Holding the Troubles

The first workshop, with the theme of Holding the Troubles, focused on deep listening and staying present in times of trouble and uncertainty. The workshop was designed and facilitated by Agnes Otzelberger and Neil Oliver from the Tools for Changemakers team. They posed two questions: ‘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?’ Participants reflected on these questions in small groups, learning from each other’s experiences. The workshop encouraged participants to involve their whole self – body, heart and mind – in understanding their responses to stressful situations and offered them techniques for remaining present, resilient and connected at such times.

Workshop 2: Transforming Fear and Uncertainty into Hope

The second workshop, with the theme of Transforming Fear and Uncertainty into Hope, was designed and facilitated by Maruee Pahuja, an Expressive Arts facilitator who is studying for a Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School. She used music, creative writing, drawing and body movement to help participants find creative ways of dealing with fear and uncertainty.

Quiet Time

Taking time in moments of quiet reflection is a core practice of Initiatives of Change, and one of the best ways to introspect, connect with one’s inner self and others. Creative Leadership 2021 began each day with a collective quiet time.

In these 30-minute sessions, participants had the chance to explore several approaches to stillness, ranging from reflections based on songs or texts to guided questions related to each day’s theme and with room for general sharing. Each Quiet Time facilitator brought their own definition, experience and practice. This allowed participants to explore different ways of practicing inner reflection. They were encouraged to take what worked for them into their day- to-day lives.

Tea Time

At the end of each day, an optional informal space, the so-called Tea Time, was offered, where participants could engage in conversations with webinar and human library speakers in breakout rooms. They could also join unguided breakout rooms, for culture sharing, international music jam sessions and art sessions.

These tea times were ranked second to dialogue groups as the most successful sessions of the conference.

Moving Forward

The Creative Leadership conference offered a total of 24 hours programming over seven days.

After the conference, 11 participants expressed interest in helping develop next year's conference, and many participants wanted to continue conversations that had started during the conference.

To keep the conversatin going, Rodrigo and the team of Spiritual Politics will connect with some of Creative Leadership participants on Saturday, 28 August from 14.00 to 15.30 CEST to continue to explore how to support changemakers in heart-driven changes in their communities.

The Creative Leadership team will also continue to offer Quiet Times on Whatsapp.

Other opportunities for connection include a reunion in six months’ time, events related to inner development and leadership, and sessions during the Geneva Peace Week in November.

Stay in touch

You can connect with the Creative Leadership team on

• Email: creativeleadership@cauxforum.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeLeadershipConference
• Instagram: @creative_leadership1

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Find out more about Creative Leadership 2021

Discover all Caux Forum Online 2021 events

Learn more about the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme (CPLP)