Many of us want to make a difference to the world, yet feel isolated and powerless. But as the Turkish proverb goes: ‘What can one hand do? Two hands can make a sound!’
This year we are excited to introduce "Solidarity for the Future", a youth-led initiative that will take place in Caux, Switzerland during 18-24 July 2026. The event agenda will include sessions from the Global Fellowship Gathering 2026, while running youth-led spaces on its own.
It is an invitation to people aged between 18-35 interested to support each other throughout the coming decades in becoming the change they want to see in the world and challenging the status quo.
The main intention during this transformative seven-day, youth-led experience, is to focus on the topics that are aligned with and relevant to the participants’ interests rather than on guest speakers' interventions, thus defining the structure on creating spaces of exchange rather than content. We will think globally how to better act locally and design strategies for personal and global change.
This edition will be a pilot and more details about the event structure and programme will be available in due course.
Are you between 18 and 35 years old? Do you feel like you could contribute?
Tell us and join the programme!
Even more interested?
Join our team and help us make it come true!
JOIN US on 18 July - this year as part of the IofC Global Fellowship Gathering!
Ali Brestrich (Turkiye)
Ali Brestrich is a Turkish-qualified lawyer with a master’s degree in International Dispute Resolution. He works full-time at Müftüoğlu Law Office, where his main areas of expertise are energy and construction law. During his studies he participated in two Initiatives of Change programmes; the Young Ambassadors and the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme.
Aili Winstanley Channer (United Kingdom, France)
Aili is a writer and researcher focusing on the environment, society, religion, and culture. She is passionate about learning from history and philosophy in order to work towards building societies that support both social and ecological flourishing. She currently writes for the weekly magazine The Tablet and previously worked as a researcher for Al Jazeera’s earthrise series.
Leela Channer (United Kingdom, France)
Leela is a PhD student at the University of Exeter, researching how different animal species evolve and maintain cooperative relationships. She also works as a photographer, covering fieldwork, conferences, and workshops for organisations across Europe and Africa. Leela has contributed to Initiatives of Change’s work since 2016, particularly with the Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security.
Lisa Lou Cornet (Belgium)
Lisa Lou is a scholar and human rights practitioner. She studied in Germany, Argentina and India, then worked in international cooperation and human rights advocacy in Colombia and Tunisia. She pushes for European external actions based on law, cooperation and responsibility.
Lilan Dayananda (Sri Lanka)
Lilan is a social-tech entrepreneur. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Elzian Agro and has been named one of the top ten Social Entrepreneurs of the Global-South by four United Nations organisations. Forbes Magazine chose him for their ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ list in the social impact category.
Hani Abou Fadel (Lebanon)
Hani is a community builder, social scientist, poet and occasional hiphop artist. He has been working with youth engagement for many years – especially with Caux Foundation’s youth-led initiative, Creative Leadership. He has also been involved in the MENA’s UNDP Arab youth engagement for social development and youth engagement.
Hamza Ghandour (France, Lebanon)
Hamza is an ICF ACC-accredited coach specializing in personal and professional development. As the author of Transitions and Une histoire, différentes perspectives, he creates space for critical thinking and reflection, using an approach marked by empathy, active listening, and sensitivity to intercultural and intergenerational dynamics.
Jonas Truneh (UK)
Jonas is an international development practitioner working across the Global South. He focuses on programme design, strategic planning, and applied research across governance, economic reform, and conflict dynamics. Jonas became involved with the Caux Foundation through the Just Governance for Human Security conference, later returning as a Caux Scholar and programme coordinator.