As the CTII community, we’d like to congratulate our friends at SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environmental Institute) on their celebration of 20 years of bringing faith communities together to care for people and the planet. We know that our faith traditions point us to care and protect the Earth, and our voices and actions are even greater when we collaborate across faith traditions.
Continue reading “SAFCEI: 20 years of faith environmental activism”
July News
Dear friends and members of CTII,
This is a reminder that the CTII AGM will take place on Wednesday 30th July at 6pm, at the Turquoise Harmony Institute, Rondebosch.
This will be an important moment of celebration and transition as we mark 25 years of CTIIs interfaith action in Cape Town, honour where we have come today, and share what is needed for the road ahead. We are looking forward to welcoming you there.
Please RSVP here if you would like to attend the AGM. You can view the AGM Agenda here.
Please note that in order to have voting rights at the AGM, you need to be a signed up member of CTII. Please complete the 2025 membership form here.
Further details will be shared with those who RSVP to attend.
In deep appreciation,
CTII Interim Board
Recent Stories and Action
Mid-winter Interfaith Walk: Ubuntu and Compassion
Ubuntu and Compassion”, was the theme of the mid-winter Interfaith Walk, offering members an opportunity to connect in nature with moments of reflection, shared compassion, and community spirit. Interfaith dialogue in action – Read more here.
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3 Dialogues – Equality, Sustainability and Solidarity
Our 3 dialogue series – addressing themes of the G20 Interfaith Forum – have allowed for deepened connection, conversation and thoughtful recommendations to be shared. Read about the session on Equality and Sustainability and join us for our third one on Aug 6th – Solidarity (RSVP here).
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Schools Programme: Indigeneity and Identity
Following an introduction from Bishop Augustine Joemath at the Moravian Church in District Six, the June session of the Grade 10 programme allowed learners the opportunity to explore the concepts of indigeneity and identity. This was graciously done through the stories of Zebada, Cecil and Pippa from the CTII community. Read each of their contributions here.
Upcoming Events
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Join us in conversation with Horst Kleinschmidt and Cecil Plaatjies, for our third dialogue session on the theme of Solidarity. August 6th, at 6.30pm at the Turquoise Harmony Institute. RSVP to attend
Cecil Plaatjies is an educator, originally trained as a high school teacher. He is also a workplace coach and private tutor. He is a Nichiren Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International. He is also a member of The Theosophical Society. His focus is spiritual practice on the grassroots level and the application of spiritual practices as personal and collective transformation tools.
Horst Kleinschmidt has been an activist all his life. He fought against apartheid and for the rights and dignity of the oppressed people of his country. For this he went to jail and then into exile. In exile he represented Beyers Naudé and became the head of International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF). Post 1994 he worked in the service delivery and human rights sectors and for Government as head of the Fisheries Department.
Keep an eye on the CTII calendar on our website (click here) for all upcoming interfaith activities.
Grade 11 program session 2
Date: 8 May 2025
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: THI Offices
The second session of the Grade 11 program brought together faith, action, and dialogue under the theme Compassionate Service & Interfaith Solidarity. We were honoured to be joined online by three inspiring guest speakers from across the globe: Anum Mulla, Global Youth Strategist at the Charter for Compassion (India); Samira Baručija, Program Coordinator at United Religions Initiative (Bosnia and Herzegovina); and Kaluki Paul Mutuku, environmental scientist and activist (Kenya). Each brought powerful personal stories of navigating faith, activism, and ethical decision-making in their respective contexts.
This session also marked a special moment for the team as we welcomed Imaad Abrahams to the facilitation team. Imaad is an alumnus of the program and is currently completing his degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Cape Town. We are fortunate to have Imaad join us — his lived experience in the program, deep commitment to his faith, and academic grounding bring a richness that will greatly support this year’s Grade 11 cohort.
Following the speaker panel, learners engaged in a short debrief, exploring what compassion and peacebuilding mean in practice. Students shared that peace “cannot be built alone,” and that compassion requires us to “see the humanity in others,” especially when working across difference. The conversation highlighted how faith and dialogue serve as anchors in this work — offering both guidance and a sense of belonging.
Although time only allowed for one scenario per group, learners participated in the Compassion Labyrinth — a gamified experience designed to explore ethical dilemmas through different societal roles. This activity prompted students to think critically about moral tensions, social responsibility, and the everyday choices that reflect (or challenge) compassion.
During the closing circle, learners reflected on the value of interfaith spaces and the shared struggles and hopes they saw mirrored in other communities. One student noted, “More compassion could help us solve the bigger problems,” while another remarked, “Compassion is not real until you do it.” These reflections captured the spirit of the day — a growing awareness that compassion is not only about helping others, but also about sustaining ourselves and making intentional choices, as young people, to serve with integrity and care.
Schools visit Siva Aalayam Hindu temple
“This is the sum of duty. Do not unto others that which would cause you pain if done to you” (Mahabharata 5, 1517 – 15th century BC)
In an exceptionally busy time for the CTII Schools Program, a day after the half day camp, we visited Siva Aalayam Hindu temple (சிவ ஆலயம்) in Rylands, Cape Town.
Continue reading “Schools visit Siva Aalayam Hindu temple”CTII Response to Religious Atrocity, Burkina Faso
Cape Town Interfaith Initiative (CTII) is appalled by an incident of religious extremism in Burkina Faso on 11 January which resulted in the execution of nine senior members of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Mahdiabad, Burkina Faso.
Imam Bidiga Boureima and eight elders were amongst their community preparing for Isha prayers when their mosque was invaded by extremists declaring the Ahmadis to be infidels. Imam Boureima was taken to another venue where he was questioned about other Ahmadiyya communities in Burkina Faso. He was then taken back to his mosque where he and the elders were threatened with death unless they renounced Ahmadiyyat. The Imam refused, and was executed. One by one, the elders also refused to renounce their religion and were executed. We understand that following further threats, more than 600 community members fled the village.
Our hearts share the grief of the Ahmadii community worldwide, and we denounce religious persecution in all forms. None of our religions call us to hate, and all of our religions promote peace, tolerance and compassion.
We further declare our abhorrence of violent extremism in any form.
Cape Town Interfaith Initiative stands with our colleagues at the Ahmadiyya Jama’at of South Africa at this tragic time. We redouble our efforts to bring about religious understanding through dialogue, through our Interfaith/Intercultural Schools Programme and through continually bringing together people of diverse religions to pray and take action together for the greater good.
This horrific atrocity highlights the need for communities of diverse religions to protect one another by building community and personal relationships that unite us all as a human race, no matter which religion we choose to follow. Religious freedom is a constitutionally protected right which we are committed to upholding.
All crises and tragedies have a hidden potential for us to learn. May we as humanity, and as Africans, explore the timeless ethos of Ubuntu, in which all our divisions are shown to be ultimately illusory.
We call on all religious communities to redouble their efforts at seeking larger circles of inclusion and peace, both within their own traditions as well as beyond them.
CTII adheres to the principles of the Charter for Compassion which states: “The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves”.
When we lose the right to be different, we lose the right to be free. – Nelson Mandela