Cecil Plaatjies Cape Town activities, Choir and music, CTII Schools Programme

Boundless Compassion with Mingyur Rinpoche: Cecil’s view

Last night (Thursday 28th August) was such an awesome interfaith event. Thank you to Alex (Kunkhyen), the Boundless Compassion team and all who helped to make it the success it was.

Thank you to Zebada for representing the indigenous people of this country so well. Rinpoche certainly connected with Ubuntu, the African version of Dependent Origination. Tibetans are also indigenous people, who are resisting erasure from a dominant colonial power.

The same goes for the representatives from the Nguni spirituality. Tibetan Buddhism is a mix of Himalayan Shamanism and Indian Buddhism.

Thank you Nima for holding the intrafaith space. You handled it with poise and grace.

Aydin does not speak much, but beautifully connected Boundless Compassion from a Muslim perspective with that of Buddhism. The Buddhist-Muslim dialogue is important. It already happens in places like Malaysia. South African Islam had it roots in a country where Buddhist, Hindu and Animist spirituality formed the ground.

Thank you to Rabbi Andi for holding the space for the Jewish-Buddhist connection in her own gentle way.

Many thanks to all the faith leaders and other representatives who came in support of this momentous interfaith event

The choir was on fire! The dedication and your hours of practice, showed. This is one of the best vehicles to promote CTII and our interfaith activities.

Where else, but in Cape Town can you find a Muslim father singing in a choir with his Buddhist son!

I am so proud of the youth from our schools programme. Thanks Pippa. Thank you to all the facilitators, teachers and elders who made it possible. There was nervousness – it was a big occasion in the bastion of interfaith activity, but you all came out on top. Well done to the CTII Youth!

Last but certainly not the least, thank you to Mingyur Rinpoche for gracing our shores with your presence. It is a privilege to have you here. The Dharma will expand, because of you being here.

I really enjoyed the chanting of the Om Mani.

I hope that by now, someone made Rinpoche some mielie pap. I got the sense that he wants another food example to use in his explanations of Buddhism. Something other than his usual, pizza stories. 😁

I wasn’t there last night , but I enjoyed the event on screen and I look forward to meeting Rinpoche in person next week.

Babalwa Ngcongolo CTII Schools Programme

Schools Program (Gr 11) – St Georges Cathedral

This year, the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative’s  Grade 11 Youth Interfaith Intercultural Program has been guided by the theme “Local Heart, Global Eyes.” Throughout the year, students have explored compassion as an anchor for Ubuntu-centred interfaith activism for peace and justice. 

The Grade 11 program visited St Georges Cathedral on Thursday 14th August. St Georges is a site of sacred struggle, from which much activism against Apartheid sprang, especially under the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The program has evolved into a leadership journey, helping participants recognise the broader interfaith community and its connection to global movements for peace. Through reflection, dialogue, and action, students have been encouraged to see themselves not only as active contributors within their local communities but also as part of a wider network working toward collective global impact.

Ambassador Mussie meets the students

The timing of the most recent session coincided with the close of the G20 Interfaith Forum IF20, providing a unique opportunity for students to engage with global perspectives. The program featured two special guests: Grace Chilongo, a climate change activist from Malawi and G20 participant, and Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Africa Director for URI and Special Representative to the UN and AU. Both highlighted the global network of young interfaith leaders and the impact of faith-based collaboration on international agendas for peace and justice.

Laurie Gaum “in da Cathedral”

As part of the experience, students visited St George’s Cathedral, where Laurie Guam led a tour that brought the space’s rich history and significance to life. Following the tour, students engaged deeply with The Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong, interpreting the text through discussions, reflections, and creative exercises. This activity encouraged participants to consider how principles of compassion can be applied in tangible ways, both locally and globally.

Timelapse: Walking the labyrinth

The session offered a powerful demonstration of the energy, insight, and commitment of young people to peacebuilding. Through dialogue, reflection, and experiential learning, the students showcased the imagination and courage that are essential for building compassionate, inclusive communities.

Whitney Hedlund CTII Schools Programme

Schools visit Slave Lodge and Groote Kerk

On Monday, July 28th, CTII’s School’s Program began by meeting at the Slave Lodge, one of the oldest standing buildings in Cape Town. Students had the opportunity to tour the museum with guided question sheets to encourage reflection. As we walked around, I heard students relating to the content through the lens of their own experiences and education around slavery. It was encouraging to see students thoughtfully engaging with the content, asking profound questions, and attempting to locate the legacy of slavery in their contemporary context.

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