Nic Paton Announcements, funding

CTII chosen for the New Africa Fund 2026 cohort

CTII is one of 70 organisations chosen from over 4000 applicants across the continent of Africa to take part in the 3rd New Africa Fund cohort. We are now eligible to benefit from their AIFG: the Africa Impact Fundraising Grant.

Our achievements, including the YIIP Schools program, and an effective 2025 year with dialogs and interfaith and intercultural social events, caught the eye of the NAF. The AIFG model meets all funds raised up to $5000 US with matching donations, putting the onus on us to own and manage our fundraising. The last cohort raised 70% of its money from inside the African continent, making it a largely indigenous endeavor.

March is the “challenge month” in which we as the CTII focus on our funding goal. All funds raised in March will qualify for the matching AIFG grant. And as we are aware this is also Ramadan, and the season of Lent: a time of renewal through reflection, discipline and giving.

Venture philanthropy such as that of the NAF, seeks to use many of the venture capitalist’s tools, like matched funding, but with an outcome of social impact rather than profit.

Previous grantees known to us include the late Imam Muhsin Hendricks’s Al-Gurbaah, the only South African organisation in amongst a continent-wide range of NGOs.

From https://www.newafricafund.org/

As we see it, funding is an extension of what we do already… the creation of community across faith and cultural boundaries. Via dialog and friendship we seek to bridge divides and create new common ground for the fulfillment of the ubuntu spirituality that is at our heart.

Funding is one expression of our interdependence, where resources are brought together for the common good; this good includes our talents, our time, tithes/treasure, and crucially our ties – the connections with others and the being part of a network.

(We have started a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign before we knew about our being chosen for the NAF and it remains active, however we are targeting the New Africa Fund over the month of March).

If you care about interfaith and intercultural connection, please consider how you might be part of our challenge.

Commit to communicating with 5 people over March with a possibility of raising funds for CTII and its programs through them or via them to other potentially interested partners. Take time to explain how our unique organisation creates dialog, builds community, and promotes interfaith and intercultural education with a strong youth focus.

  • See yourself as an empowered part of our resourcing and fundraising. Include yourself!
  • Commit time to building long-term interfaith and intercultural relationships.
  • Share your ties communicating with anyone you feel might be interested in the CTII.
  • Be a direct giver of treasure – your money or tithes, or invite others to give.
  • Offer your talents through creative expressions of interconnectedness and network building.

Contact us if you are interested and not already part of our community.

Sarah Oliver Announcements, Cape Town activities

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. 

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).

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

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.

Nic Paton Announcements, News Article, Tribute

Queer Imam Muhsin Hendricks murdered.

Imam Muhsin Hendricks, the openly gay Islamic leader based in Cape Town, was assassinated on the 15th February 2025 by masked assailants in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), reportedly as he prepared to officiate at a gay wedding in an Islamic context. Details are still unclear, and no-one has at present or been identified or claimed responsibility.

Muhsin was a friend of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative, and a brave and compassionate human being. He led the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation (denoting in Arabic the “strange or weird”), a shelter for LGBTQIA+ refugees from harsh orthodoxies.

Muhsin Hendricks (left in black cap) leads a meditation during a CTII interfaith hike.

While Muhsin’s murder is devastating, it is unsurprizing. This comes at a time when the worst of us is being emboldened by the new demagoguery, which does what it likes decisively and thinks itself righteous.

Mushin’s assassination raises difficult questions for Interfaith and its dialogue, around questions of inclusivity and the morality of so-called “outsiders” to faith orthodoxies.

His story is told in the 2022 documentary film, The Radical. As the subtitle suggests, he chose faith over fear:

Brother Muhsin, we salute your contribution to creating a more compassionate world.

May you rest in Peace. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

Sarah Oliver Announcements, Peace

International Day of Prayer – 14 May

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CTII has responded to a call from The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF), urging religious leaders and the faithful around the world to observe a day of fasting, prayers and supplications for the good of all humanity on Thursday, May 14 for an end to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Endorsed by Pope Francis and Shaykh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, religious leaders and groups around the world will be honouring this day.

CTII, SAFCEI and Turquoise Harmony Institute invite you to join us as we heed the call via Zoom. Featuring Christian, Earth, Hindu, Jewish, Brahma Kumaris and other Sacred Expressions. We will be opening the mic for participation by all – prayers, poetry, healing thoughts are welcome.