Community

Our Board

Cecil Plaatjies

Cecil Plaatjies, CTII Chairperson, 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.

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Sarah Oliver

Sarah, CTII Treasurer, is a facilitator, interfaith practitioner and peace advocate. She has grown up in the CTII community and been part of the Board since 2013.

Sarah works as the Global Learning and Action Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI). She is passionate about designing inclusive group processes that foster collaboration across differences, center marginalized experiences and cultivate joy and creativity for collective healing.

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Zahra Jobe

Blessing Dipumbe

Associates

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is a musical composer and interspiritual activist. His early background was in the charismatic evangelical church, and thereafter liberation theology and movements.

Theo Mayekiso

Theo Mayekiso is a social and spiritual interventionist, author, and MTh candidate with a research focus on early childhood education through the lenses of Biblical and African theology.

With a background in facilitation and community-based education, Theo brings a passion for justice, dialogue, and faith-rooted development. He is committed to nurturing inclusive spiritual spaces that honour both interfaith understanding and indigenous African values.

Laurie Gaum

Laurie Gaum is trained as a Dutch Reformed minister of religion. He defines himself as ecumenical, as a spiritual activist, and an artist at heart. He works with the nonprofit Genderworks facilitating workshops in gender & sexuality, & loves the diversity that the CTII embodies.

Aydin Inal

Aydin Inal was born in Turkey and was trained as Science Educator before moving to South Africa. He was involved in education in various capacities from starting schools to teaching and managing schools.

He has been involved in the fields of Interfaith Dialogue in various degrees since early 2000s. He serves as educational advisor and as regional director of Turquoise Harmony Institute in Cape Town. He holds a MEd and PhD in Education.

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Babalwa Ngcongolo

Babalwa Ngcongolo is a South African educator, facilitator, and peacebuilder working at the intersection of interfaith dialogue, cultural justice, and youth leadership.

She serves on the Board of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative and as Vice-Chair of the International Charter for Compassion, where she supports global efforts to foster inclusive communities and compassionate systems. Her work bridges storytelling, spiritual values, and social transformation to advance justice and intergenerational healing. She is driven by a deep belief that peacebuilding begins with belonging—and that inclusive dialogue rooted in dignity, history, and hope can transform both individuals and societies.

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Pippa Jones

Pippa Jones, a member of CTII, is a teacher by profession and since 2012 has also served as an ordained Interfaith minister in New York, Sydney and now Cape Town. Her passions are working with young people, as well as being involved in post-colonial and restorative justice work and research.

Jenny Canau

Jenny Canau practised and lectured in International Human rights Law. After meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1996, she shifted focus to “Inner development” and Co-founded Mindfulness Africa with Rob Nairn.

Jenny is a trustee at the Cape Town Samye Dzong Buddhist Centre and has offered retreats in meditation, mindfulness, compassion and community resilience, supporting marinilized women and youth. Intetnationally she has received facilitator training in International Interfaith Dialogue, Trauma and Resilience, Compassion and Integrity, Global Peace Leadership and more recently in Human Rights Advocacy at the United Nation( OHCHR). Jenny is currently mentoring for Euphrates Institute offering peacebuilding skills to peacebuilders from around the world.

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International Associates and Interns

Our Affiliates

United Religions Initiative

Charter for Compassion

Turquoise Harmony Institute

Faith Hope Love Communities