Facilitator Development Program

Facilitator Development Program in the Work that Reconnects

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Holding Space for what Emerges in times of Great Changes | with Manon Danker and Lian Kasper

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“The biggest gift you can give is to be absolutely present, and when you’re worrying about whether you’re hopeful, or hopeless, or pessimistic, or optimistic, who cares? The main thing is that you’re showing up, that you’re here, and that you’re finding ever more capacity to love this world because it will not be healed without that.” Joanna Macy

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We invite emerging facilitators for a 6-month Facilitator Development Program designed to deepen the knowledge and skills needed in offering the Work that Reconnects (WTR). In this training we share our experience and insights as facilitators. We deepen your understanding of this work and help build your confidence so we can explore how we want to bring this valuable work into your communities and workplaces. 

 

Facilitators 

Manon Danker and Lian Kasper have extensive backgrounds in working with human-nature relations and Active hope. In their work and personal journeys grew the wish to find tools to work with the reconnection of humans with all life forms, and in doing so finding ways to face the loss and grief resulting from losing that connection. Finding this work on their respective paths has helped to manifest their hope and vision for a different world, you could say the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible (C. Eisenstein). 

 

In 2015 Manon Danker (https://elemental-journey.com/) has been fortunate to do the Facilitator Training in person with Joanna Macy. Since her training she gives workshops and immersive weekends regularly in the Netherlands. In 2018 Lian Kasper (https://www.kalapa.nu/) did her Facilitator Training in person with Chris Johnstone in the UK. She is deeply engaged in bringing this work to communities of higher education, both students and teachers. She facilitates a wide variation of programs. This facilitator training is born out of people asking us if we can step up and set up a training to help others further on their journeys with this work. We do this with the permission and blessings of Joanna Macy, Chris Johnstone and the Work that Reconnects Network.

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Prerequisites

Prerequisite for this program is that you have followed at least one, preferably more than one immersive 3-day WTR workshop(s) relatively recently. We find it important that you have experienced the impact of the work, and know what it means for you personally. It is important that you have had the chance to get to know your own grief around what is happening in the world. Although we will incorporate experiential exercises, the focus will be on becoming a facilitator and training yourself to pass the Work that Reconnects on in your own projects and communities. If you have not yet experienced the WTR or if you would like to refresh or deepen your understanding please sign up for one of the our upcoming courses through our respective websites. 

 

Another prerequisite is that you read the books Active Hope and Coming Back to Life. You will need them throughout the Facilitators Training. 

 

Last but not least, we ask you to be able to attend all weekends. This is for the benefit of the group dynamics and your own process in becoming a facilitator. 

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Aspects to be aware of

It is important that you realize that the facilitator training asks of you to move more quickly with pain, widening your experience to be with and hold space for pain in groups. This is different than in an immersive workshop in which you are solely a participant. We will have strong and immersive moments, but will also zoom out to understand and be able to name what happens in the group from a facilitator's perspective.  

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The weekends are intensive, this means that you need to be able to care for yourself so you can show up for all of us. At the same time there is space for your own process that can come to the surface. The Work that Reconnects is a living journey in which we learn and strengthen ourselves ongoingly.

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It is also important to realize that we are stepping into the program with different levels of experience. You start where you are. 

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Structure

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The planned format is three residential weekends over a period of 6 months. The weekends provide a mix of theory, embodied exercises, facilitation practice and feedback. Practice and study groups will be organized in between the weekends. You will practice facilitation skills and co-creating with each other. You will have to take into account time for group work, study and tutorials, as well as preparation time. The study groups will be largely self organized with feedback from Lian and Manon.

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You will need to reserve two half days between weekend 1 and 2, and one full day between weekend 2 and 3 to practice, preferably in person, but online is also possible.  All participants will get space to co-facilitate during the 6 month period. 

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Dates residential weekends (2026 - 2027):

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Weekend one: Starting the Journey 13 - 15 November 2026

Weekend two: Deepening the Journey 19 - 21 February 2027

Weekend three: Creating the Journey 16- 18 April 2027

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We start Friday afternoon at 4.00 pm and finish by 4.30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

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Application

The group for the 2026 - 2027 cycle is now being formed, and you can apply here. Please note that your application does not guarantee your attendance, since we have a limited number of places (16 in total). We may have a waitinglist. We will review your application and get in touch as soon as we know whether there is a place for you.

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Meals

All meals will be vegan, as much as possible locally grown and organic.

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Investment 

The Investment for the 6-month program is on a sliding scale to accommodate people with different incomes. All meals and accommodation for the 3 in person weekends are included. Payment details will be shared once you are enrolled. We have 4 options:

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Option 1. Regular 1 €1850,- (for modal income, guideline net income until € 3000,- per month)

Option 2. Regular 2 € 2250,- (for above modal income > € 3000,- net, p/m, and or comfortable savings)

Option 3. Professional/organization price is € 2750,- (when you participate from a formal role in an institute or organization)  

Option 4. Solidarity €1100,- (for minimum income and little savings, availability depends on incoming funds)

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Tax is excluded and will be applied.

Please consider with care the investment you can make. We want this program to be open for all walks of life, and your higher investment makes it possible for others to join that would not have been able otherwise. If you would like to be considered for the solidarity price, please indicate it in your application, together with a short motivation. We encourage you to also look for support in your personal environment to make participation possible. 

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If your employer is able to (partially) cover your participation, please select the professional price.

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The Program

​Note that some of the content can change depending on actualities and processes in our group.

 

Weekend 1: Starting the Journey

Topics include: Frameworks of The Work that Reconnects. Getting to know yourself as a facilitator, what does it mean to be a facilitator? Group dynamics and how to hold a safe space. Setting up practice groups. Designing small sessions to practice with. The first weekend will include a spiral journey, so that we all have the connecting experience of going through a deeply transformative process together.

 

Weekend 2: Deepening the Journey

Topics include: Deep Ecology and Deep Time Work. Care and Self Care. Joy and Creativity. Group dynamics deepening. Open space for emerging themes and Q&A. Deepening workshop design.

 

Weekend 3: Creating the Journey

Together you will present a Work that Reconnects Full Spiral. Topics Include: Full Spiral Journey given by the group. Feedback by Lian and Manon. How to navigate these times and Going Forth as a facilitator. Open space for emerging themes. Ending Ceremony.