"Train the trainer" programme - Module 1 (out of six)

in Selangor, Malaysia

Why this programme?

Humans learn by both observing other human’s behaviour and didactically. With the former, have you ever seen a child repeating swear words after the adults, even though adults tell the child “we do not swear!” - then swear themselves? This is one example of learning by acquisition and by immersion. We observe, we repeat and this becomes a part of our behaviour. With learning didactically, we learn at school, it may be textbook-based learning. We can learn language both ways - from hanging out with people who speak it, and from textbooks and lessons in the classroom.

Yet it is live examples that influence us a lot. Have you ever encountered parents saying to children: “Do as I say, not as I do”?

It can be quite painful and impactful, both as a learner and a teacher, to see the gap between what we teach and how we live. As a learner, when we encounter someone teaching about empathy “how-to” yet not being empathic towards the students in their struggles, out trust of both the teacher and the method may be affected. As a teacher, when we want to share beautiful skills that can be so life-changing, and we find ourselves falling short of empathy, honesty or self-compassion we want to embody, we may feel shame or we may lose faith in ourselves or what we are able to do.

Congruence

Congruence, the match between what we say and what we do, the match between how we communicate during the workshop and what we teach, can make or break our credibility as a facilitator and the learners’ trust in both our skills and methods.

Congruence is so important that we track it even in CNVC certification process. As a part of the certification portfolio, the candidate would be able to see different “angles” of themselves. For example, the candidate would be able to see their inner process through the journaling, how the workshop participants see them through the participants’ feedback forms, and how the colleagues see them through the colleagues’ (including Certified Trainers’) feedback forms. This may be a start of a life-long process whereby we can see different angles of how we are perceived and how we perceive ourselves gives us some idea where we are congruent, and where we have some growing edges.

As we have been mentoring and supporting CNVC certification candidates on their path of certification (including as an assessor for CNVC), we have seen time and time again, how it is the lack of congruence (what someone says and what someone does) that may generate the most heated long-term conflicts.

Based on that experience, we want to offer you a two year-long programme, which will:

- help your find your authentic style as a group leader and facilitator

- live what you share

- be able to solicit and learn from feedback from people with less power and more power than you

-be your authentic self and congruent in a variety of power dynamics

-know when you fell short of your congruence goals and know which steps to take to repair impacted trust

- understand unconscious group dynamics and be able to work with them, for your own congruence and ability of others to learn

-be congruent when leading groups from all walks of life - so that the group process can harness cross-pollination, creativity and productivity that such diversity of participants can bring

-and much more

Who is the programme for?

Group leaders, managers, trainers, CNVC certification candidates, coaches, group facilitators who value collaborative and nonviolent approach to being in the group

Will this be useful for me if I am a CNVC Certification Candidate?

Within the Certification Preparation Packet (CPP) there are requirements around living NVC and sharing NVC, amongst other things. Our intention in this programme is to support the candidates to align how they live NVC with how they share NVC. We hope that from a continuing combination of online and offline groups, you will be able to build your support and accountability systems, which will enhance the quality of your offerings. Likewise, we hope that through the programme offered, you will be able to design, re-design and upgrade the systems that you use around your work with the groups and NVC. Plus, we hope that you will find supportive this programme for your certification journey in case you want mentoring towards your certification, or in case of Olga's being your assessor, to schedule pre-assessment and assessment around the days of the programme.

What is in the programme?

Module 1 Feedback skills and systems

Giving and receiving feedback is a crucial skill for collaborative, effective and creative facilitation. We learn from others’ feedback and being able to receive and incorporate feedback supports individual and group’s learning and productivity. Moreover, without an effective feedback skill set and feedback system set up and working, a lot of energy and resources will end up going towards conflict resolution or losing potential and productivity to unresolved conflicts.

This skill is so crucial to facilitators’ work that this is the first module of the programme. Some things we will cover:

  • Feedback as 360 degree process for harnessing the relevant information and building trust
  • Establishing feedback system
  • Gathering and incorporating feedback:
    • In direct cultures
    • In indirect cultures
    • In challenging power dynamics
  • Transforming the obstacles to gathering and receiving feedback:
    • Inner obstacles
    • Outer obstacles
  • Skills for offering constructive feedback
  • Working with the obstacles for offering constructive feedback:
    • Inner obstacles
    • Outer obstacles
  • When feedback processes go badly “wrong”*:
  • Life hacks and approaches on how to turn such situations around

For those continuing onto Module 2 (spaces on the next Module can be booked at the end of the Module 1 via a small deposit):

  • Trainer-lead practice and learning time between Module 1 and Module 2: two-hour long Zoom group sessions once a month
  • Community learning time between Module 1 and Module 2

What about the rest of the programme?

We have structured the programme so that over two years, you get 24 in-person training days, a peer support network, mentorship - and all other things that you need for being a leader and group facilitator in a sustainable way. If you want to see the content of the following modules, please see FAQ below. Throughout the programme (online and offline) you have a combination of three trainers (see below) with their unique skills and training styles, and experiences of living NVC in families, groups and organisations in South East Asia and East Asia.

About your facilitators

Olga Nguyen has facilitated groups with Nonviolent Communication and other modalities for the last 18 years. Olga has trained the trainers and has worked internationally as an NVC Certified Trainer, CNVC Assessor and a Certified Trainer at CNVC IITs. Olga has worked with systems and structures, including as a part of the team, including in CNVC New Futures Process and CNVC Assessors Coordination Council.

Boon Ling Choy is based in Malaysia and had worked as a corporate trainer in the areas of communication, competency-based training, etc., for moe than twenty years in various local and multinationl organizations, SMEs, colleges, and other community-based groups.

She is the first Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) certified trainer in Malaysia. Her passion has always been in people development as she has a firm belief in creatig upward spirals in people’s lives.

Boon Ling incorporates some mindfulness practices and other learning modalities in her workshops. She advocates taking responsibility for our inner and outer experiences through the practice of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Her mission in shring NVC is to help cultivate compassionate consciousness that brings connection and empathy to the forefront.

Mika Maniwa is a CNVC CT and Asessor working together with Olga and Boon Ling to support Certification Candidates in South East Asia. Some words from Mika: "Based in Vancouver, Canada, I’ve been offering NVC training for individuals and organizations for over 15 years. As a second-generation Japanese Canadian impacted by war-generated trauma, I practice compassionate inquiry about emotionally reactive behaviours and explore what is needed to increase our capacity for well-being, dialogue and collaboration."

Pre-requisites

Completed Foundation Level NVC course: can use self-empathy and empathy.

When?

Thursday 2 April -Sunday 5 April 2026

Where?

WISE Sanctuary is located close to Bukit Gasing, popular with those enjoying hiking, beauty of the tropical forest, and immersion in nature.

No. 11, Lorong Tanjong 5/4B,
Gasing Heights,
46000 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia


FEES/payment

Please note that this platform tries to add tax for IP addresses from some regions. If this is the case for you and you see any other amount than USD 750 BEFORE 15 Dec 20205 and USD 900 after 16 Dec 2025, you can pay via bank transfer in Malaysia, Singapore, EU, UK and the USA. Please contact us at the below email address for more information.

Questions?

If you have any questions or want to check whether your registration via the website has gone through, please contact NVC Malaysia at +6016 257 3573 (phone, WhatsApp) or email [email protected]


Your Instructor


Olga Nguyen
Olga Nguyen
  • Supported families and organisations with NVC since 2007
  • Certified CNVC Trainer since 2012
  • Assessor with CNVC cnvc.org
  • Trained NVC trainers since 2011

Course Curriculum


  First Section
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the Module 1 start and finish?
The Module 1 times are Thursday 2 April - Sunday 5 April 2026.
What if I am unhappy with the training?
We want you to be comfortable and get the skills and support that you want. If you are at the training and are unhappy with it, let us know straight away and we’ll help you out. If you are still unhappy with the training and support you received, let us know at the end of Day 1 or Day 2 and we will give you a full refund minus the small admin fee ($50 USD - non-refundable) and associated bank charges if applicable.
How long the full programme/all six modules take?
They take about two years “part time” - we aim to offer three modules a year and the online skills development between the modules, to ensure organic development and learning pace to enable those in work, business and with families to participate.
What is in Module 2?
Module 2 - four days Making invisible visible: working with the unseen and non verbalized group dynamics Three days (10am-6pm or four consecutive days with two full days and two half-days). Optional: two days for mentoring towards CNVC certification process and assessment *Power dynamics *What helps learning, collaboration and participation *What blocks learning, collaboration and participation *How to transform what blocks your group or organisation from thriving, and how to nourish that which helps the thriving *Designing or transforming systems to ensure participation of all involved: *Information systems *Decision making systems *Resource allocation systems *Seeing and transforming past high-impact experiences that the group or organisation have not been able to “digest” *Mapping the “scene” *Approaches to change and transformation Trainer-lead practice and learning time between Module 2 and Module 3 Community learning time between Module 2 and Module 3
What is in Module 3?
Module 3 - four days When “nightmare scenarios”* happen? Dark night of the facilitator and how to make it to the sunrise Have you ever worried about things going “wrong”* in your groups? Have you cringed thinking about some things that you saw going “wrong”* in other groups? Has this held you back from offering what you have to the groups and sharing your light with the world? In this workshop we will work on acquiring skills, setting up systems and making contingency plans for your “nightmare scenarios”. It is the same as with fire safety! When you have a fire extinguisher and fire safety awareness, when you have done your fire drills, this makes you safer in the event of the fire and reduces the likelihood of having the fire! Would you like to add this added safety, assurance and relaxation to your group facilitation, so that your participants can benefit from it, too? Some of the things we will cover: *High-level, high-impact conflicts: recognising early warning signs and taking measures earlier *Getting resourced for when things go really “wrong” *Systems for when things go really “wrong” *Mapping out systemic and working with systemic in high-level conflict *Inner processes for transformation *Repair cracked and broken connections *Designing and maintaining effective conflict resolution systems … and much more **I use “nightmare scenario” and ”wrong” here to keep it short, meaning: in the way that did not meet your needs and the group’s needs, where someone (yourself included) got really upset, or where someone has blown up and/or slammed the door and left - add your own nightmare scenarios here? *Trainer-lead practice and learning time between Module 3 and Module 4 *Community learning time between Module 3 and Module 4
What is in Module 4?
Module 4 - four days Unleash your creative leadership How to bring joy, ease and creativity into your group facilitation - for your and the group’s productivity, learning and co-creation Your creativity as a facilitator means that: *You can come up with dozens of topics for new groups and workshops *You can plan and implement them in the style that is recognisable as yours *You can iterate what you have already done whilst integrating your past learnings and adding new twists *You can deal with unexpected situations that are arising in your workshops with grace, elegance and beauty Some of the things we will cover: *Integrating what you have - being YOUniquely YOU *Working with inner obstacles to your creativity *Uncovering old patterns that are in the way *Transforming old patterns towards the creativity you desire *Working with outer obstacles to your creativity: *Uncovering blind spots *Mapping out the obstacles *Transforming the obstacles *Juicy menu of methods to kickstart your creative process: **Art-based **body-NVC/gentle movement based **metaphoric associative cards based …and much more *Trainer-lead practice and learning time between Module 4 and Module 5 *Community learning time between Module 4 and Module 5
What is in Module 5?
Module 5 - four days “No person left behind”: how to lead a group and design and deliver a training that caters for different levels of skills, ability and comfort with the group Have you had in your groups: *People of different ages and life experiences *People with different skill levels *People with different levels of agreeableness *People of different cultures and languages *People of different spirituality and religion *People of different genders, relationship status *People with different levels of health, ability and disability etc etc Would you like to feel comfortable and at ease no matter how different from you and each other the people are in the group you are facilitating or teaching? This course will offer you skills to design and deliver a group meeting, a session or a programme that helps the people in the group to feel at ease with you and with each other - no matter how different they are from yourself and from each other? Some things we will cover: *How to make sure you include all relevant needs of all participants at the planning stage of your event *Approaches and lifehacks to reduce conflict in a diverse group *Approaches to harnessing synergies and efficiencies of diverse experiences and styles in a diverse group… … And much more
What is in Module 6?
Module 6 - four days “Money How-to”: working with money in the spirit of values and sustainability If you are passionate about your work, or it is your vocation, do you sometimes find yourself in situations where your work contributes less to your sustainability than you’d enjoy? Does it sometimes creates its own set of problems for you, for example with your family or loved ones, or financial stress? Or do you find that only work that you do not enjoy brings you money? During this course, you will learn useful ART methods for money patterns that you would be able to take away and use on an as-needed basis after the course e.g. “how the money moves for me” and “why I don’t have enough money for something” and “the couple and the money” and “money ladder. You will learn how to spot the patterns for how the money moves or gets stuck in a family system through the combination of experiential, body-based art methods and theory explanations and having your questions answered. In this series, we look at the patterns around the money in your system and how to resolve them. This series is not a substitute for financial advice, planning, budgeting etc. It is something that would give clarity and clear more space for the money to move through you where previously this movement was stuck or bypassing you.
Are there any discounts?
The discounted EARLY BIRD rate (USD 750 AFTER USD150 discount) is valid till 15 December 2026. Standard rate of USD 900 is applicable from 16 December 2026 onwards.
What is included in the price?
The rate covers three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), as well as morning and afternoon tea with snacks. Participants will also be able to help themselves to coffee and tea as well as biscuits throughout the day. WISE is completely self-service (there is no available volunteer/staff who will be around to assist) so we will be asking participants to wash their dishes after themselves. Dormitory-style accommodation (bedding included, please bring your own towel, shared bathrooms/shower rooms) is included. The bedrooms are shared and are allocated on the first-book-first-served basis. Other accommodation (hotel etc) is available within a short distance and is not included in this rate.
How many people will be on the course?
We aim to keep this a small course with the numbers of c.10-12 people per trainer as it is a train-the-trainer course and we want for all participants to have sufficient support, attention and depth of the training.

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