Niklas Van Doorne is a passionate facilitator and peacebuilding professional who integrates Nonviolent Communication (NVC) into his work to support peacebuilding, social change, mediation, and humanitarian efforts in conflict-affected areas. He is experienced in designing and implementing civilian ceasefire monitoring and grassroots peace processes, where he has supported communities and organizations across the Philippines, Iraq, Ukraine, South Sudan, Kenya, and Palestine. Niklas is committed to advancing and embedding nonviolent conflict transformation and restorative practices in diverse contexts.
A pivotal moment in Niklas' professional journey came in early 2023 when he attended his first NVC training in Iraq. The simple yet profound methods of NVC helped to develop his approach to peacebuilding, enhancing the effectiveness of his contributions. His passion for NVC not only enriches his own practice but influenced how he supports the leadership of organizations within the humanitarian and peacebuilding sector in pursuit of organizational development. Niklas actively promotes facilitated education initiatives and advocates for policy and structural changes that support the integration of nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution.
In addition to his peacebuilding efforts, Niklas has developed expertise in environmental policy and climate change, focusing on regenerative methods. He understands the intricate connections between environmental neglect and human conflict, both internally and externally. With a compassionate presence, he is committed to supporting individuals, communities, and organizations as they navigate the challenges of high-stress environments. His goal is to build resilience and capacity that align peacebuilding objectives with environmental sustainability.
Through his holistic approach, Niklas Van Doorne continues to foster understanding and collaboration in the pursuit of a more peaceful and interconnected world, leveraging NVC as a powerful tool for social change and humanitarian support in areas of conflict.
Estoy muy contenta de ser anfitriona y organizar el IIt en México 2022.
He participado en varios grupos de estudio y práctica de Comunicación No Violenta, (algunos que duraron varios meses), manteniéndome presente a los distintos contextos en los que la CNV se ha puesto en práctica: Empresas, escuelas, Grupos de familias, organizaciones sociales, etc.. Soy socióloga de profesión, y he trabajado en distintas áreas de la educación por más de 20 años.
En el 2015 colaboré en la organización del 1er Entrenamiento Intensivo Internacional (IIT, por sus siglas en inglés) en español, en México de Comunicación No-Violenta, del Centro de Comunicación No Violenta, siendo Coordinadora del 2do IIT de Comunicación no Violenta, en septiembre de 2016 y del 3ro en 2018 en México.
Actualmente colaboro con Master Peace - México y Sofie de Wulf en proyectos en para escuelas y en sesiones de profundización alrededor de la CNV.
Lars Veraart, veterinarian by trade, is now giving his life energy to creating pathways towards a living planet for all.
Lars is living with his wife Robyn (trainer at this IIT) and their son Carsten in the community where our village IIT will be held. Lars and Robyn founded Provision Transylvania, an ecological farm and learning center with the mission of creating living and learning opportunities that contribute to health and well-being for the planet and people. Regeneration and Nonviolence are key themes in their work and NVC camps, teachings and counseling are core elements of Provision Transylvania.
Lars also co-founded and runs ALPA, a local land trust which focuses on common stewardship for agricultural lands and biodiversity protection within the broader concept of bioregional regeneration. Lars is the local logistics coordinator for our IIT.
Vidur Malik is an Organizational Development consultant specializing in Selection and Interviewing. He weaves the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) into his training programmes. He's officially registered with the Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) as a Certification candidate, and is actively progressing on his certification path.
Tamara Bucic is originally an engineer of mathematics with a passion for movement, yoga, spirituality, nature, and music (singing). Her interests extend to dance, theater, and creativity. Since a young age, she has explored spiritual practices from various traditions and is a certified yoga teacher deeply committed to Nonviolent Communication (NVC).
Growing up in Croatia during a time of war, she experienced a very hard environment both outside and inside her home, along with a lack of quality communication within her family, which influenced her relationships and self-perception. Recognizing the need for change, she discovered Nonviolent Communication through a book by Marshal Rosenberg, gifted by her yoga teacher. This encounter transformed her approach to communication, and she became an avid advocate of NVC, sharing its principles and techniques with others at every opportunity.
Tamara's dedication to personal growth and meaningful human connections is evident in all she does, making her a passionate and inspiring advocate for Nonviolent Communication.
My name is Steve Maina from Kenya. I am excited to be part of the organising team of the Kenyan IIT.
I came across NVC 14 years ago, immediately after our country Kenya had the 2007/08 Post Election Violence which had really troubled me. I longed to contribute to be part of stopping a repeat of the same in the next electioneering period. I thank Marshall Rosenberg as NVC came in handy.
I have since joined the certification journey and I am enjoying the journey at my own pace as I try to integrate it in my day-to-day life.
I was part of organizing the Kenyan 2024 NVC retreat and was happy to be part of this milestone which brought young people from African and had an experience of NVC, some for the first time.
I am currently part of the team that is translating the Marshall Rosenberg book - Language of life to Swahili so that it can be supportive to the Swahili Speaking East African residents, who have a challenge in understanding English.
I long to support and contribute to more people get this experience of NVC, social change and empathy.
I'm currently working as a project manager at Officience which has provided me invaluable insights into team dynamics, particularly during the organizational changes and challenges of the past three years, including the Covid-19 pandemic. This period intensified my focus on effective communication, conflict resolution, and creating supportive environments. My exploration of empathic listening and facilitated discussion techniques, was driven by a desire to foster genuine connection and understanding within teams.
Jane has been practicing NVC for the past 15 years. She immersed herself in the teachings during several week-end sessions and a two-year program taught by Gina Cenciose. She organized several NVC intros for the Transition Town group she coordinated in her neighbourhood in Montreal. Jane is a retired environmental expert who consulted to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for over 20 years. She is passionate about living NVC, especially with her two youngest grandchildren. She also has a consistent practice in non-dual meditation. Her organizations skills were honed while coordinating grass-roots community groups. She looks forward to helping Tosha in the role of co-Coordinator to make the 2025 Canada IIT run smoothly on the material and spiritual planes! Jane speaks English and French fluently.
Shawn Specht, a compassionate and dedicated holistic practitioner and coach, weaves her diverse expertise in health and wellness to empower individuals towards holistic well-being and emotional freedom. Shawn Specht radiates warmth and openness, curating workshops, retreats, and courses that inspire genuine personal growth. By integrating her knowledge of SVA Ayurveda and Nonviolent Communication, she empowers individuals to navigate conflicts and challenges across all spheres of life with grace and authenticity.
Learning and Growth: Influenced by her father's holistic chiropractic practice from an early age, Shawn embarked on a transformative journey, earning a B.S. in Health and Human Performance. Her comprehensive education encompassed a spectrum of disciplines, including psychology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, chemistry, and biology. Balancing her deep understanding of modern Western medicine with hands-on experience in holistic alternative therapies, Shawn embarked on a personal quest to foster deep healing and transformation in others. Her consistent meditation practice, augmented by immersive experiences such as the 10-Day Vipassana courses, has further enriched her spiritual and emotional learning. Her passion for growth and making the future generations more socially-emotionally resilient brought her to work as a teacher in a Waldorf-inspired school, in Northern California for ages 7-14.
She loves to read and some of her favorite books are:
Begüm has worked in the International Financial Reporting field for 14 years, and is a permaculture designer who hasworked with communities who support community supported agriculture and ecological food. She is a mother of two children, a son and a daughter.
Begüm began her involvement with Nonviolent Communication after she gave birth to her second child, and witnessed behavioral change in the elder child. By that time, she discovered that NVC was her healing field rather than her children’s. With the help of NVC, she empowered to be centered in herself and to connect with others and herself empathically. She has met with her "self-actualization power” in NVC fields.
I first came across NVC in 2021, and saw it as a guidebook which contained clear pictures on how to be compassionate towards others and myself in ways that I was searching for since my childhood.
Since then it has influenced my behaviour and my relationships with family, friends and coworkers to a degree that got me motivated to start the path to become a trainer.
My main motivation is to bring social change through NVC specially to the ones who’d have less chances to come across it, being financial blocks, culture and other aspects.
Recently I've been working as one of the coordinating members in an international team of certified trainers and NVC enthusiasts in order to build a school in Kenya that will work based on NVC and will be a refuge for children victims of physical punishment in schools, as well as morally and sexually abused children.
I'm also involved as a facilitator in other social projects which offer NVC for free to international communities who struggle to pay for trainings.
