Certified Trainers at the Center for Nonviolent Communication

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. 

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. 

Kunal is an advocate for social change. Despite his engineering background, he chose to pursue a career as a social worker in an NGO. He works with the Government to bring large-scale social transformations within slum communities in India. His journey involves a continuous quest for knowledge and the assimilation of various tools for social change, including Nonviolent Communication, Sociocracy, Restorative Circles, Permaculture, and Enneagram.

By integrating these approaches, he aims to empower himselfs and support local people around him. Kunal holds a weekly NVC practice group in Hindi, and translating NVC materials in local language. He has been instrumental in organizing large-scale NVC events in India. 

Ndidi Anozie is a CNVC certification candidate from Nigeria but living in Ireland. She is a member of NVC Nigeria network and belongs to a Faith based organisation, an international congregation with members working in 14 countries of the world.

She is a teacher by Profession and is passionate about integrating, living NVC consciousness, and cultivating deeply connective relationships with people. Coming from a country where people are going through storms of emotions, grappling with disconnection and polarized times, Ndidi uses NVC as a tool to support them to stay connected, be the light as they work to create the world they want to see.

Ndidi is committed to Peace building by facilitating dialogues and mediation between individuals and groups. Her zeal in NVC targets supporting their members, collaborators and vulnerable groups to live more fulfilled lives by creating a safe space for authenticity, healing and growth. She believes that every encounter with each person should leave them more empowered to be the best version of themselves.

She longs to support teachers and school leaders to embody NVC, acquire, use the skills to create a welcoming school environment which can improve performance, reduce conflict and enhance relationships.

Ndidi’s profound enthusiasm for NVC has inspired her to participate in organizing this maiden IIT in Nigeria. As a member of the organizing committee, she laisses with the venue, arranges accommodation, feeding, and transportation.

Saa-Aungwa Mngueshima Kristine Ikpah is a member of the Nigerian NVC network and NVC Africa Network.

She started learning NVC through Peace building trainings organized by United States Institute of Peace in Nigeria through Tarek Maassarani. She is deeply interested and rooted in promoting Conflict transformation as a whole, specifically Peace building through facilitating community dialogues and mediating conflict between individuals, groups, and communities.
She is a graduate of Benue State University, Nigeria in Psychology. She is also currently in her second year in a diploma programme specialising in social works which will offer her more opportunities to be able to interface with agencies that work directly with women, youth, and children.

Her work in NVC as well as counselling targets to support mainly women, youths and vulnerable groups towards living more fulfilling lives by creating safe spaces for authentic expression, healing, self-knowledge, and integral development. She believes that women are the bed rock of every society. Therefore, teaching them to own their voices and their life's experiences will build different aspects of their lives and give them the opportunity to contribute significantly to Nigeria

She is very passionate about Women's psychological, emotional, mental, financial, integral well-being.

Saa-Aungwa collaborates with Ndidi regarding the training venue, accommodations, feeding, and transportation. You can contact her with the following information.

Funding Institutions

Tammi Terrell Morris is an Author, Activist, and Spoken Word Artist. Tammi holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology and a Masters of Science Degree in Leadership and Management. Tammi is committed to building community and practicing empathy. Tammi has spent the majority of her professional career working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Tammi is currently a  a full time Caregiver to her 2 sons. In her spare time, she enjoys producing and recording material for her podcast Confused Reality as well as serving as Treasurer for the New Mexico Network for Nonviolent Communication. She hopes to use her gifts of writing poetry, performing spoken word, motivational speaking, and connecting with others to make the world a more loving and accepting place. 

Mohsine Karrakchou holds a PhD and is a graduate of the École Polytechnique de Lausanne. With over 8 years of experience in startups within the telecommunications sector in Canada and the United States, he has also founded and led several successful ventures in the agri-food industry, building a robust entrepreneurial expertise. Driven by a passion for humanity, organizational dynamics, and Nonviolent Communication. Mohsine channels his skills to enhance business performance through individual coaching and training, fostering harmonious relationships and effective communication within organizations.

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.

I first heard about NVC in 2016 at a 4-hour parenting workshop, shortly after our daughter was born, and I immediately felt that this brief experience would change my life. Since then, I have participated in 80+ days of NVC workshops, including an IIT in Slovenia in 2019 where I had the opportunity to learn from several trainers from around the globe. They’ve contributed to my life in very different, yet all very valuable ways. I’m in the CNVC certification process which is an important and exciting journey for me that brings me closer to myself, to others and to the quality of alignment that I am seeking in my life.

I’m fond of the topic of social change and I am aiming to contribute to a world that works for all through offering the skills and experiences that I have and continue to gain. Besides using my NVC skills to work with groups and to do coaching and mediation, I also work on IT implementation projects as a management consultant and project manager. I see the structural thinking and the complexity that are present in such projects as valuable assets that I bring to all my work, including with organizations, businesses, NGOs, as well as in the healthcare industry. In all of these spaces, I aim to help to create structures where everyone’s needs matter.

I joined the organizing team of IIT Hungary 2025 both for the process (cooperating with Éva and Évi brings me a lot of joy and learning) and to contribute my skills toward helping this IIT become a reality. I trust that it will be a space for magical things to happen and that our being together will contribute to shaping our world towards nonviolence. Come, let’s co-create this magical space together:)

A Passionate NVC Practitioner and CNVC Certification Candidate 

Joshua Patroba is a dedicated Certification Candidate in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) from Kenya with a wealth of experience spanning over a decade. Since delving into the world of NVC in 2008, Joshua has honed his skills through close collaboration with esteemed trainers and facilitators. His journey has led him to create and lead transformative retreats, workshops, summer camps, and events that integrate NVC principles for life-changing experiences.

A standout achievement in Joshua's NVC journey was his pivotal role in organizing the Nairobi IITs in 2014, 2017, 2022, 2023 ten days retreat in Nairobi and now supporting the organizing of the 2024 Nigerian IIT. He is also part of the organizing team for the first IIT in Nigeria scheduled for 2024. Joshua's passion for spreading NVC extends to the educational, corporate, family, and church settings, where he has effectively applied NVC principles.

Beyond his NVC endeavors, Joshua is an accomplished environmental expert, specializing in electronic waste recycling, environmental policy, and curriculum development. His diverse skill set also encompasses team-building, counseling, and business consultancy in change management and leadership, mediation and litigation. As a mentor and community member of NVC Kenya and Founder of NVC African, Joshua is committed to nurturing NVC beginners and fostering a supportive environment for skill development.

With a focus on intuition, empathic presence, and creating safe spaces for growth, Joshua's approach to NVC transcends conventional boundaries, emphasizing body language and non-verbal communication.
 If you are seeking training logistics or wish to connect with Joshua for guidance on  the Nigerian IIT especially on registration and bookings, feel free to reach out to him via the form at the bottom of this page.