X-Change March 2026

Trauma-informed learning & sharing spaces in high-stress & violent environments

How to keep connection, understanding & hope (for peace) alive IN conflict?

What does peace work look like when it is not taking place in a post-conflict setting, but in the midst of ongoing crises? How can current experiences of trauma and uncertainty be acknowledged, while still creating space for learning and connection?

In our next X-Change our colleagues from Pro Peace Lebanon are excited to share their insights and reflections (and to some degree even joys) of working in an environment of constant stress, fear, violence and insecurity. They have constantly adapted their activities through a financial crisis, a popular uprising, covid, the Beirut explosion, earthquakes, war and now continuing attacks. With (fear of) violence, unpredictability and hence feelings of anger, exhaustion and helplessness on the rise in many other parts of the world, their lessons learned in terms of experiential and needs-based learning with a strong trauma-lens and a focus of helping people to get out of stuckness might be useful in other contexts as well.

Aida Hussein, Baraa Hatoum and Catrin Froehlich will share how they adjusted their workshops on Nonviolent Communication to offer spaces for grief, empathy, emotional release, understanding, connection, to help participants regain energy, hope and clarity for action while still providing (now far more practical) input on peace-building tools. 

The exchange will mainly focus on real-life experiences. Your questions are welcome and depending on the number of participants we hope to cover as many of them as possible. 

About the presenters

Aida: Coach and facilitator supporting individuals and groups navigating prolonged crises in Lebanon. She integrates NVC with creative and artistic approaches to cultivate authentic dialogue and emotional depth. Through participatory group facilitation she fosters self-trust, relational awareness, and resilient engagement in times of uncertainty.

Baraa: Clinical psychologist and facilitator of psychosocial and learning spaces in conflict-affected contexts in Lebanon and Syria, integrating NVC into psychotherapy, community work, and training design. She works on developing peacebuilding initiatives and bridge-building efforts between communities affected by conflict, with a strong focus on needs-based learning and trauma-sensitive approaches.

Catrin: Project Manager for NVC at Pro Peace. Excited about linking emotional healing and stepping up for change link together - and how connecting with nature can support both.