CALD Program Officer Attends IAF Seminar on Moderation and Program Design in Germany

Photo by Philip Alexander Grzywaczyk

CALD Program Officer, Chelse Racar Caballero attended an International Academy for Leadership (IAF) seminar on “Moderation: Facilitation and Program Design” last 14 – 26 April 2024 in Gummersbach, Germany. The seminar brought together program managers and staff from across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The seminar was facilitated by Marike Groenewald and Clinton du Preez from Anew, a renowned organizational and leadership development consultancy based in South Africa. Their expertise and innovative approach guided participants through an immersive learning experience. The seminar aimed to create a space where participants could experience and engage with liberal values not just through discussions but through the very design and feel of the event.

The facilitators discussed the primary aspects of facilitation. First, the participants explored their personal facilitation styles, focusing on purpose, values, empathy, relationship-building, and self-awareness. Next, they were given a hands-on practice on how to design and implement engaging and meaningful events. They experimented with different facilitation methodologies, navigated the full event design cycle, utilized empathy-based tools to understand participant perspectives, and addressed challenging facilitation situations. 

Participants also enjoyed special sessions in Berlin – where they traveled for three days, engaging in workshops on visual facilitation, trends in learning and gatherings, and moderation in action. Additionally, a day trip to Cologne offered cultural exploration and further networking among participants.

Groenewald shared her reflections on the seminar, saying that she was at a loss for words to describe how great it was. “How do you capture 12 amazing days spent with a group of 29 facilitators and event organisers from around the world, in words? It’s so difficult,” she said. “To accurately convey the moments of joy, reflection, realisation, curiosity and wonder. To do justice to the deep connections that were formed between former strangers from divergent cultures and languages in such a short amount of time. To express adequate gratitude for the trust and generosity that this group has shown us in allowing us to be their facilitators for this experience. And for them to co-facilitate that magic so beautifully with us.”

Caballero also expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, thanking CALD, FNF and IAF. She also shared the importance of meaningful communication and lessons learned – having a deep sense to incorporate them into CALD’s programs. “In our journey, we’ve learned that oftentimes, we equate speaking with power, but sometimes power lies in silence. And the only thing worse than not speaking is speaking with no substance,” she reflected. “I am grateful for the opportunity that CALD, FNF and IAF has given me. Thank you also, Marike, Clinton and the rest of the delegation, for helping us not only appreciate the silence in between but also learn how to be in tune with our inner voices; not only voicing out directions but also turning that voice into power. Thank you for this transformative experience that provided us tools and knowledge towards reflective and intentional programs at CALD.”