CALD Youth Chair Joins Global Cohort to Redefine Facilitation and Training

“It’s how we can create this community and movement in order to make learning a fun and exciting experience.”

This is how CALD Youth Chairperson Jeremiah Tomas described his biggest takeaway from the IFLRY Training of Trainers 2025, a week-long program held from March 26 to 30, 2025 at the Theodor Heuss Akademie in Gummersbach, Germany. Organized by the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), the program brought together emerging leaders and facilitators from across the globe for an immersive journey into the art and science of training.

For Tomas, the opportunity was both timely and intentional. “I’ve often been on the receiving end of trainings. So when I saw this chance to learn how to train the trainers themselves, I had to take it especially since no one else from Asia was in the current pool. I knew I could bring these learnings back to CALD and the broader regional space,” he shared.

Reimagining How People Learn

The five-day program went far beyond theory. Participants were exposed to over 30+ interactive toolkits, ranging from traditional to alternative learning approaches. They not only practiced using these tools they also co-created sessions, facilitated their own workshops, and evaluated each other’s methods in real-time.

“There was this moment when we were asked to illustrate ‘what freedom means to us’  using art supplies, mood boards, and stickers. It may sound playful, but it challenged us to think, express, and connect in deeper ways. That’s when it hit me training doesn’t have to be stiff or boring. It can be dynamic, creative, and memorable,” Tomas recounted.

The training focused on creating experiential learning environments, pushing participants to go beyond lecture-style delivery to design spaces that are engaging and inclusive. It also emphasized the value of preparation, structure, and intentionality showing that a successful session often hides hours of behind-the-scenes planning.

Personal Growth Through Practice

“My view of facilitation has completely changed,” Tomas reflected. “I used to think it was all about guiding discussion or managing a room. But now I see it as a craft about designing experiences that resonate and stick. It’s not just passing on knowledge, but shaping how it is absorbed.”

He also discovered something new about himself. “I realized I really enjoy this. It feels meaningful to create moments where people learn without even realizing they’re being taught. That’s the magic of good facilitation.”

From Training Rooms to Movements

Tomas is already looking ahead, planning to bring these approaches into CALD’s network of partners across Asia. “I want to break away from the typical classroom model. I see facilitation as a way to spark leadership, not just teach it. When you create an environment that draws out people’s strengths, you build stronger movements.”

Whether it’s a grassroots campaign, youth assembly, or democracy training he believes facilitation is the quiet force that can amplify action.

“In a world where everyone learns differently, these alternative methods help ensure no one gets left behind.”

But perhaps the most lasting part of the experience is the community it nurtures. “Beyond the tools and techniques, we built a vibrant network of trainers from all walks of life,” Tomas reflects. “That bond—rooted in trust, openness, and shared purpose—may be the most powerful toolkit of all.”