03/11/2026
The Hami Training Program is designed for individuals who want to learn how to facilitate witnessing circles and support groups for people who have experienced systemic violence, displacement, and collective trauma.
In Farsi, Hami means supporter — someone who stands beside others with presence, dignity, and compassion. This program prepares participants to hold such spaces responsibly and ethically.
During this training, participants will learn how to facilitate witnessing sessions that allow individuals and communities to share their lived experiences in a safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environment. Rather than focusing on fixing or analyzing people’s stories, the emphasis of witnessing work is on creating a space where experiences can be seen, heard, and acknowledged.
The program explores the human rights dimensions of trauma, helping participants understand the psychological and social impacts of systemic violence, political oppression, displacement, and collective suffering. We will examine how trauma is carried not only individually but also collectively within families, communities, and societies.
Participants will learn practical skills for:
Facilitating witnessing and support groups
Creating psychologically safe and non-judgmental spaces
Understanding the dynamics of trauma and collective trauma
Supporting individuals affected by systemic violence and human rights violations
Practicing deep listening and ethical presence
Encouraging collective healing and resilience within communities
This training does not aim to turn participants into therapists. Instead, it focuses on cultivating the capacity to hold space with awareness, humility, and compassion, allowing people to share their stories and reconnect with their own inner strength.
At its core, the Hami Training Program is about learning how to stand with others in moments of vulnerability, and how witnessing, when done with care and integrity, can become a powerful pathway toward personal and collective healing.