Theme: Speak with Clarity, Listen with Empathy A group photo with the teachers and the parents of Diani Montessori School
1. Introduction
A five-day Nonviolent Communication (NVC) training was conducted at Diani Montessori School. The training brought together teachers, supporting staff, and parents with the aim of introducing and strengthening practical skills for creating more empathetic, respectful, and peaceful relationships within the school community. This was the 8th edition of the training that has happened in the school.
The sessions were highly participatory and experiential, incorporating storytelling, reflection, movement, group activities, pair work, role plays, and practical classroom examples.
2. Participants
The training involved different members of the Diani Montessori School community throughout the week:
Monday – Wednesday: 40 teachers and supporting staff
Thursday: 25 parents
Friday: Teachers A section of participants in a group Discussion
3. Training Objectives
1. Introduce parents to the principles and spirit of Nonviolent Communication.
2. Strengthen participants' ability to listen and respond with empathy.
3. Explore practical ways of bringing empathy into classroom interactions.
4. Support teachers in understanding and transforming anger.
5. Strengthen relationships between teachers, learners, parents, and supporting staff.
4. Summary of the Training Sessions
Day 1 – Monday: Grounding, Safety, Recap and Introduction to Empathy
The first day focused on creating a safe and supportive space for learning.
The session also included a recap of previous NVC learning and experiences. The empathy sessions supported the participants to practice more about Empathy using classroom situations.
Day 2 – Tuesday: Bringing Empathy into the Classroom
Participants gave classroom examples that we used to play role-play with to practice more on empathy. The Participants practised responding to learners without resorting to blame, punishment, or labels. The common agreement was that empathy can be used to create classrooms where learners can experience both connection and accountability.
Day 3 – Wednesday: Transforming Anger into a Gift
The participants explored anger as an important emotional signal that alerts us to unmet needs. Participants reflected on situations that trigger anger and examined what may be happening underneath the anger. The session encouraged participants to move from reacting to anger toward understanding and transforming it into an opportunity for greater clarity, self-awareness, and connection.
Day 4 – Thursday: Introduction to NVC for Parents
25 parents participated in an introductory session on NVC. The session introduced NVC, focusing on the 4 components of NVC: Observation → Feelings → Needs → Requests
Day 5 – Friday: Empathetic Listening in Class, Appreciation and Closing
Participants practised listening not only to the words being spoken by learners but also to the feelings and needs behind those words. Through exercises and classroom scenarios, teachers explored how empathy can be used when a learner is upset, resistant, angry, withdrawn, or struggling to communicate.
The 5-day training was concluded with an appreciation and closing round, allowing participants to acknowledge one another, reflect on their learning, and share what they were taking away from the training. A group Discussion with the Teachers
5. Key Outcomes
1. The training created space for participants to deepen their understanding of communication as more than the exchange of words. Some of the key areas of learning included:
2. Greater awareness of the importance of creating emotional safety before meaningful learning can take place.
3. Increased understanding of empathy as listening for feelings and needs rather than immediately giving advice or solutions.
4. Recognition that challenging behaviour can be an opportunity to explore underlying needs.
5. Greater awareness of personal triggers and reactions, particularly around anger.
6. Practical exploration of how NVC can be applied in classroom situations.
Feedbacks 1. This is my first time that I have encountered a practical way to communicate with my child. Thank you very much for giving me this gift. Thank you to Marshall Rosenberg for developing this. Mwanahamisi - Grade 9 Parent 2. All along, I have been judging and labelling my children at the observation level without knowing. The four steps have given me another way of connecting with my children joyfully. Alex - Grade 6 Parent 3. I have enjoyed learning the four steps and especially the NEED, I am happy to learn that even my 8 months baby has her own needs and she trying to meet them through different strategies. Thank you very Much. mama Carol - Grade 3 parent 4. I am now more grounded on how to deal with anger in a classroom set up and the awareness that anger is just directing me to the unmet needs. Tr. Judy
8. Challenges Encountered
1. Moving from Understanding to Practice
2. Existing Communication Habits within the community which was a challenge for the parents to understand NVC skills.
3. Limited Time for Practice: Empathy, empathetic listening, anger transformation, and classroom application are skills that require repeated practice rather than a single exposure.
9. Recommendations
1. Diani Montessori School to continue creating spaces where teachers and supporting staff can practise empathetic listening.
2. Continued engagement with parents to help strengthen this connection that would support the NVC concept becoming part of the wider school culture.
3. Introduce weekly Empathy buddies so that teachers and pupils can continually practice empathy.
10. Conclusion
The Diani Montessori NVC training created an important foundation for strengthening empathy and connection within the school community. The participation of teachers, supporting staff, and parents demonstrated a willingness to explore communication in a deeper and more relational way.
The next step is to support the participants through regular practice, peer support, parent engagement, and continued reflection. NVC can gradually become part of the everyday culture of Diani Montessori School. Morning Community Opening Circle with the participants
