About TransformAction Lab

At TransformAction Lab, we take an integral approach, addressing the root causes of the socio-ecological problems in order to find alternative pathways for a viable future for all. Our work supports HEKS / EPER’s engagement on climate justice.

With a holistic vision combining inner/outer and individual/collective transformation processes, we offer workshops, retreats and trainings aimed at individuals, organisations and youth groups. Our aim is to :

raise awareness about the links between current social and ecological issues
support processes of inner transformation, particularly by addressing personal values, worldviews, and lifestyle choices
emphasize our individual and collective possibilities to engage in advancing climate justice

The TransformAction Lab is a national programme resulting from the merger of two HEKS/EPER projects: the Laboratoire de transition intérieure, active since 2016 in French-speaking Switzerland, and the KlimaGespräche (Carbon Conversations), launched in 2019 in German-speaking Switzerland.

Our approach

The interplay between inner and outer change, co-creation, dialogue and awareness-based change lay at the heart of our work. In accordance with HEKS’ vision, we strive for a just world in which the dignity of all living beings is respected, and the natural foundations of life are preserved. Our approach relies on and builds upon the following methods, enabling us to build holistic and participatory processes and workshops.

All programs and workshops will be adjusted to the specific needs of our clients and partners. Depending on the context and drawing on the versatile expertise in our team, also other methods will be utilized.

Our core methods

Theory U

Theory U is an awareness-based change and leadership methodology for individuals, groups and organisations developed by Otto Scharmer at the MIT, Boston. Theory U assumes that the success of change processes depends on the inner condition of those involved in it. The approach promotes empathy, deep personal reflection and prototyping, emphasizing the letting go of old thought patterns in order to create space for innovative solutions.   

Our approach follows the U-shaped transformation process that goes from acknowledging the status-quo and being open to new perspectives, in-depth reflection and letting go of old beliefs and habits to the concrete implementation of new actions and ways of collaborating. 

presencinginstitute.org

Work That Reconnects 

The Work That Reconnects (WTR) helps people to discover and experience their innate connections with each other and the wider web of life, transforming despair and overwhelm into inspired, collaborative action for a just social and ecological future. The Work That Reconnects guides participants on a Spiral journey through four stages: Gratitude, Honoring Our Pain for the World, Seeing with New Eyes and Going Forth. A WTR Workshop can last from 3 hours to 4 days and consists of individual and group exercises.

This interactive group process was developed environmental activist, author and Buddhist Scholar, Joanna Macy in the 1970s. We run WTR-Workshops in Switzerland since 2016.

Charlotte Ogier & Céline Molina

Carbon Conversations 

The Carbon Conversations combine factual knowledge and psychological factors related to the climate crisis. They provide an interactive process for analysing one's own habits in areas such as mobility, nutrition, consumption and housing and thereafter identifying climate-friendly options for daily life.  The programme also looks at social aspects such as climate communication and civil society engagement.

The Carbon Conversations were developed in England by psychotherapist Rosomary Randall and engineer Andy Brown and facilitated by HEKS in the German-speaking Switzerland since 2019. The conversations take place in small groups and are comprised of several sessions. Former participants can train as facilitators themselves and thus spread the method and its message further.

The Carbon Conversations work!

The individual footprint of participants is reduced by around 1.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This was shown in a study by the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern. You can find detailed information here (in German). 

Silvan Hohl

Climate Fresk 

Climate Fresk is a tool for facilitating educational and collaborative scientific workshops on climate change. It raises awareness on the causes and effects of climate change and consists of a collaborative game based on 42 cards. Over the course of the workshop, participants learn about tipping points, feedback loops and other scientific terms, and work out how they relate to each other.

We run Climate Fresque workshops (3 hours) on their own or as part of a longer tailor-made offer. Our experience has shown that Work That Reconnects practices are particularly suited as a follow-up after this experience. They help process the often difficult thoughts and emotions that may arise after learning about the gravity and complexity of the climate crisis.

fresqueduclimat.org

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