Floods, tornadoes, droughts, war zones, mass shootings, fires, every headline feels like a breaking point. And yet, most of us scroll past, overwhelmed but unable to look away. Amid this barrage of distressing news, a deeper question emerges: How do we stay present, connected, and human without being emotionally crushed by it all? Imagine if you could step back, breathe, and witness the unfolding events with clarity and compassion. The emerging global movement toward “social presencing” offers just that, a way to transform raw turmoil into a mindful, human connection.

The growing use of “social presencing” tools in climate justice networks and trauma-informed leadership trainings has signaled a shift: from activism driven by urgency alone to a more embodied, relational approach to change. This shift shows the importance of cultivating inner awareness alongside outer action. At the center of this movement is Global Social Witnessing (GSW), a practice of bearing witness to global events with conscious, embodied presence.

Now, the Pocket Project is offering a renewed opportunity to learn and embody this practice through the Global Social Witnessing Facilitator Training 2025, beginning in June. Designed as a three-part journey, the training offers individuals, professionals, and change-makers the tools to stay connected without burning out, by building the inner capacity to witness, hold space, and respond more coherently to the world’s challenges.

The training unfolds in three phases. Phase I, titled Basic Principles of Global Social Witnessing, will run from June 11 to July 16, 2025, and features a powerful lineup of teachers including Bayo Akomolafe, Deb Dana, William Ury, Thomas Hübl, and Kosha Joubert. This foundational phase focuses on cultivating mindful attention, emotional awareness, and the capacity to hold complexity in the face of personal and collective trauma.

In Phase II, beginning in September 2025, participants will go deeper by developing facilitation skills, learning how to guide GSW spaces, support group coherence, and engage meaningfully with emergence and conflict. Phase III offers a practice and integration period from November 2025 to May 2026, where participants receive mentorship while applying their skills in real-world witnessing spaces.

For those who want to learn more about the practice before committing, the Pocket Project’s Resource Library offers a wealth of video recordings from previous GSW calls. These sessions offer an intimate look into what GSW feels like in action, ranging from collective witnessing of current events to guided group processes. You can explore this rich archive by filtering for Study Room > Global Social Witnessing or simply using the direct link here:  Access GSW Resources

The Resource Library is a living repository of wisdom, designed to be visited regularly as a place for grounding, reflection, and insight. With content that ranges across trauma integration, relational systems, social witnessing, and collective healing, it serves as a crucial companion to the GSW Training and to any seeker wanting to deepen their capacity for engaged presence.

As the world continues to face profound rupture and change, the question is no longer whether we are affected, but how we respond. The GSW Training doesn’t just teach techniques; it supports a shift in how we relate to the world, to each other, and ourselves.

Enrollment for Phase I is now open. This phase is a required entry point for those who wish to continue into Phases II and III later in the year. With a blend of expert guidance, community practice, and personal transformation, this training offers a rare and timely invitation to be more deeply human in a time of global disarray.

Learn more and enrol for the training here:
👉 Join the GSW Facilitator Training

Explore the full GSW video library here:
👉 Access GSW Resources