Ambassadors For Humanity 2065–2027
A 6-month group journey to Explore all of your humanity
Do you long for a deep community experience that doesn’t end after a single evening or weekend? A group that journeys together long enough to feel like chosen family? A space of safety and permission where you can get to know yourself better than you might imagine? Then this second edition of Ambassadors for Humanity may be for you.
Across 5 weekends and 7 Zoom calls, you will:
- Understand your nervous system and meet many parts of yourself
- Practice intentional ways of relating that you can bring into everyday life
- Learn how to rely on community instead of doing it all alone
- Take responsibility for shaping your life even when there’s fear or overwhelm
- Go beyond your individual experience and help shape a world that cares a little more
Sounds like you? Here’s what we’ll do
We’re Mette Koppelaar and Anna Schmidbauer. After building a deep connection with the participants of the first edition — and seeing how the group continues to connect even after the program ended — it feels exciting (and a little strange) to welcome a new group and start this journey once again.
If you’re curious, keep scrolling or jump to:
5 weekends + 7 calls Program dates & contents
There are two ways to step in:
- Join the full group journey
Find belonging in a community that shares the ups and downs of life. Through the weekends, calls, an active Telegram group, and optional Sunday sharing moments, you’ll build deep connections and have time to integrate what you learn. - Start with 1–3 weekends
If committing to the full program feels intimidating, you can start by joining 1–3 weekends and see how it feels.
During the program, you’ll develop an embodied understanding of the Pyramid of Permission:
The first weekend of the program focuses on creating more inner safety, freedom, and self-trust. You’ll learn the foundational practices that will support the rest of your journey:
- Find inner safety and ease
by recognizing and regulating your nervous system state. - Grow inner permission
by noticing, welcoming, and honoring all parts of your experience. - Live from a more grounded place
by learning when to express yourself, and when to care for your inner needs.
For more details, watch the video below.
Dates & times
- Friday 30 Oct 2026 (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday 31 Oct 2026 (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on group connection, eating, and hanging out together. (You can leave early if you need more rest.) - Sunday 1 Nov 2026 (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Zoom call
- Tuesday 10 Nov 2026 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Integration call: reconnect with the group, digest the weekend together, and further integrate the learnings in your lfe.
Freedom and safety — what it means in practice
How your identity, current circumstances, past circumstances affect your sense of safety and permission & and shape how authentically you can express yourself in any given moment:
Skip to what interests you:
- 00:00:00 — Introducing the first two weekends
- 00:02:13 — Your personal domain
- 00:04:20 — The Pyramid of Permission
- 00:05:09 — How safety shapes your experience
- 00:08:17 — How permission filters your expression
- 00:09:41 — Real Moments
- 00:10:18 — The “authentic self” myth (and the alternative)
- 00:14:09 — Safe & free within yourself (how to achieve this)
- 00:17:06 — Group conversation
- 00:21:08 — Outro
In the second weekend of the program, we focus on one-on-one relationships. You’ll learn to shape relationship cultures that support both people in becoming more themselves—and explore what becomes possible when they do.
You’ll continue building on the foundations from weekend 1 while learning to:
- Grow intimacy & relational depth
by using specific communication practices. - Feel more like yourself in relationships
by expressing what you’d normally hold back. - Create healthy interdependence
by balancing requesting and offering support (and knowing when not to). - Stay connected through challenge and change
without losing yourself or the relationship.
For more details, watch the video below.
Dates & times
- Friday 27 November 2026 (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday 28 November 2026 (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on connection, co-regulation and/or co-creation. Perhaps an alternative thanksgiving dinner? (Let's decide together!) - Sunday 29 November 2026 (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Zoom calls
- Tuesday 15 December 2026 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Integration call: reconnect with the group, digest the weekend together, and further integrate the learnings in your lfe. - Tuesday 12 January 2027 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Community call: for full program participants and those joining weekend 2 and 3. - Tuesday 26 January 2027 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Community call: for full program participants and those joining weekend 2 and 3.
How freedom and safety become relational
How do you create freedom & safety within relationships? How can you use nervous system awareness to avoid drama? How do you create a relationship that welcomes and empowers the individuals and their differences? Watch the video:
Skip to what interests you:
- 00:00:00 — From individual to relational
- 00:00:59 — Cultivating safety & freedom in connection
- 00:07:19 — The drama triangle (meets the nervous system)
- 00:16:12 — Safe states of the nervous system
- 00:18:52 — Empowering relationships
- 00:23:50 — Group conversation & outro
The third weekend of the program focuses on community: groups and society at large. We’ll explore how your identity affects how safe, welcome, and connected you feel in groups, how this differs for others, and how to cultivate groups where a broader range of people can feel like they belong.
You’ll continue applying the skills from weekend 1 and weekend 2 while learning to:
- Create intentional groups and communities
that support different people in being true to themselves. - Connect with a broader range of people
through compassion, curiosity, and questioning your beliefs. - Notice how your expression affects others
and how it changes what others feel safe to do. - Build a real sense of belonging in this group
by repeatedly showing up with honesty and vulnerability.
Dates & times
- Friday 5 February 2027 (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday 6 February 2027 (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on group connection, eating, and hanging out together. (You can leave early if you need more rest.) - Sunday 8 February 2027 (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Zoom call
- Tuesday 16 February 2027 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Integration call: reconnect with the group, digest the weekend together, and further integrate the learnings in your lfe.
The times we live in
In these times of war, polarization, systemic oppression, and even Western/democratic governments limiting freedom of speech, everyone can play a role in preserving what makes us human. One side of this is political activism: supporting specific causes or groups. The other side is seeing beyond our differences and staying open to love. Here’s a video where I talk about this:
Weekend 4 of the program marks a turning point in the journey. The safety and permission you’ve developed during the first three weekends become the foundation for exploring the direction you want your life to take. Supported by the group and the skills you’ve developed along the way, you’ll reconnect with your desires, imagination, and dreams.
You’ll learn to:
- Reconnect with your creative energy
by allowing it to move through you more freely. - Dream beyond your current limitations
before self-doubt and practicality shut you down. - See your life from a wider perspective
and sense what truly matters. - Rely on each other’s support
instead of doing it all alone.
Dates & times
- Friday 5 March 2027 (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday 6 March 2027 (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on group connection, eating, and hanging out together. (You can leave early if you need more rest.) - Sunday 7 March 2027 (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Zoom call
- Tuesday 16 March 2027 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Integration call: reconnect with the group, digest the weekend together, and further integrate the learnings in your lfe.
Weekend 5 of the program is about harvesting the rewards from the seeds you’ve been planting for all these months. Rather than learning new things, you’ll implement what you’ve already learned and make real changes in your life.
You'll have the chance to:
- Move through your inner obstacles
by supporting each other in breaking nervous system patterns that keep you stuck. - Apply your nervous system awareness
by pursuing your goals without burning yourself out. - Practice making actual changes in your life
by being supported to take steps you haven’t managed to take alone. - Complete the shared group journey
through a closing ceremony that honors the connection, growth, and deep experiences you’ve shared.
Dates & times
- Friday 2 April 2027 (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday 3 April 2027 (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on group connection, eating, and hanging out together. (You can leave early if you need more rest.) - Sunday 4 April 2027 (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Zoom call
- Tuesday 20 April 2027 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Final integration call: reconnect with the group for a final official closing moment of the program.
When, where, quanto costa? The practicals
We meet at beautiful KARA Kulturraum in Berlin. We start Fridays at 18:15. We wrap up on Sundays at 17:30. You can sleep over at the house and spend the full weekend with the group, or arrange your own accommodation.
Times for each weekend
With 20+ contact hours, each weekend allows for a slow arrival, a proper closing, and many meaningful experiences in between:
- Friday (18:15 – 22:00)
A nurturing evening, focused on landing in the space, connecting with the group, and starting the weekend from a place of regulation. - Saturday (10:15 – 22:30)
Daytime practices/experiences to deeply connect with the theme of this weekend. A less structured evening focussed on group connection, eating, and hanging out together. (You can leave early if you need more rest.) - Sunday (10:15 – 17:30)
More practices/experiences around this weekend’s topic. A closing of the container that also bridges the weekend with your everyday life.
Weekend dates
- 30 October – 1 November 2026
Safe & free within yourself
Program weekend 1 - 27–29 November 2026
Safe & free in connection
Program weekend 2 - 5–7 February 2027
Safe & free in community
Program weekend 3 - 5–7 March 2027
Dare to Dream
Program weekend 4 - 2–4 April 2027
Make it Happen
Program weekend 5
Calendar import
Add the dates to your calendar and see if it fits (downloads an .ics file)
Zoom calls
- Tuesday 10 November 2026 (19:30 – 21:30 CET)
Integration call for weekend 1 - Tuesday 15 December 2026 (same time)
Integration call for weekend 2 - Tuesday 12 January 2027 (same time)
Community call: for full program participants and those joining weekend 2 and 3. - Tuesday 26 January 2027 (same time)
Community call: for full program participants and those joining weekend 2 and 3. - Tuesday 16 February 2027 (same time)
Integration call for weekend 3 - Tuesday 16 March 2027 (same time)
Integration call for weekend 4 - Tuesday 20 April 2027 (same time)
Final integration call: for anyone who joined at least one weekend.
Online community: the Telegram group
A resource that can be used for things like:
- Sunday sharing circle: Share a written life update on Sundays.
- Emotional/practical support: Learn to ask for what you need and support each other.
- Connect with the team: Ask questions in between weekends.
- Shared activities: Invite each other to birthdays, movie nights, dancing, workshops, walks, or repeating practices.
- Co-creation: Birthing ideas and initiatives together.
- Anything else: Request feedback or advice, find an accountability partner, or offer your skills and wisdom.
While the Telegram group loses its official status after the program, it remained very active after the first edition of the program. The group is still being actively used to initiate meetings and many people continue to use the Sunday sharing circle.
Practical:
- Group size: 10–25 lovely humans
- Availability: Registration open. Join now.
- Language: English
- Bring: comfortable, layered clothing, pen&paper, a water bottle, and whatever brings you comfort or joy. Optionally bring an item to place on that weekend’s altar, snacks to share, and lunch/dinner if you won’t eat out or order in.
Venue, food, staying over:
- Venue: KARA Kulturraum, Berlin (google maps). It's a beautiful, queer, collaborative art space in Berlin Moabit. Photos and accessibility description below.
- Accommodation: It’s possible (and fully optional) to stay at the house on Friday and/or Saturday night for €20 per night. You only have to bring a bedsheet (for around a single mattress). The rest is there. You’ll either stay in the workshop space or in another shared space. Limited availability.
- Food: On Saturdays, we have a 2.5 hour lunch break. We eat and hang out together in the evening (self organized by the group). On Sunday, we have a 1.5 hour lunch break. For all meals, you can eat a nearby restaurant, order in, bring your own food, or cook in the kitchen. There’s a fridge, freezer, and fully equipped kitchen.
- Accessibility: There is a ramp and extra bell that can be reached without climbing stairs at the entry. The house has no thresholds. There is an accessible bathroom and shower. The garden can be reached via the garden gate. The only non-accessible parts of the house are the two mezzanines that allow for extra space. There's a parking space available right in front of the door in the backyard. Please get in touch if you require any assistance.
- Pets: You can't bring your super cute doggie. I'm sorry.
Can you picture yourself here?
Sign up or book a free discovery call with Mette.
Creating a price for this program is a trade-of between two conflicting desires: making the journey as accessible as possible, while also creating a sustainable income through my work.
My current solution is a combination of a fixed upfront payment and a flexible donation afterwards. The upfront amount can be paid in installments.
If you feel shame, pressure, or stress around not being able to donate “enough,” please know that this is common. You’re welcome to either sign up and see how things unfold over time, or message me on Telegram so we can talk about it.
- Fixed payment — upfront
The upfront payment helps covers the out-of-pocket expenses and the upfront costs of setting up the program, which total around €28,600. This includes the venue, materials, the team, promotion, and other organizational expenses.
Full program:
- €1,430 —Pre-payment for the full program (incl. VAT)
- €715 — Helper spot (help with setup, cleanup, and some tasks during the breaks)
- €2,750 — Corporate rate (when your employer pays for you)
- €290 — Pre-payment when booking 3+ weekends
- €305 — Pre-payment when booking 2 weekends
- €325 — Pre-payment when booking 1 weekend
- Flexible donation — afterwards
Within 7 days after your final weekend, you’ll make a donation based on your experience and financial reality. This donation supports the time and energy I put into facilitating the program and organizing the weekends and calls. This donation also contributes to the ongoing investment behind the program: the time and money I spend educating myself, the financial risks involved in organizing events, and the broader costs of sustaining this work long-term. Here’s the scale:- €1 — Minimum donation (so I know you didn’t forget it)
- €100 – €2,100 — Sliding scale (whatever works for you)
- €2,176 — Fully sustainable donation (I know this amount isn’t realistic for most people, so please don’t let it stop you from joining)
- €2,200+ — Donate extra (so others can pay less)
Pay in installments
It's possible to pay the fixed costs in monthly installments. Paying in installments creates more administration and financial risk on my side, which is why a small fee is added:
- Pay in 2 installments: 2% fee
- Pay in 3 installments: 3% fee
- Pay in 4 installments: 4% fee
- Pay in 5 installments: 5% fee
Make your choice
You can indicate your preferences when you sign up. Priority for helper spots is given to people with lower incomes, marginalized identities, or difficult life circumstances..
Who’s creating this? Meet the facilitators
I’m Mette Koppelaar, the initiator of this program. I’m deeply passionate about creating supportive environments where people with various backgrounds can learn, experiment, play, and grow together.
In Anna Schmidbauer I’ve found a friend and co-facilitator who complements me in a wonderful way. Where I focus on creating safety, permission, and connection in the group, Anna brings a deep sensitivity to what’s happening for people individually. She’s also great at slowing me down when I move too fast :)
Together, we aim to hold these weekends in a responsible, trauma-informed way while still showing up as the humans that we are. We’re genuinely open to connection — through conversation, hugs, and dancing; laughter, tears, and play.
Read about our backgrounds:
Mette Koppelaar (1984, they/them)
Facilitates weekends: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
I see authentic self-expression as a way to welcome more of myself, build deeper connection, and contribute to a more loving world.
As a facilitator, I create spaces where people from diverse identities can be true to themselves, build trust, and contribute to a culture of freedom and care. I use frameworks like:
- The Pyramid of Permission (developed by me)
- Polyvagal Theory
- Internal Family Systems
- Wheel of Consent
- Nonviolent Communication
- Diamond Approach
- Buddhism
My approach is simple: when there’s enough outer safety and permission to express yourself, you’ll meet the edges of your inner safety and permission. Having positive experiences at your edges, you can slowly become more comfortable with a wider range of expression. Over time, this allows you to reveal more of yourself in more areas of life.
My lens and ambition
I was born in Amsterdam in 1984. I’m white, able-bodied, middle-class, and gender nonconforming, using they/them or he/him pronouns. I grew up with safety and stability, with parents who spent years in group therapy before I was born. I haven’t faced war or poverty, and my passport allows me to travel freely—privileges I’m increasingly aware of.
At the same time, dressing outside gender norms has shown me what it’s like to not always feel safe on the street. Research, book interviews, and many personal conversations have deepened my understanding of societal oppression—especially for those whose identities are most targeted.
What began as a search for personal freedom has turned into a deep longing for a free, just, and equal world. It’s what I strive to contribute to in my work and daily life—one real moment at a time.
Connect with me
Book a free call, join my mailing list, Telegram channel, or Instagram — or watch some of the videos below this photo:
Watch me talk
Why I created Ambassadors For Humanity:
How dressing outside the norm led me to do this work:
Anna Schmidbauer (1989, she/her)
Co-facilitates weekends: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
“With my earliest professional roots in social work, I have dedicated 15 years of my life to working with children and teenagers. Learning and deepening most of my current work ethics through and with them, I have offered creative conflict resolution camps out in the wilderness, democracy camps, Czech-German youth exchanges as well as early childhood rhythmic education. I have worked in juvenile detention as well as in Waldorf kindergarten. This wide range of fields has informed and shaped me deeply.
Later, when I started a new professional chapter with being trained in the Pantarei Approach, I realized that the aspects which fascinated me most about the work with children, were also the key elements that unlocked fertile and fruitful processes in the somatic coaching processes of my clients.
Believing in the power of our heartfelt visions and dreams, I am now supporting entrepreneurs who wish their work to be a holistic, just and sustainable contribution and possible solution to some of today’s pressing issues. One of my main goals in this work is to support my clients and their bodies in offering what is most meaningful to them, without setting themselves up for burnout.
I believe in the courageous act of unlocking innocence, play, expression, fascination, excitement, honesty and hope - qualities I have seen and immersed myself in in their purest form in my work with children. When those qualities are allowed to be part of our healing work, of much needed activism and new work models, there’s the potential to experience them beyond the real risk of them being ‘fluffy love and light’ escape strategies.
I’m grateful and joyful to be part of the upcoming Ambassadors for Humanity journey, and look forward to us researching and weaving together.”
You’re so welcome to Join the ride
Checked out the prices? Feeling excited and maybe a little scared? That’s what growth often feels like :)
Sign up in three steps
- 1. Fill out the registration form
Entire journey: Full program signup form
Start with 1–3 weekends: Weekend signup form - 2. Schedule an intake call
You’ll receive a scheduling link after filling out the form. - 3. Make the initial payment
Your spot is confirmed once the first payment has been made. Payment in installments is possible.
You can also start with an obligation-free discovery call with Mette. Choose a time here.
Last year, half of the group committed to the full journey upfront. Of the people who started with fewer weekends, 94% continued into the full program. So while the journey is designed to build over time and is most impactful when experienced in full, we still offer the option to sign up for less weekends if committing to the full program feels intimidating.
If you can, please sign up early. The internal process tends to begin as soon as you sign up, long before the first weekend begins. Early signups also help us spend less energy on promotion and more on improving the program itself.
Unsure?
Book a discovery call with Mette
Photo of the 2025 group by the end of weekend 2
Many people spiral back and forth between yes and no. But not all spirals are the same. Here are two types of doubts:
1. Actual life concerns:
- “I have wayyyyy too many things going on. Adding something will send me straight into a burnout.”
- “I know it’s not the right time, but I fear this is my last chance! ”
- “I'm really low on cash, and spending more money will affect my ability to pay rent or buy food.”
If this is you, then now is probably not the best time to join.
2. Fear of doing something new:
- “Part of me is excited! But I’m also a little afraid.”
- “I have little experience in these spaces — and I fear I’m the only inexperienced one.”
- “I don’t know anyone there — and I fear I’ll feel awkward or alone.”
If this is your experience, I would call it “normal” fear or resistance. At the risk of sounding persuasive, here’s my take on it:
- You won’t be the only inexperienced one. Most participants don’t yet know each other. Rather, we all start to form a deep bond over the course of experience. That’s the beauty.
- Many people have these kinds of fears — especially the first time. In fact, it’s almost prerequisite for joining because it shows you’re on your edge of growth.
- Sometimes, it’s helpful to stop overthinking, remember that you can always leave, and take a leap of faith. Often, the annoying person turned out to be right: the water really isn’t that cold.
- If you have some genuine concerns, just book a call with me, and you’ll definitely have more clarity after that.
Break the spiral by having a chat with me on Zoom. In 15-20 minutes, you’ll likely find more clarity than after days of thinking about it. We can talk about the retreat, a specific challenge in your life, or simply make small-talk and have a laugh.
Free Zoom calls to:
- Regulate, connect with yourself and others, and learn new things
- Get a sense of the program and my facilitation style
- Ask questions
The dates:
- Wednesday 8 July 2026 (19:30–21:30 CET, zoom)
Join this Orientation Call - Tuesday 4 August 2026 (19:30–21:30 CET, zoom)
Join this Orientation Call - Monday 7 September 2026 (19:30–21:30 CET, zoom)
Join this Orientation Call
Calendar import
Add the call dates to your calendar (downloads an .ics file)Check out all my events, follow me on Telegram, Instagram, or Facebook. Or join the mailing list:
Yes, we take this seriously: Values & accountability
How we take responsibility for the space:
The following values are the foundation for all my work. If these don't resonate with you, then we may not be a match. Of course, these values are always a work in progress. If something about them doesn’t feel right, or if you have ideas for improvement, I would love to hear from you. Message me on Telegram or through the contact form.
If it ever feels like I or any of the team members don't live up to these values, I would love for you to tell me.
- Authenticity: Everyone's invited to verbally, physically, and emotionally express themselves. We can play with our expression without justifying ourselves, yet we strive to do so in a way that’s considerate of other people.
- Inclusivity: We welcome all identities and personal backgrounds. We try to notice the judgments and assumptions we make about others, and question racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or other discriminatory beliefs or behavior.
- Consent: We respect each other's space, stuff, boundaries and privacy. We share a responsibility to create a safe environment for ourselves as well as for others.
- Confidentiality: We don’t share about other people’s experiences. We don’t comment on other people’s experiences without their consent.
- Self and group responsibility: We’re try to look after our own well-being and ask for help when we need it—even when we don't know what we need. We try to be aware how we take up space, and strive to contribute to the safety of the group.
- No sex or romance with team members: Team members don't share arousal, sexual energy, or romance with participants. (We often like to share hugs or other forms of touch though!)
- No intoxication: We don't consume drugs and alcohol during or before the event, and limit the use of phones/devices in public spaces.
Lots of beautiful things can happen in spaces like these. You may also encounter interactions that don’t work for you—even when everyone has the best intentions. This can often be repaired when everyone involved is willing to have a vulnerable conversation about what happened.
If you have an unpleasant experience with a team member or fellow participant, I encourage you to reach out to them directly. If that doesn’t work or feels like too much, you’re very welcome to contact me (Mette) via Telegram or the contact form, or to contact any other team member. I/we may be able to support you and won’t take any action without your consent.
If you have an unpleasant experience with me (Mette), you're invited to reach out to me directly, contact another team member, or approach my accountability partner Anouk Bongers. She won't communicate with me unless you consent to it. You can find her contact details here.
If you’re still carying something that happened a long time ago, I want to acknowledge that it can take time to process certain experiences. Sometimes months or years. The offer above remains valid. There’s no such thing as reaching out too late.
(To see the actual prices, click here)
Working independently in a sustainable way comes with many invisible costs. Because prices in this field can sometimes seem high or “commercial,” I want to be transparent about how these numbers are calculated and how different contribution levels impact my ability to do this work.
Please don't let this overview stop you from joining. My intention is not to pressure you into paying more, but to make visible what different contribution levels mean for me. I deeply long to make a living through this work so I can keep doing it, yet I don’t want anyone to make a donation that puts them into financial hardship.
| The fully sustainable price per weekend (incl. VAT) | €2,176 |
| If I let go of... | The donation is... |
| Nothing | €2176 |
| Attending trainings & events to improve my work | €1967 |
| Saving up for business challenges | €1750 |
| Saving up for my pension | €1315 |
| Adding to my personal savings | €1097 |
| Taking vacation | €888 |
| Being insured for not being able to work | €804 |
| Taking time off on public holidays | €720 |
| Taking time off when I'm sick | €637 |
I don’t expect everyone to pay the full price
Most people won’t — and that’s okay.
I simply want to make visible that when many people pay less, the sum of that difference has to be absorbed somewhere — either through substantial donations from others, or by taking it from my savings, pension, and long-term financial security.
Some reflective questions you can consider:
- Do you have a job, savings, financial support, a family you can rely on, or ways to earn additional money if needed?
- Do you have stable housing, citizenship, and good health?
- Do you frequently encounter systemic oppression or discrimination, or are you more shielded from this?
- Are you able to spend money on things like eating out, vacations, events, therapy, or hobbies — or does most of your income already go toward basic needs?
- Do you financially support your children, sick family members, or family abroad?
- Knowing what this program could contribute to your life, are there creative ways you could realistically source the money over time?
How the calculation works
- I aim to work 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. Out of those hours, roughly 40% of my time goes into things like admin, general promotion, and other general tasks. This means I have around 24 hours per workweek to make my income.
- On a yearly basis, I have to account for vacation, sick days, public holidays, festivals where I work for free to make a name for myself, and the time I spend on training that lets me do this work in a responsible, trauma-informed way. Which leaves me with around 38 work weeks per year.
- This means I have to make my entire annual income in 24 x 38 = 912 hours per year, or 76 hours per month.
- I spend at least 460 hours on one edition of this program:
- 145+ hours of preparation: developing the program; promotion; venue communication; setting up a team; handling signups and cancellations; chasing payments; communicating with participants, helpers, team members, and the venue; shopping; and many more small tasks.
- 275+ hours for preparing and facilitating the actual five weekends
- 40+ hours for preparing and hosting the online calls
- Besides the time investment, I spend money on overhead costs for my business, renting the venue, paying team members, and buying materials I need for running the program. Depending on how signups are going, I might have to spend money on online promotion, printing flyers, etc.
- Now, to earn the median salary for someone my age (42) in this part of the world, I have to generate €123.42 for each hour that I work on this program (including VAT). To achieve this, I need to completely sell out the program with an average donation of €2,831 per full program participant (on top of the initial payment).
- To make this program more inclusive, I've lowered my target salary by 20%, and accepted that I’ll likely earn much less than that, unless for everyone paying less, there’s someone paying more, which isn’t the case.
- While my setup greatly reduces the price and makes my programs more inclusive, it does mean that I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do this work for. I have a very low salary and very little security: I basically cut out all of my safety nets. I don't save money, I don't save up for a pension, and I don't have disability insurance. This works as long as I'm healthy, have access to cheap housing, and don't have kids or anyone else to care for, but I’ll not when any of this changes or when I age.
So yes — it’s a long and complex story.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you want to share reflections, ask questions, or contribute financially so others can participate at a lower price, you’re welcome to message me on Telegram or through the contact form.
Conditions for canceling your ticket
If your spot is taken by someone you found or someone on the waiting list:
- 100% refund minus €75 admin fee
If no one takes your spot:
- Cancel up to 2 months before we start: 100% refund minus €75
- Cancel up to 1 month before we start: 50% refund
- Cancel up to 2 weeks before we start: 20% refund
- Cancel in the 13 days before we start: no refund
A few things to keep in mind:
- The waiting list only opens once the event is sold out.
- I consider your spot taken when when (a) you found someone to take your spot and they mention your name their application form or (b) the program is full, the spots of any people who cancelled before you have been taken first, and someone on the remaining waiting list takes your spot.
- I'll refund you once the new person has paid in full.
- You can't transfer your spot to someone else without my approval.
- If you haven't paid the full amount and no one has taken your spot, you're obliged to pay all remaining installments—even if you cancelled.
Conditions when I cancel the event:
- 100% refund
Most of the workshop photos were taken by Mio Schweiger. The portraits, group photos, and space photos were taken by others.
You scrolled a loooong way. Now, choose wisely:
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