Dealing with the past and promoting inclusive, culturally sensitive processes
be.dialogue
We believe that change of any kind begins with encounter and with a courageous, authentic, and empathetic dialogue. Whether you are addressing injustices and violence from the past, leading multicultural teams, or advocating for social change and justice—we support you in transforming challenges into catalysts for change. Our philosophy is simple yet powerful: Dialogue changes everything—past, present, and future.
be.present – be.authentic – be.dialogue!
Who We Are
be.dialogue is a consulting network focused on topics such as dealing with processes of overcoming violence and memory work (Dealing with the Past), addressing colonial continuities, intercultural and culturally sensitive processes, as well as institutional and societal change.
We support individuals, organizations, companies, and institutions worldwide in fostering encounters and strengthening dialogues: between the past and the present, between cultures and contexts, between generations, and between religions.
What We Offer
Our consulting services cover two main areas:
- Dealing with the Past: Addressing the consequences of a violent past to constructively address current individual and socio-political challenges
- Dealing with violence and the consequences of violence
- Dealing with the colonial legacy and colonial continuities
- (Culturally sensitive) trauma work, psychosocial support & self-care
- Inclusive remembrance work & transgenerational processes
- Intercultural sensitivity and diversity: Working in intercultural teams and contexts
- Reflection on interculturality and building culturally sensitive competencies
- Consulting, preparation, and support for international staff mobility / sending professionals abroad and their return
- Consulting, training, and process support for international / intercultural teams
Our Approach
With many years of experience at the intersection of theory and practice, we design consulting processes, training programs, and workshops that…
… are participant-centered and context-specific
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Every be.dialogue initiative is tailored to the specific cultural, institutional, and historical context of the participants.
… are dialogue-oriented and experience-based
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be.dialogue focuses on encounters, exchange, open dialogue, reflective learning, and experiential methods that foster in-depth engagement, critical thinking, and mutual understanding.
… promote competence through train-the-trainer programs
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We empower local leaders and facilitators through well-founded train-the-trainer approaches that ensure long-term effectiveness and ownership.
… are strategic, process- and impact-oriented
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Our consulting work is impact- and process-oriented; together with our partners, we develop strategies for change processes and support them throughout the entire implementation phase.
Our Mission
We support our participants and partners by:
… Encouraging dialogue
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… as a method and strategy for addressing a violent past and colonial legacies in various organizations and contexts worldwide
… Initiating dialogue
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… to identify practice-oriented approaches to addressing violence, trauma, displacement and migration, racism, cultural exclusion, and sustainable conflict transformation
… Preparing for dialogue
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… through the development and provision of materials and learning tools, as well as through the conduct of training sessions on various topics related to dealing with a violent past, historical injustice, colonial legacies, and interculturality
… Facilitating dialogue
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… to strengthen processes for addressing cultural diversity in local and international teams and institutions
… Moderating dialogue
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… by facilitating topic-specific events, conferences, and panel discussions
Our Team
We are a team of internationally experienced and widely exposed consultants and trainers in the areas of addressing violent pasts, cultural sensitivity in organizations and institutions, colonial continuities, and the decolonization of institutional and societal structures. We combine academic expertise with practical experience to design and facilitate context-sensitive and impact-oriented processes.
Our Values
Trust, authenticity, and empathy are the foundation of our work. We believe in the power of participatory processes, the value of long-term relationships, and dialogues that enable change. Sustainability, fairness, and social responsibility shape our understanding of good counselling and process facilitation. The focus is always on the concrete experiences of the people we work with—and understanding their contextual setting.
Our Cooperations, Networks and External Consults
Our clients* and partners
- Civil society, church, and government organizations engaged in development cooperation and peacebuilding
- International organizations and companies
- EU partners
- Government institutions and agencies
- Academies and educational institutions
Overview of our training programs
Dealing with the Past | Decolonization in International Cooperation | Trauma-Sensitive Peacebuilding | Self-Care in Challenging Contexts | Trauma Work and Psychosocial Support | Strengthening Multicultural Teams | Inclusive Memory Work | Sustainable, Culturally Sensitive Leadership Training
Aktuelles
An dieser Stelle veröffentlichen wir in unregelmäßigen Abständen Neues zu unseren Veranstaltungen oder auch zu XY:
Testimonials
The Dealing with the Past (DwP) training facilitated by Norman and Friederike turned out to be a transformative experience that surpassed expectations of any typical virtual learning. The participatory methodology approach created an enabling environment where theory met practice through storytelling and real-world experiences from across the globe. What truly set this course apart was the balance of expert facilitation and peer contribution. By sharing diverse global examples, Norman and Friederike helped us build a deeper and broader understanding of the intricacies of DwP. The assignments were reflective and thought-provoking, culminating in a unique project where each participant contributed a chapter to a pocketbook. This felt like a “tour of the world,” weaving collective experiences into a tangible resource. They didn’t just teach DwP; they guided the team through a practical, global journey that left me well-equipped for the work ahead.” (Nicolas Dola, Kenya, Pro-Peace Dealing with the Past training participant 2025)
Working with Friederike and Norman was consistently reliable, respectful, and very constructive. Their enthusiasm for the topic of Dealing with the Past is clearly evident. In the training and in their interactions with participants, we found them to be both professionally competent and empathetic. They make a great, well-coordinated team!“ (Hannah Würbel und Selena Gould, Akademie für Konflikttransformation von Pro Peace ) read more
Thank you. We covered so many critical topics. …Such a valuable learning opportunity. Feeling grateful.“ (Jenny Peculic Sowry, USA)
