How We Work
We believe that the best way to learn is from mistakes. Our course and consulting concepts are based on over a decade of experience in NGOs, gathered in some of the most dangerous war zones, such as Gaza after October 7, 2023, or in complex situations like Afghanistan immediately after the Taliban took power—experiences that also involved numerous incidents and valuable lessons.
We are happy to share our own mistakes, which form the basis of many of our training scenarios—so others can only repeat them in the safe environment of a training session. At the same time, we too have learned from these mistakes, making our concepts particularly field-tested and effective.
We place great emphasis on preparation, risk and incident management, and especially on effective communication and psychosocial factors such as group dynamics. In our view, the greatest potential to significantly increase the safety of civilian operations in war and crisis zones lies here.
It is nearly impossible to teach someone in a five-day course how to safely navigate a minefield. However, we can provide tools for effective risk management that help avoid such situations from the outset.
Security courses and consulting services often follow military logic, as many providers come from that background. However, these approaches are often far removed from the practical realities faced by journalists or aid workers. Our mixed team of trainers and consultants brings experience from the military, NGOs, and journalism, enabling us to tailor our offerings to the actual realities of our clients lives.
Every crisis is unique, and especially in war zones, technological advancements continually lead to new developments that need to be taken into account. Thanks to our work, including with CADUS e.V., we are in constant contact with the field. This allows us to continuously adjust our scenarios and consulting approaches to the actual conditions on the ground.
It is particularly important to us to design our training and consulting offerings to be culturally, gender, and racism-sensitive – a mindset that, unfortunately, is still not a given in this field.
Our ongoing simulations in the style of Live Action Role Play (LARP), based on real events from the field, give you the opportunity to learn in a hands-on and realistic way. This intensive training ensures that what you’ve learned won’t be forgotten and guarantees a steep learning curve. With our specially developed scenario training software, we also offer you the opportunity for realistic training – conveniently from home.
Are you an activist and want to work with a grassroots organization in the field, but can’t afford our training? No problem – we understand your situation all too well from our own experience. Just send us an email or briefly explain your situation in the contact form! Often, we can find funding options or have short-term availability. Together, we’ll find a solution!
