– Male Participant, USA

The Gender Equity and Reconciliation workshop deeply touched my spirit and my heart, and I am profoundly grateful. For the first time in my life I am experiencing a fun, joyous relationship with a man — something I never thought would be possible. Although it is still in its early stages, I firmly believe this would never have been possible without the healing that took place at the Gender Equity and Reconciliation workshop. Thank you for helping me appreciate this very special moment in my life.

– Michelle, Toronto, Canada,
written six months after a GERI workshop in 2012

I found this to be the safest course on Gender work that I have done. It is a major accomplishment to create a safe enough space on Zoom for men to hear women’s pain and women to hear men’s pain. And once that happened, I was surprised that most of the conversation falls away, and a deeper bond emerges. I feel connected across the ‘gender gap’ on a heart level now, not just a cognitive level. My partner and I did it together, and the deepening we achieved between the sessions, was a large part of the course. That was also true for our relationship with our children. I would recommend this course to anyone.

– Jim Vollett, Founder and CEO
Vollett Executive Coaching
North Vancouver, BC

– Female Participant, Vancouver, Canada

– Male Participant, USA

Participating in this online course with GERI has deepened my awareness of the suffering experienced by all, because of systemic, generational gender inequity and injustice. I’ve been able to expand my compassion to myself and to others and most importantly to take responsibility for my part in advancing and holding safe space for gender healing.

– Sara Jamil, Ontario, Canada

My experience of the Gender Equity and Reconciliation International workshop brought to light how central the role of unity is in advancing the work of gender equality. At the international level, there is an attitude of “fighting” for women’s rights, which is important and I am grateful for the gains won. Yet, to push us to the next stage of development, women and men must come together to create a new culture in which all can flourish, and the foundation must be trust and understanding.

The workshop created the safe space to hear one another, to strive for insights and compassion, to work on our individual transformation and to commit to building a new gender equal civilization together, in unity. It is a unique space, unlike any other I have participated in. A must for anyone committed to the work of gender equality.

– Saphira Rameshfar, Executive Committee of the U.N. NGO Committee on the Status of Women, and co-chair of their Youth Leaders and Young Professionals program.

I feel like I now have greater empathy for the pain and suffering which is affecting both genders, and I appreciated the safe space for sharing stories and emotions among accepting and open-minded others, as well as the caring, vulnerability, and holding of the facilitators.

– Male participant, Vancouver, Canada

Today I woke up truly more emancipated in terms of my gender and sexuality. I woke up with faith and hope that there’s still a chance for me to prosper because a part of me has healed from the wounds I have carried daily. I now believe more than ever that the society I reside in still has a chance to work towards peace and mutual healing for all.

– Seo, transgender woman, South Africa

– Tammy, British Colombia, Canada