1. Creation of a Safe and Comfortable Environment within the VALTA Project

Participants emphasized the critical importance of the positive learning environment that was created in the VALTA Project. They experienced a sense of safety and comfort that allowed for being vulnerable and for taking risks in terms of what they shared. In this environment, they felt safe to confront their own issues around violence, and to question, explore and reconsider the ways in which they worked with adult learners. The environment was responsive to the diversity of experiences of participants and made space for a variety of styles of learning, which meant that people could "come from where they were." Another element of the learning environment was a sense of equality manifested in a shared understanding that all contributions were important and equally valued and that nobody was an expert above others. As one participant put it, there was a "culture of gentleness" within the group.

There was the idea that 'nobody's an expert here.' It made it easy to be real about what's going on for you.

One of the surprises at the workshop was the emphasis on play. I thought we were wasting a lot of valuable time on play. Then I realized that what the organizers had accomplished by providing a safe place to play and be ourselves was group cohesion. I feel safe revealing thoughts, concerns and ideas online to both participants and instructors. I was blown away when I realized how important this was.

It struck me that care was taken to encourage people to participate in whatever ways they were comfortable with. As a result, the group really bonded—we came together very quickly.

We were all treated throughout the process as a resource whose opinions were valued.

We didn't have to say anything if we didn't want to but we were encouraged to.

There was an acceptance that each participant was at a different place and in a different space. You could come from your own experience. We had different amounts of energy to expend on it. They were responsive to this.