Resilience Retreat

About

The Resilience Program is a one-week residential program in partnership with the Blue Spirit Center in Costa Rica that gathers human rights defenders, and experts in the fields of psychology, trauma, somatics, nonviolence, and leadership.

The program equips activists with the tools and resources to become resilient leaders within their movements while developing personalized wellness practices to sustain their efforts over the long term. Throughout the program, participants develop strategies to strengthen their personal mental health while improving their organizational decision-making. By fostering resilience and psychological agility, they are better equipped to navigate external challenges in the high-risk environments they operate in. By addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being, HRF seeks to ensure that pro-democracy activists remain resilient and effective in their efforts.

About Blue Spirit

Blue Spirit is a holistic retreat center located in Costa Rica, dedicated to providing a serene environment for personal transformation and wellness. Their mission is to inspire individuals to deepen their connection with themselves and nature through a variety of yoga, meditation, and wellness programs. Emphasizing sustainability and community, Blue Spirit fosters an atmosphere where guests can rejuvenate, heal, and cultivate mindfulness, all while enjoying the natural beauty of their surroundings.

About Blue Spirit

Retreat Themes

Sustainable Activism

Supporting sustainable activism through rest, reflection, and alignment with personal and professional goals. Addressing activism-related trauma by fostering mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Resilient Leadership

Building resilience and emotional regulation in leadership by breaking unproductive patterns, fostering self-awareness, and using practical exercises to improve adaptability in leadership.

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This experience was exceptional. I thought it would be a motivating and restful experience but my expectations were surpassed. It made me recognize that tranquility, peace, and calm could not be found outside of me. It’s in me. But for that, I have to focus, I have to think, and give space to my emotions. And for that, I have to breathe, I have to be calm, I have to be tranquil, and I recognize my surroundings. It was also an experience because I reconnected with my country.

Edipcia Dubon

Nicaraguan pro-democracy activist and Freedom Fellow

The human being in the authoritarian regime is just a part of the huge machine. There is no humanity, no dignity of persons, and that is what they do in the prisons, they destroy the dignity of humans from the very beginning, it’s the main idea of theirs. And now I just want to spread this information to the whole nation just like, please, be focused on yourself, just like be centered, know that you are already that straight line, you have it in you, you have this source in you.

Volya Vysotskaia

Belarusian pro-democracy activist and Freedom Fellow

What we learned at the retreat was that understanding or acknowledging your vulnerabilities doesn’t weaken you. In fact, if it’s done from a position of determination, from a sense of purpose, it can actually grow your power and your leadership, and the power of your community.

Jamila Raqib

Executive Director of the Albert Einstein Institution

Blue Spirit was fantastic because as an activist, usually we don’t have so much time to think about our bodies. Usually we don’t have the ability to connect directly with our bodies and especially our bodies as a tool to communicate, to involve others, to motivate others in activism, and of course to fight for freedom against our opponent.

Yunier Suarez

Cuban pro-democracy activist and Freedom Fellow

The one thing I learned in this retreat is that I must take care of myself more, I must learn that I must keep myself healthy, that many times I must stop and center myself so I can better think things through and come out with more energy to the battle for freedom.

Jesus Aleman

Former political prisoner and Venezuelan pro-democracy activist

This retreat really helped me to reconnect with myself, my body, my soul, my spirituality, and also recognizing that we don’t always have to be in fight mode, so it was really helpful to gain perspective.

Zumretay Arkin