rumah empati

For Southeast Asian activists

Azzad Mahdzir — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:12:10 +0000

What does the day of total inclusion look like to us? How would we prepare our house to welcome those who are coming?

Overview

We live inside stories – inherited, silenced, unfinished, displaced, returned.

In this 2.5-3 hour guided circle, we gather as “passengers” rather than participants. We will:

Presence what we carry through a group altar
⁠Enter embodied writing practice
Witness each other’s stories through mirrored dialogue
Weave a collective Story Mandala across five healing portals
Speak into what wants to move differently in our lives

This is not a workshop to fix or explain your life.

This is a space to witness and be witnessed.

Through embodied writing, ritual, silence, and shared reflection, we will explore:

What stories are unfinished in us
What was broken, forbidden, or compressed
What still longs for truth, strength, and presence

Guided by Circle of Trust touchstones (no fixing, no advising, deep confidentiality), we create a container where stories become medicine not because they are resolved, but because they are held.

We deeply honour our core modality’s inspiration, Work That Reconnects by Joanna Macy.

Who Is This For?

This workshop is especially for Human Rights Defenders in Southeast Asian countries.

Collaboration

Be part of the contributing team to give access to our materials translated into Filipino. Email azzad.mahdzir@gmail.com

Bring

⁠Bring an object: natural, handmade, or gifted, that carries the story you hold this season. Photographs, natural objects, fabric, books, writings: a poem, letter, or passage, jewelry or adornments, tools or instruments, keepsakes.
⁠A notebook and pen.
⁠A heart ready to hold your own story, as well as others’.

For seekers navigating change, roots, and memory

Azzad Mahdzir — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:00:13 +0000

This workshop is especially welcoming to those navigating identity shifts, life transitions, ancestral reconnection, or the transformation of intergenerational memory.

Overview

We live inside stories – inherited, silenced, unfinished, displaced, returned.

In this 2.5-3 hour guided circle, we gather as “passengers” rather than participants. We will:

Presence what we carry through a group altar
⁠Enter embodied writing practice
Witness each other’s stories through mirrored dialogue
Weave a collective Story Mandala across five healing portals
Speak into what wants to move differently in our lives

This is not a workshop to fix or explain your life.

This is a space to witness and be witnessed.

Through embodied writing, ritual, silence, and shared reflection, we will explore:

What stories are unfinished in us
What was broken, forbidden, or compressed
What still longs for truth, strength, and presence

Guided by Circle of Trust touchstones (no fixing, no advising, deep confidentiality), we create a container where stories become medicine not because they are resolved, but because they are held.

We deeply honour our core modality’s inspiration, Work That Reconnects by Joanna Macy.

Who Is This For?

This workshop is especially welcoming to those navigating identity shifts, life transitions, ancestral reconnection, or the transformation of intergenerational memory.

Bring

⁠Bring an object: natural, handmade, or gifted, that carries the story you hold this season. Photographs, natural objects, fabric, books, writings: a poem, letter, or passage, jewelry or adornments, tools or instruments, keepsakes.
⁠A notebook and pen.
⁠A heart ready to hold your own story, as well as others’.

Parking & Commuting

The venue, 27, Jalan Tenggiri, Bangsar is in a residency area.
Car parking is limited.
Two parking spots are available in front of the venue.
Alternative 1: Park down the road heading up a slope by the side of the road.
Alternative 2: Park around Jalan Kurau and take a short walk.
Participants are encouraged to use e-hailing, or car-pool.
Bangsar LRT Station (KJ16) is:

• 1.6km from venue

• 5-6 min car-ride away

• 23 min walking distance

Sliding Scale Fee

We are committed to making our programmes accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Our sliding scale pricing allows individuals to pay what fits their current budget.

Your honesty ensures this model works for everyone. Select your rate during registration.

Supporter: RM85 (140%)
For earners of stable income + those who can contribute more to support others.

Standard: RM60 (100%)
For earners of stable income + those who can pay the regular fee.

Subsidised: Anything between RM59-RM25 (40% minimum)
For earners in between stable and unstable income + those in need of financial assistance.

For International Women’s Day 2026

Azzad Mahdzir — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:59:25 +0000

To move beyond simple awareness and drive tangible, collaborative action toward equality.

Overview

“To move beyond simple awareness and drive tangible, collaborative action toward equality.”

The International Women’s Day 2026 theme is #GiveToGain, which focuses on fostering gender equality through a mindset of generosity, collaboration, and collective action to amplify opportunities for women and girls. It highlights that giving time, resources, and support helps everyone rise.

Concept Note

In conjunction with International Women’s Day 2026, we are pleased to invite you to join us in celebrating this meaningful occasion under the global theme #GiveToGain.

Give To Gain highlights the power of generosity, collaboration, and collective action in advancing gender equality. It reminds us that when we give our time, resources, mentorship, and support, we create greater opportunities—not only for women and girls, but for everyone to rise together.

This 2-hour event is a collaborative initiative between the Group HR and WDW teams, featuring a panel discussion followed by breakout room sessions. It aims to encourage open sharing of perspectives and experiences, creating space for collective learning and meaningful action that benefits all of us at TalentCorp.

More than raising awareness, our goal is to inspire tangible, collaborative action that drives real progress toward equality within our workplace and beyond.

We warmly encourage all staff to attend and be part of this important dialogue. Together, let’s embody the spirit of #GiveToGain and contribute to building a more inclusive and empowered future.

We look forward to your participation.

Women Programmes, TalentCorp Malaysia

Who Is This For?

This workshop is especially curated for staff members of the TalentCorp HQ, by Women Programmes, TalentCorp Malaysia

What to Bring?

⁠A notebook and pen.
⁠A heart ready to hold your own story, as well as others’.

For Workplaces [Pilot & Filming session]

Azzad Mahdzir — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:19:20 +0000

This is an intimate group workshop designed to nurture empathy and mental wellbeing: for the public good, and for the deepest impact.

This session will be filmed as part of our trainer’s HRD Corp accreditation and will serve as a resource for an educational platform for the public, extending its reach far beyond the room.

Level: Seeding stage, no prerequisite • Focus: Self-Empathy
Self-practice toolkit to bring home
3-6 Pax • Small, intimate cohort
Healthy snacks, beverage
Private online coaching [90 min, post-event]

Overview

PROBLEM STATEMENT

“Your inner compass is pointing in one direction, but your steps are going another“

As adults, we often show up for others, but forget to show up for ourselves. Misalignment, burnout, emotional fog, they start within.
The world is heavy, busy, and noisy. Judgment and unmet needs make it heavier. Self-empathy is how we breathe again.
Neglecting ourselves costs more than we realise; our health, our relationships, and, our choices. Self-empathy becomes a survival skill.

THE INVITATION:

Seeds of Empathy is a space to pause, reflect, and realign. It’s a container to reconnect with your inner truth. Rooted in:

✅ Social Emotional and Ethical Learning (Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, Emory University)

✅ Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg)

✅ The Work (Byron Katie)

✅ Map of Consciousness (Dr. David Hawkins)

OUR STRATEGY:

“Aligning with Self-Value through O-F-N-R”

✅ Emotional literacy & unmet needs.

✅ Explore your inner dialogue and reconnect with self-compassion.

✅ Conscious alignment with values.

✅ Guided practices for deep self-empathy.

With all the troubling world events happening, the real work starts within.

What Will You Learn?

OUR HYBRID WORKSHOP OFFERINGS:

“Seeds of Empathy”

① Physical Session Modules [4 hours]

② Private Online Coaching Session

Post-Event [90 min]

Our consultation and coaching session utilises the components of O-F-N-R—Observations, Feelings, Needs, and Requests, to practice Self-Empathy and Empathy for others, fostering skilful conscious communication.

What Tools You'll Bring Home?

Who Is This For?

“Seeker of practical tools for self-practice”

✅ Individuals who are ready to be present, fully. To welcome an alternative approach to respond.
✅ Individuals who are patient. Understand that this session is the first step, change comes with practice and consistency.
✅ Individuals who appreciate healthy relationships. Be it at home, at work, or at social settings.

Assess your readiness, willingness to engage, and to practice 🙏🏽

Requirements

Following these requirements ensures a smooth and effective workshop experience for all participants

✅ Respond to the pre-workshop survey
✅ Be on time to avoid disruptions
✅ Respond to the post-workshop survey

UCSI University students observing their exterior and interior worlds at Garden Spring Cheras in 'Yale Life Worth Living' retreat programme (Aug 2025)

Rumah Empati as guest trainers at the 'Yale Life Worth Living' retreat programme (Aug 2025)

Guided breathing session with members of Indika Foundation, Jakarta (Jan 2025)

"Signs of Emotions", a pilot workshop in Bahasa Isyarat Indonesia version, BISINDO with Silang.id for Deaf participants in Jakarta (Feb 2025)

Collaboration with Silang.id for Deaf participants in Jakarta (Feb 2025)

Iceberg of emotions by Deaf participants in "Signs of Emotions" Jakarta (Feb 2025)

"Self-Awareness for Resilience" module presented for KerjayAKU: Goal Accelerator a Career Glow Up Program (Sep 2024)

"Tat Twam Asi: Aku adalah Kamu, Kamu adalah Aku", an attempt to adapt the O-F-N-R framework for the Balinese Hindu local community (2024)

This open-call workshop is offered on a donation basis. The suggested minimum contribution is RM80-100 per person. This covers:
• On site: A full breakfast, snack & beverage
• To bring home: Booklet and self-awareness tools
• Post-workshop: A private 1-on-1 online consultation.

Your generosity helps us sustain the space and film the session for our trainer's HRD Corp accreditation. If you are able to give more, your support allows others to join with ease.

The sliding scale fees shared on this page is to indicate the context of our public fee structure beyond this session.

Digital Detox Retreat for Beginners

Azzad Mahdzir — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:12:47 +0000

A beginning of 2026 marked by intentional practice of mindfulness and self-empathy.

Overview

At the foot of Mount Agung, Bukit Temawang and Rumah Empati invite you to step away from the noise of urban life and into a sanctuary of silence, movement, and mindful presence. Over 4 days and 3 nights, you’ll experience a digital detox, guided meditation, yoga, and embodied empathy practices designed for beginners. This retreat is not about escaping life, but about awakening empathy for yourself, for others, and for the world around you.

Itinerary

EMPATHY RETREAT

Day 1: Friday

Arrival & Grounding

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Arrival / Check-in / lunch
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Orientation circle — digital detox & retreat guidelines
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Empathy Session
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Evening Yoga
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Evening contemplation in silence
9:00 PM onwards: Rest

Day 2: Saturday

Silence and Deepening Practice

6:30 AM – 7:30 AM: Morning Yoga
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Walking meditation
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Group meditation
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Empathy Session
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Free & Easy
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Evening Yoga
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Evening circle
9:00 PM onwards: Rest

Day 3: Sunday

Embodied Empathy & Integration

6:30 AM – 7:30 AM: Morning Yoga
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Walking meditation
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Group meditation
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Empathy Session
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Free & Easy
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Evening Yoga
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Dinner
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Gratitude & Forgiveness
9:00 PM onwards: Rest

Day 4: Monday

Closing & Return

6:00 AM – 7:30 AM: Melukat
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Breakfast
9:00 AM: Final contemplation in silence / Closing circle
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Lunch & departure

Free & Easy options

Journaling
Painting
Personal consultation
Balinese cultural immersion (on-site registration required)

What Tools You'll Bring Home?

By the end of the retreat, participants will carry practical and soulful tools into daily life:

Foundation of Meditation: Simple breath and awareness practices to ground yourself anytime, anywhere.
Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR): Techniques to restore energy and calm without needing sleep.
Applied O-F-N-R (NVC framework): A beginner-friendly method for expressing needs and empathy in daily interactions.
Mindful eating & walking practices: Rituals to transform ordinary moments into contemplative acts. Inspired by the Plum Village tradition.
Creative reflection: Journaling, painting, or crafting canang sari as pathways to self-expression.
Cultural wisdom: Insights from Balinese traditions of offering and mindful living.

Who Is This For?

This retreat is designed for:

✅ Urban dwellers seeking pause from digital overload and constant busyness.

✅ Beginners in meditation or yoga who want gentle, guided entry into practice.

✅ New practitioners of O-F-N-R (NVC) curious about applying empathy in communication.

✅ Creative souls open to journaling, painting, or learning Balinese cultural practices.

✅ Anyone longing for silence and a safe space to reconnect with themselves and others.

No prior experience is required. Only openness and willingness to explore.

Requirements

To ensure a meaningful experience, participants are asked to honour these retreat guidelines:

Digital Detox: All gadgets (phones, laptops, tablets) are surrendered upon arrival and returned at closing.
Noble Silence: Shared silence is practised during meals, meditation, and designated contemplative times.
Comfortable attire: Loose, breathable clothing suitable for yoga, meditation, and walking outdoors.
Willingness to reflect: Bring a journal or notebook for personal contemplation.

At Bukit Temawang, highly rated hospitality meets sacred stillness.

Studio Teja

Shared Twin Room with all the modern comfort

East Wing

Shared Queen Bed in a spacious villa

Villa Living

Villa Bukit Temawang’s amenities beyond the bedrooms

West Wing

Shared Queen Bed in a spacious villa

Environment & Activities

Bukit Temawang’s surrounding features and things our guests enjoy

Food

What we offer, serve and personally enjoy

Facilitated by fellow practitioners walking beside you, at the foot of the sacred Mount Agung.

US$ 545 / room for 2 Persons

3D2N Package for 2 Persons

Includes: All retreat activities, 3 meals daily, twin accommodation

mid-range

Starts from US$ 755 / room for 2 Persons
or US$1,005/ room for 3 Persons

3D2N Package for 2 to 3 Persons

Includes: All retreat activities, 3 meals daily, double + single accommodation

Lux Comfort

For Private Groups

Azzad Mahdzir — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:15:55 +0000

Be your own guardian angel. Not your own bully.

Level: Seeding stage, no prerequisite • Focus: Self-Empathy
Self-practice toolkit to bring home
3-6 Pax • Small, intimate cohort
Healthy snacks, beverage
Private online coaching [90 min, post-event]

Overview

PROBLEM STATEMENT

“Your inner compass is pointing in one direction, but your steps are going another“

As adults, we often show up for others, but forget to show up for ourselves. Misalignment, burnout, emotional fog, they start within.
The world is heavy, busy, and noisy. Judgment and unmet needs make it heavier. Self-empathy is how we breathe again.
Neglecting ourselves costs more than we realise; our health, our relationships, and, our choices. Self-empathy becomes a survival skill.

THE INVITATION:

Seeds of Empathy* is a space to pause, reflect, and realign. It’s a container to reconnect with your inner truth. Rooted in:

✅ Social Emotional and Ethical Learning

✅ Nonviolent Communication

✅ Map of Consciousness