FDCW 2025 Annual Review

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
– His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dear Friend,
It is with joy that we share with you the FDCW 2025 Annual Review. Throughout the year our trained facilitators have uncovered new pathways to bring FDCW programs into their communities. Their commitment and compassion has resulted in positive change for many adults and children around the world.

FDCW’s free resources and courses available for download from the website offer another effective way for people to explore tools for living a happier life. 2025 saw a record number of resources downloaded. One user commented:

I work for Woman’s Aid to support children who are living with and experiencing Domestic abuse. I feel that this toolkit will definitely help.
– 16G Toolkit User

Other highlights from the year include the successful launch of the 16 Guidelines Meditations Course, the creation of a brand new Facilitation Skills Training program, and the new Compassion Collective project designed to provide a stable financial foundation for FDCW’s work.

My sincere gratitude goes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FDCW’s inspiration and Patron), the Board of Trustees, the team, and global faculty of dedicated facilitators and our dedicated and loyal funders.

Developing compassion and wisdom is making a real difference in people’s lives. Your support makes every success story shared here possible.

I hope what is shared here inspires you, gives you hope and reminds you of the difference we can make when we all pull together.

Big love,
Victoria

Contents

1. 16 Guidelines in Schools
2. New Course – 16 Guidelines Mediations Course
3. Adapting Courses for Visually Impaired
4. Training
5. New Course – A Mindful Heart
6. The Compassion Collective
7. Looking Ahead
8. Looking Ahead to 2026

1. 16 Guidelines in Schools

Nepal

A successful 16 Guidelines training took place in Tsoknyi Gechak Ling school in February 2025. The training was designed for teachers at the school and was led by FDCW facilitators Marian O’Dwyer and Ceci Buzon.

This training went so well that the school principal Rashmi KC requested another training in 2026. She wanted to invite other schools in the area to benefit from the training. She shared that the teachers still talk about the February training adding “You blew our minds!” 

FDCW then arranged a global online forum so that Ceci and Marian could present and share their methodologies with other facilitators. Marian demonstrated the Jar exercise and the Star exercise – both of which can be used for children of any age. Ceci demonstrated an exercise for understanding perspective. The training focused on emotional intelligence and trauma-informed support as many of the students have suffered hardships and trauma during their family life. This Forum has led to other schools in Nepal requesting the 16 Guidelines training for their teachers. 

Another FDCW facilitator, Maria Luisa Costantino provided 16 Guidelines training to three schools in remote areas of Uttargaya, Nepal during Spring. Each school was offered a set of 16 Guidelines Cards to support putting what was learned into practice. This will be an annual training with the support of the University of Verona. 

Read the article Spreading Wisdom: 16 Guidelines Activities in Italy and Nepal 2024–2025

Italy

During 2025 the 16 Guidelines was provided as a student course at University of Verona. There is then the opportunity to study 16G further outside the University with courses and retreat run by FDCW facilitators, Maria Luisa and Sabrina De Chirico. Ten educators have been offering 16 Guidelines Level 1 and Level 2 courses in primary schools throughout Verona. Many FDCW materials such as the 16 Guidelines book and Ready Set Happy have been translated into Italian for use in schools. 

FDCW is grateful to all the educators involved in sharing and translating the 16 Guidelines program under the guidance of Maria Luisa and Sabrina. 

Mongolia

FDCW partners with FPMT Mongolia to share the 16 Guidelines program with people there. 2025 was a very busy year with many trainings taking place. FDCW facilitator Munkhnasan Zanabazar led a 16 Guidelines training for 18 kindergarten teachers in June followed by a 10 week Building on the Basics course. 16 Guidelines Level 1 training for teenagers took place in May followed by a Building on the Basics course for teenagers. A clever board game was designed to introduce the 16 Guidelines and the Four Wisdom Themes and interviews given on National TV to raise awareness of 16 Guidelines. FDCW’s resource for children, Ready Set Happy, was translated into Mongolian.  FDCW is very grateful to everyone at FPMT Mongolia for their creativity, energy and initiative in sharing the 16 Guidelines tools widely. 

Russia

A 16 Guidelines Facilitator training took place over six weeks from October to December for students from Russia by FDCW facilitators Marian O’Dwyer and Ceci Buzon. The intention is that this group will be able to lead 16 Guidelines courses in their own language in the future – and particularly introduce the 16 Guidelines into schools in Russia. You can read about the journey of the Russia group with the 16 Guidelines program and their aspiration to bring these healing tools to children here: 16 Guidelines in Russia: From Guiding Children to Guiding Communities

Israel

FDCW partners with a non-profit called Dreamers Home in Israel. Over 2,000 people have now benefited from the 16 Guidelines methods. During March 2025 Dreamers introduced the 16 Guidelines program into schools throughout the Tel Aviv district with the support of the head of the Education department in Tel Aviv and her deputy who are both trained 16 Guidelines facilitators. 170 schools in the district were invited to participate in the 16 Guidelines program as part of an “Attention Revolution” Policy to support children’s learning. The program has also been provided at schools with Arab children with the aim that this program is available for all children in Israel regardless of their religion.

India

Facilitator Ceci Buzon attended Akshy School in Bodhgaya for her annual 16 Guidelines training for teachers. Teachers from nearby Maitreya School also join the training. Akshy Founder Raquel Mason arranged for the 16 Guidelines book to be translated into Hindi which is making a real difference in how teachers engage with the program. Raquel says:

Meditations for the children at school are improving a lot, and both headteachers are now truly committed. I have always believed that 16G in India should be taught by local people and this is a beautiful step in that direction.
– Raquel Mason, Founder, Akshay School

---

2. New Course: 16 Guidelines Meditations Course

Groups in Spain, UK, France, Russia, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Mongolia, USA, Canada, India, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico are enthusiastically embracing the new course. The feedback is really encouraging:-

People say how much it is benefiting them and how they feel better for having been. One participant said it was like medicine.
– Course leader, Leeds, UK

As a sociologist, I believe we are facing a profound systemic change, and it’s crucial to cultivate virtues so that this transition is beneficial for all beings on the planet. I’m keen to apply this framework.
– Participant, Barcelona, Spain.

We have received such positive feedback from participants and quite a large regular group is attending.
– Course organiser, Bendigo, Australia

---

3. Adapting Courses for Visually Impaired

During October to December, FDCW’s partner FPMT Mongolia adapted FDCW’s Building on the Basics 16 Guidelines program then introduced the program at the National Association for the Blind. 22 people joined this 10 week training including weekly home practice adapted for those with visual limitations. One participant shared: 

My main goal now is to learn how to steady my mind so that I can communicate better with my family and the people around me. Even though I have lived many years, I realised that this is something I had never truly learned. 
– 16G Participant, Mongolia

The training culminated in a group project where the group visited a Nursing home in Batsumber, Tuv Province to introduce the 16 Guidelines program to the seniors living there. They presented handmade gifts to the 213 seniors then shared exercises on Intention, Mindfulness, Dedication, and Enquiry. The visit ended with joyful dancing and celebration. 

FDCW team members Matt McArthur and Angela Sanchez with FDCW Facilitators Tsogzolmaa Ravdan and Munkhnasan Zanabazar

In October the 16 Guidelines program was adapted for family-centered training. We are grateful to FPMT Mongolia and facilitators Oyuntugs Bayaraa, Tsogzolmaa Ravdan and Munkhnasan Zanabazar for their skill in translating and adapting the FDCW materials and sharing these methods so effectively.

---

4. Training

FDCW partner Dreamers Home, Israel, reported a successful Level 3 Facilitators Training led by the Dreamers team. For the first time ever the training was delivered in Hebrew. Eighteen new Facilitators were trained. 

During summer FDCW developed a two-hour facilitation skills training to support those who download and share FDCW resources and courses like 16 Guidelines Meditations. The training covers eight core facilitation skills: Inclusion and Boundaries, Preparation, Session Planning, Communication, Active Facilitation, Managing Group Dynamics, Logistics and Practicalities, and Continuous Growth.

The first training took place on 17 and 19 November, with around 80 people attending. Afterwards, participants received a comprehensive handout, a recording of the session and a feedback form. Here is some feedback:

The session was excellent; I liked the examples of methodology incorporated into the training.
– 16G Facilitation Skills Training Participant

Very engaging session, content was well curated.
– 16G Facilitation Skills Training Participant

I found the experience very helpful and warm. Both facilitators modelled the skills they were speaking of really well.
– 16G Facilitation Skills Training Participant

Read the article: Facilitation Skills Training: Guide on the Side, Not Sage on the Stage

---

5. New Course: A Mindful Heart

Reflecting on how much of my reality I create was really interesting: feeling empowered to change what is not beneficial, by making a conscious choice.
– Pilot participant, Canada

---

6. The Compassion Collective

In December FDCW launched a campaign inviting people to become monthly supporters of our work. The idea is to build a firm foundation of loyal funders to sustain and support our work of benefiting others. Our target is 50 monthly donors by the end of 2026 and we are halfway there! To find out more and help us meet our target, see The Compassion Collective.

---

7. Looking Ahead to 2026

During 2026, FDCW will expand its reach for even more impact. This year we aim to: 

• Launch our newest course: A Mindful Heart. 
• Expand the Facilitation Skills Training into an annual program.
• Make our website available in more languages
• Support partners and facilitators who are bringing programs into schools.
• Develop more resources and courses for living a happier life

Above all, we will support our compassionate community of facilitators, partners and volunteers who share these tools with others. We are committed to serving them and strengthening the connections that make this global network so impactful.

We offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes to a more compassionate world.