Sepang, 10–12 October 2025 –INITIATE.MY convened its Annual Retreat 2025 in Bagan Lalang, Malaysia, bringing together team members and partners for three days of reflection, strategic planning, and team engagement. The retreat provided a dedicated space for participants to step away from daily operational demands, strengthen internal alignment, and reflect on the organisation’s evolving priorities.
The programme opened with an informal evening session focused on mental health and wellbeing, setting a reflective tone for the retreat. Subsequent sessions explored resilience, self-awareness, and sustainable wellbeing practices. Through guided exercises and facilitated discussions, participants examined the importance of maintaining mental and emotional balance in the context of demanding civil society and policy work. These sessions highlighted the organisation’s recognition that staff wellbeing is essential to sustaining effective peacebuilding and security initiatives.
Strategic discussions formed a central component of the retreat. Participants engaged in conversations on strengthening partnerships, identifying priority areas, and expanding efforts to promote tolerance while countering intolerance and extremism. The discussions also explored ways to deepen engagement with diverse stakeholders across the policy, research and civil society ecosystems.
The final day focused on forward planning. Participants reviewed organisational progress over the past year and discussed strategic priorities for the coming years. The session encouraged collective reflection on lessons learned, opportunities for collaboration, and areas where the organisation could expand its impact.
Alongside structured sessions, the retreat included informal activities designed to strengthen relationships among team members and partners. Recreational activities and informal discussions provided space for participants to build trust, exchange ideas, and reinforce a shared sense of purpose.
Overall, the Annual Retreat 2025 reaffirmed INITIATE.MY’s commitment to combining strategic reflection with organisational wellbeing. By integrating planning, dialogue, and restorative engagement, the retreat strengthened both the organisation’s strategic direction and the collaborative spirit that underpins its work in promoting tolerance and preventing violence.
