The Local Changemakers Course
Introducing the course
The Local Changemakers Course is a series of nine workshops, designed to enable groups of adults and young people to learn about, value and promote freedom of religion or belief (FORB) for all in their communities. The course materials are free for any person or organisation to download and use in any way they find helpful.
The course methodology is based on storytelling, visual communication and interactive exercises that draw upon participants’ life experiences, making it useful also in contexts of limited literacy. It is designed for use at the grassroots level and has been successfully tested by local facilitators with groups of interfaith participants in Nigeria, Tanzania, Jordan and India. The materials are easily adaptable to any context.
The Local Changemakers Course is a series of nine workshops, designed to enable groups of adults and young people to learn about, value and promote freedom of religion or belief (FORB) for all in their communities. The course materials are free for any person or organisation to download and use in any way they find helpful.
The course methodology is based on storytelling, visual communication and interactive exercises that draw upon participants’ life experiences, making it useful also in contexts of limited literacy. It is designed for use at the grassroots level and has been successfully tested by local facilitators with groups of interfaith participants in Nigeria, Tanzania, Jordan and India. The materials are easily adaptable to any context.
Course aims
The course has 4 main aims:
• to help us recognise and appreciate diversity within and between communities
• to help us understand and appreciate our human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief
• to identity problems related to freedom of religion or belief in our communities
• to find ways to tackle those problems together.
Who is the course designed for?
The Local Changemakers’ Course is designed for people at the grassroots level – people who are concerned about problems related to freedom of religion or belief in their community and society, and want to find ways to make a difference. The course requires no previous knowledge, experience or even acceptance of human rights from participants. What is needed is an open mind, an interest in helping to build communities characterised by peaceful co-existence and equality, and a willingness to engage in an interactive process of mutual learning and reflection.
The course is designed for groups of 12-24 people but can be adapted for larger or smaller groups.
The course has 4 main aims:
• to help us recognise and appreciate diversity within and between communities
• to help us understand and appreciate our human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief
• to identity problems related to freedom of religion or belief in our communities
• to find ways to tackle those problems together.
Who is the course designed for?
The Local Changemakers’ Course is designed for people at the grassroots level – people who are concerned about problems related to freedom of religion or belief in their community and society, and want to find ways to make a difference. The course requires no previous knowledge, experience or even acceptance of human rights from participants. What is needed is an open mind, an interest in helping to build communities characterised by peaceful co-existence and equality, and a willingness to engage in an interactive process of mutual learning and reflection.
The course is designed for groups of 12-24 people but can be adapted for larger or smaller groups.
Who can facilitate the course?
The Local Changemakers Course is interactive – including group exercises, games, stories, discussions and role plays as well as presentations. Anyone with some experience of leading interactive learning processes with adults and young people can lead it. What the facilitator needs most is sensitivity to the context – the ability to judge if some issues are too sensitive or dangerous to discuss and to adapt the process accordingly, as well as the ability to handle group dynamics when sensitivities or tensions arise.
You do not need to be experienced in or knowledgeable about human rights or freedom of religion or belief to facilitate the course. The facilitator’s guide and accompanying resources provide detailed guidance on how to run each session as well as tips for facilitation. All the information you need is provided, including scripts and PowerPoints for presentations about the issues. The facilitator’s role is not to be an expert, but to guide participants through a process of mutual learning.
Course materials
The course materials consist of a facilitators guide and accompanying materials for each session such as PowerPoints, game cards, posters and presentation scripts. Find all course materials here...
The Local Changemakers Course is interactive – including group exercises, games, stories, discussions and role plays as well as presentations. Anyone with some experience of leading interactive learning processes with adults and young people can lead it. What the facilitator needs most is sensitivity to the context – the ability to judge if some issues are too sensitive or dangerous to discuss and to adapt the process accordingly, as well as the ability to handle group dynamics when sensitivities or tensions arise.
You do not need to be experienced in or knowledgeable about human rights or freedom of religion or belief to facilitate the course. The facilitator’s guide and accompanying resources provide detailed guidance on how to run each session as well as tips for facilitation. All the information you need is provided, including scripts and PowerPoints for presentations about the issues. The facilitator’s role is not to be an expert, but to guide participants through a process of mutual learning.
Course materials
The course materials consist of a facilitators guide and accompanying materials for each session such as PowerPoints, game cards, posters and presentation scripts. Find all course materials here...
Tell us about your experiences!
We would love to hear about how YOU are using these resources and if and how they are contributing to change in your community! Please complete the feedback form on the following link.
We would love to hear about how YOU are using these resources and if and how they are contributing to change in your community! Please complete the feedback form on the following link.
