Crises can change the world – for better or for worse. Crises are inevitable. This is especially true in the times we are living. We face a climate crisis, war, racist state violence.Therefore, as organizers we must be prepared for crisis moments. This program aims to develop the capacity to organize in times of crisis by designing and tasking an educational curriculum and a digital simulation. This curriculum is the result of deepening conversations and collaborations with ECON members, organizations and partners. It offers a guide for organizers, activists and educators who work with communities affected by crises. It includes frameworks, tools, practices, and case studies to understand, prepare and develop a sense of agency so that we can respond effectively to moments of crisis.
Understand crisis as a danger & opportunity and recognize our agency in relation to moments of crisis.
Enhancing competences of organizers and adult educators to organize communities in times of crisis and take action at local, national and transnational levels.
Be proactive around crisis preparation and be prepared to recognize the strategic decisions we are called to make in times of crisis.
Strengthening network and know-how of partners organizing communities impacted by crisis through in person and digital community organizing
Community Organizers, adult educators, volunteers, and local leaders.
This programme contributed to:
(1) Co-design a curriculum with ECON members titled “Organizing in Crisis: A curriculum for community organizers” to educate community organisers, trainers, activists, adult educators and other professionals to organise and support communities in times of crisis online and offline and to take actions at local, national and transnational level. It includes frameworks, tools, practices, case studies to understand, prepare and develop a sense of agency so that adult educators could assist groups and communities in need more professionally and respond more effectively to moments of crisis. The curriculum aims to develop the ability to understand crisis as a danger and opportunity; recognize one’s own agency in relation to moments of crisis; be proactive around crisis preparation for its own sake; and because it is a tool for building relationships and achieving political goals. It is available in 6 languages (English, Polish, Slovak, Serbian, Hungarian, Romanian).
(2) Develop an online simulation titled “Let’s organise! Together through crisis” for organizers, adult educators, trainers, local leaders and other professionals supporting groups and communities affected by crises. Its main goal is to introduce participants to community organizing in times of crisis. Through the simulation, participants are able to experience major challenges of community organizing processes and actions taken at local, regional and national level. The simulation can be used in organizing trainings and it is designed for 6-20 participants (with one moderator), but it can be extended to more. The simulation can last from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the number of participants and available time. It is available in 6 languages (English, Polish, Slovak, Serbian, Hungarian, Romanian).
Publication “Organizing in Crisis: A curriculum for Community Organisers”
Download the publication in ENGLISH | POLISH | HUNGARIAN | SLOVAK | ROMANIAN | SERBIAN.
You can access the simulation at this link https://engage-next.socialsimulations.org (for info, contact contact@socialsimulations.org)
All the resources developed through this project are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
If you are interested in being part of the programme and in the process, please contact us at organizing.europe@gmail.com.
ECON is a hub for the community organizing movement in Europe. We support organizers, groups and organizations to build collective power to respond to systemic injustices and emerging crises and create a just and democratic future for all
