Apply before July 13 via this form!
Are you a volunteer in an activist collective, social centre, occupation, social movement, squat, community project or other grassroots initiative? Would you like to learn how to support groups in a more inclusive way during meetings, gatherings and decision-making? Join the training ‘learning to facilitate in a more inclusive way’ and learn skills, tools and methods to make meetings and decision-making processes in groups more inclusive.
One of the crucial roles in successfully organising horizontal groups is that of the facilitator: the person who guides meetings and decision-making processes. A good facilitator helps make these processes smoother and more inclusive, creating broader support for the decisions taken.
Power and group dynamics are always present in any group. Awareness of these dynamics is essential for creating more inclusive group cultures. This training teaches you skills and tools to engage with these dynamics consciously and contribute to a culture where every voice is equally heard.
Through this, we aim to support participants in organising creative, sustainable, strong and inclusive groups, projects and actions.
The training is based on the ‘Learning to Facilitate’ training that Tractie has delivered several times in recent years. Tractie drew inspiration from the Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) of Training for Change in the U.S.
Please note: The training will be conducted in English. Specific words can be translated into Darija, French or Dutch. In small groups or pairs, Darija, English, French or Dutch may be spoken.
What will we do?
The training will be adapted to the expectations and questions of the participants. Topics likely to be covered include:
- Your role as a facilitator or participant
- Building safety and trust in a group
- How people learn and working with the experiential learning cycle
- Various facilitation skills and methods
- Different learning styles and how to support them
- Group and power dynamics and how to address them
Target group
We welcome anyone volunteering in an activist collective, social centre, occupation, social movement, squat, community project or other grassroots initiative. All levels of experience are welcome – including those who do not identify as activists but as community organisers or socially engaged individuals.
We especially encourage BIPOC and/or transgender folks to apply, as they are often underrepresented in this type of training and in facilitation roles.
We prioritise participants who are volunteers. Individuals working in the social or socio-cultural sector can apply and may be accepted in a second round. If you combine paid and voluntary work, be sure to indicate this clearly in your application.
Practical information
Our facilitation is rooted in the principles of experiential learning and combines methods that engage participants at the level of heart (emotions), head (thinking and concepts) and hands (practical experience / embodiment). So come prepared to share your personal experiences 🙂
To bring: something to write with and something to drink. If you like to stim (fidget), bring something to keep your hands busy (e.g. cuddly toy, stress ball, stim toy, crochet, etc.).
- The training will take place at De Karmel (Torhoutse Steenweg 406, 8200 Bruges), from Friday 12 September at 18:00 until Sunday 14 September at 16:00. We ask that you attend the full programme and preferably stay overnight. It’s not possible to arrive late or leave early.
- There are dormitories (no private rooms); needs can be indicated on the form.
- We provide three vegetarian meals per day (vegan and gluten-free options available).
- We have space for 20 participants. Apply by 13 July via the form. Based on the information in the applications, we’ll aim to create a balanced group.
- You’ll be informed by 3 August whether you’ve been selected. More practical info will follow after registration.
- The training will be in English. In small groups, Darija, French or Dutch can also be used. We don’t offer continuous translation, but the trainers speak Dutch and French. If you’re unsure about your English level, feel free to contact us!
How much does it cost?
This training is organised by Collectiv.a, LABO vzw and Feros vzw – three organisations with different financial situations. We don’t receive specific funding for this training, so the real costs (location, food, facilitation, materials) are shared among participants.
We use a solidarity-based pricing system. The real cost is €290 per person.
We offer a limited number of sliding-scale places: €50 to €200. We ask those who can – particularly white, able-bodied participants with higher education or other privileges – to consider paying more, up to €580, to support access for others.
The trainers
The training will be facilitated by Hanae (she/her), Hanne (she/her) and Robin (he/they). All three hold Belgian passports and bring diverse lived experiences across ethnicity, gender and sexuality, disability, (mental) health, class, education and housing.
Rike Robin (he/they) has focused on a variety of topics as an activist, including squatting, (queer) feminism, Flemish forest policy and a campaign against coal gas in Limburg. In recent years, his focus has shifted to training and facilitation work, including at Feros vzw. Robin most enjoys methodologies where participants are invited to work and communicate not only with their heads, but also with their bodies. Robin uses his autism as a superpower to think quickly and in a structured way and to name tensions and conflicts in a direct way. In addition to their engagement at Feros, Rike works as a body-oriented therapist.
Hanne Flachet (she/her) is active around opposition to borders and for freedom of movement and solidarity with undocumented migrants. She was also active in the ecological movement. In recent years, her energy increasingly went to facilitation and training within the activist movement, including as a trainer at Tractie. Since 2024, Hanne has been working for Collectiv-a accompanying groups and organisation around their internal organisational structure. Hanne is passionate about group dynamics and how the framework and structure can create space for people to feel good and actively participate in a group. Hanne loves the energy that comes from large groups, hiking, camping in the mountains, eating and frisbee.
Hanae Benallal (she/her) focuses her activism on creating spaces for racialised people with autism, within both mainstream and activist contexts. She has delivered numerous workshops and lectures, and since 2022 has worked as training coordinator at LABO vzw, a socio-cultural organisation fostering critical thinking and social change. Hanae values bottom-up approaches and accessible participation. In her free time, she enjoys sports and dancing, but avoids crowds and flickering lights