Training as a Strategy to Strengthen Grassroots Movements

By Lucyvanda Amorim (CESE – Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço)

As a human rights organisation supporting grassroots movements in Brazil for 51 years, CESE – Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço – views training as a critical strategy to strengthen the fight for rights. CESE defines training as a knowledge-sharing process rooted in the principles of Popular Education, which values lived experiences and fosters mutual empowerment.
Throughout its history, CESE has prioritized educational initiatives. From the “Meetings of Project Agents”, where organization representatives discussed context-relevant issues, to Thematic Consultations that addressed national challenges impacting grassroots organisations, CESE has designed content based on needs identified through dialogue with supported groups.

This component of our work has become strategic and for some years now has been included in the projects carried out by CESE and supported by partner organisations, both national and international. Training takes place through face-to-face or virtual workshops and training courses and covers a variety of topics, such as: good management practices, communication, institutional strengthening, land regularisation (for traditional and “terreiro” peoples and communities), gender, anti-racist struggle, political advocacy and local fundraising, to name but a few.

This approach has become a strategic component of CESE’s work. For years, training activities have been embedded in projects supported by national and international partners. These activities, delivered through in-person or virtual workshops and courses, cover a range of topics, including: good management practices; communication; institutional strengthening; land regularization (for traditional and “terreiro” people and communities); anti-racist advocacy; political advocacy; local fundraising.

Most training sessions are conducted by CESE staff, such as the financial administration team for good practices workshops, or the communications and consultancy teams for other themes. Experts are occasionally invited to collaborate as educators.

Recognizing the strategic value of training, CESE consistently updates its methodologies. For the past two years, the team has hosted an internal training event, ‘Exchanging Figurines,’ to share practices, reflect on methodologies, and identify areas for improvement.

It is important to highlight, among the training initiatives, CESE’s partnership with the Change the Game Academy (https://www.wildeganzen.org/programs/change-the-game-academy), an initiative by the dutch organisation Wilde Ganzen. This collaboration offers a robust methodology for in-person and virtual courses on Local Fundraising and Mobilising Support, complemented by a free online portal with various training modules. Over the past 10 years, CESE has adapted CtGA’s content and language to reflect Brazil’s realities and grassroots needs.

In 2024, CESE organised 42 training activities, both face-to-face and virtual, involving 1,266 people from various sectors in different parts of Brazil. Specifically, on the two themes worked on by the Change the Game Academy (CtGA) – Local Fundraising and Political Advocacy – both those supported by CtGA and by other CESE partner organisations in which the courses use this methodology, 7 training courses were held (5 face-to-face and 2 virtual), involving 174 people.

Additionally, CESE conducted a Training of Trainers in August, preparing 19 new facilitators – 8 from CESE and 11 from partner organizations or independent consultants – to lead future courses on Political Advocacy and Local Fundraising.

Results and Testimonies

CESE’s assessment highlights the relevance of training in amplifying grassroots efforts. Participants consistently report positive outcomes, describing the courses as opportunities to deepen knowledge and strengthen their advocacy work.

Participant Testimonials:

“At this very moment our leaders are being persecuted because of the religious fundamentalism that is legitimised by some public authorities. This course is extremely important for the grassroots movement, because it gives us arguments to go into battle, but knowing our rights.” – Ceiça Axé, Pernambuco Network of Terreiro Women, Political Advocacy course.
“I need resources to fight. We are descendants of very creative african and indigenous groups. Most of us are women. This course ends up giving us autonomy if we share it within our territory.” – Maura Cristina, Articulation of Movements and Communities of Salvador’s Old Center, Local Fundraising course.
“The course is very important for strengthening grassroots organisations and social movements as a whole. And it also offers us, as representatives of these movements, the opportunity to replicate our work where we operate, in our networks and in our territories”. – Albert França, Movement of Homeless Workers (MTST) and Pacová Coordinator, Training of Trainers course.
‘The course is very important for strengthening grassroots organisations and social movements as a whole. And it also offers us, as representatives of these movements, the opportunity to replicate our work where we operate, in our networks and in our territories.’ Albert França, a member of the Movement of Homeless Workers (MTST), Coordinator of Pacová – Articulation of Cooperation from the Countryside to the City and Researcher of the Knowledge Programme of the Comuá Network, who took part in the Training of Trainers course.

Learn More:

Discover more about CESE’s training initiatives: