This page is dedicated to the training and capacity building of activists. Here you can find all the courses that we provide, the courses provided by our partner organisations and those suggested by you, the audience of Activist Handbook.
In a world where it's becoming increasingly difficult to trust the government to look out for our best interests, more and more people are turning to activism to make a difference. But being an effective activist takes more than just passion—it takes training and practice.
Luckily, there are plenty of organisations out there that can help would-be activists learn the ropes. From environmental groups to human rights organisations, there's a training ground for every type of activist. So if you're feeling called to make a difference in the world, don't be discouraged—there are plenty of organisations out there that can help you get started, which we have listed below.
Available in other languages: Nederlands
- Mobilisation Lab: "We guide change-makers to design nimble, people-powered advocacy campaigns using participatory approaches that deliver bigger wins and transform organisations.
- Training for Change: “All of our workshops are rooted in our Direct Education approach. Our trainers center the group, building upon dynamics in the room and participants’ own experience to introduce new content and help the group access their own wisdom. Many of our public workshops are “training of trainers”.”
- Seeds for Change: "We provide training and workshops for co-ops, campaigns and community projects that are working for social and ecological justice."
- Organising for Change: "We offer a core three day ‘Organising for Change’ training for campaigners from grassroots groups and NGOs which focuses on: seeding the open, inclusive and liberatory culture we want to see in the world, the basics of organising, and putting organising at the heart of campaigns for change"
- Beautiful Trouble: "Our global network includes a deep bench of seasoned trainers and facilitators, primed to deliver trainings and curricula in strategic planning, core organizing principles, nonviolent discipline and creative action design, all in a highly experiential framework built on Beautiful Rising’s core values of popular education. Trainings range from a two-hour introductory webinar to a week-long intensive, and are always tailored to the needs of the participating groups."
- Social Movement Technologies: "A non-profit/NGO providing organizing strategy, training and campaign support to build people power and win in the digital age."
- The Campaign Accelerator: This organisation provides tailored consulting, a 3-day masterclass, a 3-month accelerator programme and a 3-hour workshop. They have experience with impact strategies, engagement paths, social network communication, participatory financing and volunteer communities.
- The Good Lobby: They provide free training and resources by matching your organisation by change-making experts, specifically tailored to your needs.
- School of Transnational Activism
- European Activism Incubator
- Institute for Change Leaders: Canada based organisation that “teaches the skills that organizers, activists and campaigners need to win social change. Our core curriculum comes from Marshall Ganz, a Harvard professor who codified the relationship-building organizational framework we teach after years of organizing with the Civil Rights and United Farm Workers movements.”
- The Yes Men
- Climate 2025
- Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW): They have various training programmes, such as the Activist Training Institute.
- Social Practice: “The Social Practice is an ideologically-driven consultancy based in the US and Europe. We help those working for big change tostrategize, communicate, and organize at scale.”
- Resist Renew
- Navigate: “Navigate is a team of experienced facilitators and trainers. We facilitate meetings, run workshops and mediate conflicts for groups and organisations working towards social and environmental justice across the UK. Our team can help you to work better together, explore power dynamics, and find a way through challenges and disagreements. We can support you to cultivate sustainable working practices, make stronger collaborative decisions, design your strategy and develop your group's processes. Navigate used to be known as Seeds for Change Oxford.”
- Turning the Tide: “We connect with Quakers and civil society networks and organisations to create positive change through imaginative, active nonviolence and civil resistance.”
¶ Schotland
There are many reasons why activists might choose to train themselves. For example, they may want to learn new skills to be more effective in their work, or they may want to gain a better understanding of the issues they are fighting for. Training can also help activists to build confidence.
Some ways that workshops can help movements and nonprofit organisations are by providing a space to exchange knowledge and experiences, to meet other activists working on similar issues, and to plan and strategise together. Workshops can also help activist movements to learn new tools and techniques to further their work.
Activists could get training in a variety of topics, including but not limited to: community organizing, fundraising, event planning, media relations, public speaking, and writing.
Experienced campaigners organise workshops for your organisation or help facilitate. They can help you to answer questions like these: how to run a successful campaign, how to use social media for campaigning, how to door-knock or canvass for a campaign, how to plan and execute a campaign event, and how to deal with media attention during a campaign. Check out the list above with all organisations that provide these trainings.
This is our attempt at peer to peer education. We believe in sharing knowledge and learning from each other which is why our courses are freely available to anyone who wants to follow. On top of that, they are available in video format as well, all the handouts and materials needed for the courses at Rebel Academy are stored on our website.
Do you know an organisation that provides trainings for activists? Add it to the list!