Activist HandbookOn this page
On this page, we explain what the role of outreach officer entails. You will learn how to reach out to other organisations and how to create new partnerships. Also make sure to check out the basics for new volunteers and the general guides for members of the communication circle.
Your role
Summary: As outreach officer, you are responsible for broadening our network. You will reach out to activist organisations all over the globe. You will schedule video calls with representatives of those organisations, to see how we could collaborate with them. You will show them why becoming a partner of Activist Handbook could be valuable to them.
Role definition: You an find the exact purpose, domain and accountabilities of this role in Airtable.
Tools you use
- Partner page: On this page, we explain what a partnership with Activist Handbook entails. It is your responsibility to keep this page up-to-date. Via this page, people can open up Calendly, to schedule a video call with you.
- Calendly: If someone is interested in becoming a partner of Activist Handbook, you should schedule a video call with them using Calendly.
- Airtable Outreach table(login required): We have a large database with activist organisations and movements all around the world that we could work together with. Here, we also keep track of all communication that we have had with them. If they agree to start working together, we write down the details of the partnership in Airtable.
- Google Chrome account: To access our Airtable account, you need to create a new Google Chrome profile and log in with the shared Activist Handbook Google account. Now, the password will automatically be filled in. Ask one of the other coordinators to help you with log in in to our Google account.
Reaching out to movements
Here is a template email you can use to reach out to movements to ask them if they would like to become a partner:
Subject: Let's work together, [organisation/name]! 📢
Hey [name],
I am [name] from [country], and I am a volunteer for Activist Handbook. We are building a Wikipedia-like platform for activists all over the world to exchange knowledge and experiences. We would love to work together with [organisation name]!
How about we schedule a video call sometime soon, so we can get to know each other a bit & talk about how we could join forces? I made a page where you can share your availability.
About Activist Handbook 📢
Activist Handbook is a Wikipedia-style collaborative manual created by rebels, for rebels. We write practical guides for change-makers. We have chapters about organising, strategy, tactics, wellbeing, communication, digital tools and legal rights. To make our platform accessible to everyone, we adapt our articles to local contexts and languages.How we can help each other 🙌
We are here to help activists in [country/city] and anywhere else. As a partner, you can use our platform to write internal guides, suggest topics we should write about, follow our trainings and access our 200+ community-written articles. In turn, you could help us by sharing your experiences with activism, tell members about our platform or support us financially. Learn more:
👉 activisthandbook.org/partnerIf you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via this email address or send a message to me via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram: [phone number]
With love, rage and solidarity,
[Name]Activist Handbook
If you are reaching out to them via a private message, we recommend to keep it shorter:
Hey [name], I'm [name] from Activist Handbook. We are building a Wikipedia-like platform for activists all over the world to exchange knowledge and experiences. We would love to work together with [organisation]!
How about we schedule a video call sometime soon, so we can get to know each other a bit & talk about how we could join forces?
If they respond positively, you can reply:
Awesome! Let's pick a date for a video call. Could you share your availability here? https://calendly.com/activisthandbook/partner
Script video call partners
There is a partnership script that you can follow during a video call with potential partners. Simply follow the instructions in the form and fill in any answers that the representative of the organisation may give. A call takes about 15 to 30 minutes. You should also reseverve some time (5/10 mins) after the video call to send a follow-up message.
Important:
- It is recommended to go through the form and practice with someone else before using it with one of our potential partners.
- The script is written for conversations with people/organisations you do not know very well yet. If someone is a close friend, or it is an organisation that we've been working with for a long time, you might want to consider deviating from the script.
The scripts consists of the following elements:
- ☎️ Before the call: Preparing the conversation.
- 👋 Introduction: Getting to know each other
- 🌊 Learning about their movement: Showing interest, finding out what kind of organisation they are.
- 🙌 Present Activist Handbook partnerships: Introducing our project, explaining how we can work together.
- ❤️ Working together: Discussing concrete ways we can collaborate.
- ⭕️ Rounding off: Leaving them with a good feeling, taking a picture for our socials.
Follow up
Your conversation with (potential) partners does not end after the first video call.
💬 Message after the video call.
We recommend you to send a follow up message immediately after the video call with a recap of everything you discussed. Even if you make notes, you might forget to This message should contain concrete next steps that the two of you will take.
If they agreed to promote Activist Handbook on their social media, this is a template message you can share with them:
We're excited to announce that we're starting a collaboration with Activist Handbook, the Wikipedia for rebels! Check out their platform:
👉 https://activisthandbook.org/
And here's a template message for their website:
We are a proud partner of Activist Handbook, the Wikipedia for rebels. Check out their platform to learn more about organising protests, growing your movement, taking care of the wellbeing of your fellow activists, and much more!
Activist Handbook is an international project, developed to make it easier for change-makers all over the globe exchange knowledge. The platform is free and open source.
☑️ Reminder message for next steps.
If you agreed during the video call that the other person would take some kind of action, but it is taking a long time for them to do so, you should send them a friendly reminder.
☎️ Yearly check-in video call.
We recommend you to check in with all our partners at least once a year .
