Training for Change

Training for Change is ActionAid Denmark’s (Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke) training unit. Through our Global Citizen Training programme we train people in a variety of different themes and skills thereby enabling them to actively participate in creating social change and reduce social and economic inequality in the world.

We do not impose solutions, but try instead to strengthen people’s own effort to throw off poverty and injustice. With the Training for Change programme we provide people with the knowledge, attitude and skills to do this.

The Training for Change team was established in 2008. Up until then training had been considered a support function for other activities in ActionAid Denmark. When ActionAid Denmark became lead agent for the governance strategy in ActionAid and coordinator of the Activista network, it became clear that there was a pressing need to develop core competences in relation to both governance related issues and issues related to activism and global citizenship. Thus the Training for Change team was established with two central units. One being The Governance Training department, located at the Training Centre for Development and Cooperation (MS-TCDC) in Tanzania and the other the Global Citizen department located at the global platforms, training centres in various parts of the world.

The core training activities in the Training for Change team revolves around training in political empowerment and mobilisation of citizens, economic literacy and democratization, global campaigning, volunteer leadership and youth advocacy. Key target groups are young students and volunteers from Denmark and other countries, Activista youth from ActionAid Denmark and other ActionAid countries as well as ActionAid governance strategic and field staff and Advisors and Inspirators involved in the People for Change programme.

Global Platforms
Training for Change works from a global network connected by a number of regional platforms called Global Platforms. The Global Platforms are training centers in different parts of the world, where volunteers and activists can get training and participate in projects and activities.
To date, Training for Change has Global Platforms in El Salvador, Nepal, Jordan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Denmark. Our ambition for the future is to have at least 10 Global Platforms around the world, capable of educating and training 3000 young people a year.
TCDC is our training center for professional training and located close to Arusha, Tanzania. TCDC has more than 30 years of experience with training in both governance and democracy for participants from all over the world.

Courses in Global Citizen Training
With our Global Citizen Training, we offer the following courses:
• Global Change – education on how to become a global campaigner and change agent, 3 months.
• Global Toolbox – courses of various kinds (team leadership, campaigning, facilitation, social entrepreneurship, new media), 5-7 days.
• Global Volunteer - education on how to develop volunteerism as a tool to promote social change in local communities, 1 week + 1 month.
• Training of Trainers – how to create and facilitate workshops and train others, 8 weekends spread over 1 year.
• Global Academy – tailored workshops for schools and organizations.
• Global Citizens’ College – Danish folk high school in Kenya, trips to Tanzania and Zanzibar, 4 months.