Community engagement projects

The Change Makers programme started in 2017 to bring women together and create a space for collective healing and learning.

It’s been a way for women with Latin American heritage living in London to explore their own migratory journeys, build trust with each other, and contribute to social justice. Likewise, the Change Makers programme is a platform for us to keep learning how to challenge the systems that oppress us while building stronger feminist support networks and community bonds.

We’ve adapted the Change Makers programme to incorporate a specific area of work with young Latin American girls in a school in South London, where there are high proportions of Latin American students. This adaptation, called Change Maker Chavitas, has proved really useful for addressing issues relating to girls’ wellbeing and identity. We also develop specific workshops and activities on VAWG prevention with the groups.

LAWA Changemakers session, November 2024

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

As a feminist political education programme, our sessions cover a range of topics, including mental health and systems of oppression, conflict resolution, anti-racism, fatphobia and more. We also run an online book club where we read global majority women authors on topics like migration, anti-racism, black feminism, identity and women’s solidarity.

With the Chavitas, we learn about intersectionality, violence against women and girls, solidarity between women, LGBTQ+ awareness, and other topics. We think this is a great space to share with new generations of girls of Latin American heritage in London, raise awareness about preventing violence, and imagine better futures while recognising our role in making them possible.

HOW TO JOIN

If you’re interested in participating in our monthly workshops or the book club, just drop us a message at daniela@lawadv.org.uk The book club is online, so you don’t need to be in the UK to join – you can take part from anywhere!

Change Makers Toolkit

We invite you to download and use this resource as you see fit, but we do ask you to do so with respect for our collectively produced knowledge base.

This work is copyrighted and we at LAWA are strongly opposed to appropriation. Please keep this in mind when deciding how to use it.

01

This toolkit is an open book, and an archive of the concepts discussed, methods used, and lessons learned within the programme. It is a testament to the journey of the women who took part and a legacy for those who will be taking part in future iterations of this work. Mostly, it is an invitation to reflect, understand ourselves, and make the necessary connections between personal and collective change.

02

This toolkit includes a guide to implementing the programme step-by-step for each session, planning tools, methodologies, glossary, teaching resources, bibliography, participants' reflections, etc.

03

We hope that this toolkit and its implementation will support the work of collectives, community groups, and organisations seeking to generate liberatory actions from feminism and popular education.

Complete the brief form you find below to download the toolkit in either Spanish, Portuguese or English:

The Growing Together Programme was created in October 2019, to help women aged 50 and over from our communities to avoid isolation and loneliness.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO LATELY?

In this space, previously isolated women have connected with each other, learn valuable skills to help them maintain social connections and promote independent living. The group has organically grown and kept a very active engagement of its participants.

HOW TO JOIN

If you are interested in joining our group, please remember that you must be a Latin American woman over 50 years old. Contact us at mercedes@lawadv.org.uk or 07395115623 for more information.

In partnership with English for Action, LAWA offers English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes to Latin American and other Black and Global Majority women, helping them to overcome such barrier to inclusion.

Every cycle we offer two English lessons a week, each one of 2 hours at the beginner, elementary and intermediate levels. When you sign up, the English teacher will evaluate the level that best suits your needs. We also run a crèche service during English classes to enable mothers to attend classes. Both services are completely free of charge.

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