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Who are we ?

The Train to Transform Collective

Train to Transform is an international collective that brings together civil society organisations from different countries and is dedicated to improving the practices of social transformation actors.

In 2017, nine civil society organizations came together in a collective called "Train to Transform". This collective, created at the initiative of the French association Frères des Hommes, is dedicated to improve the practices of those involved in social transformation.

These organisations have in common that they work locally - in different contexts and countries - to improve the conditions of populations considered to be in vulnerable situations.

This commitment is based on the idea that these people, by activating their power to act, can fight to transform society. The path that the organizations of the collective are embarking on with them, is marked by the 6 priorities for the social transformation of the collective, which constitute a framework for a common political vision with the aim of moving towards a more just and respectful society for everyone.

Each member, in its commitment to social transformation, capitalizes on its practices of support for populations in vulnerable situations, to share them within the collective "Train to Transform", to question them and improve them.
The co-founding organisations of the "Train for Transformation" collective are independent of any political party, trade union or religious movement. Frères des Hommes plays the role of facilitator and benefits from the financial support of the AFD [1] via a programme agreement.

Between 2017 and 2020, the collective was able to refine its political vision and formalize it through its 6 priorities for social transformation.
In 2020, the Social Transformation Workshop is created from the visions and experiences of the member organizations of the "Train to Transform" collective, which are presented below.

Since 2022, the collective has been structuring around co-responsibility principles.

Shared responsibility, at the heart of shared governance

The principle of shared responsibility is a cornerstone of the Train to Transform Collective and manifests in several ways : co-decision, co-facilitation, co-production, communication, co-accompaniment and co-financing ; the 6 Co’s. Shared responsibility lies at the core of the shared governance we aim to establish, and we nurture it gradually, step by step :

Co-facilitate
Facilitators participate in workspaces to exchange practices of supporting vulnerable communities (working groups, exchange trips, capacity building).

Co-produce
Facilitators develop analyses and educational resources on methods and practices of social transformation.

Co-support
Member organisations support each other in improving their practices for social transformation.

Co-finance
Member organisations seek funding for collective actions and activities.

Co-decide
Representatives from member organisations co-create strategies. A duo of co-chairing organisations coordinates activities and facilitates co-decision making.