Facilitating for Transformation: Decolonial Approaches in Practice

Brussels, Belgium – As we finalise our reflections on last year’s highlights, one training that still resonates with us is our transformative session on facilitation through a decolonial lens. Led by the incredible Rachel Nelems, a globally respected political campaigner and decolonial activist, this session wasn’t just about learning how to facilitate effectively—it was about unlearning, questioning power structures, and ensuring that our spaces truly reflect the values we stand for.

The session on December 2nd, 2024, challenged us to rethink what it means to guide discussions, hold space, and create truly inclusive conversations. Rachel reminded us that facilitation isn’t just about structure—it’s about responsibility. It’s about recognizing historical and systemic imbalances and actively working to dismantle them in the ways we engage, listen, and lead.