{"id":11373,"date":"2026-09-14T14:42:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T11:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=11373"},"modified":"2026-09-14T14:42:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T11:42:40","slug":"afro-international-feminist-organizing-school-grounding-feminist-organizing-in-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=11373","title":{"rendered":"Afro-International Feminist Organizing School: Grounding Feminist Organizing in Ubuntu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Afro-International Feminist Organizing School: Grounding Feminist Organizing in Ubuntu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\u201319 September 2026 \u00b7 Kajiado, Kenya<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first-ever Afro-International Feminist Organizing School (Afro-IFOS)<\/strong> is bringing together feminists from across Africa in Kajiado, Kenya, from 9 to 19 September 2026, hosted by the World March of Women Kenya. Grounded in the principle of Ubuntu<\/strong>, the school is creating a space for collective political education, exchange and movement-building, rooted in the diverse realities and struggles of women across the African continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From its first days, Afro-IFOS has sought to go beyond conventional approaches to political education. It is a space to learn from one another, connect personal experiences with broader political realities, understand how systems of oppression operate, and collectively reflect on the power needed to transform them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubuntu: from principle to political practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubuntu, often expressed through the idea that \u201cI am because we are\u201d<\/em>,  was at the heart of the school’s opening. Rather than treating Ubuntu as an abstract concept to be defined, participants were invited to explore what it means to practise it within feminist movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussions opened questions around relationality, dignity, care, reciprocity, inclusion, difference, accountability and repair<\/strong>. What does it mean to truly recognise one another? How do we create spaces where different forms of knowledge are valued and everyone can participate meaningfully? How can we disagree politically without abandoning our relationships? And when harm occurs, how can movements take responsibility, seek justice and practise repair?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most powerful reflections came through a personal experience of grief. A participant shared how, after the death of her grandmother, her community came together to support the family. People contributed not only money, but food, chairs, cooking, cleaning and whatever else was needed. The burden of loss became a collective responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that experience, Ubuntu became tangible: people showing up with whatever they had<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reflection speaks to a central question for feminist organizing: if we say that we belong to a movement, does this mean that another person’s dignity, safety, grief and struggle become, in some way, our collective concern?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubuntu therefore emerged not simply as a value, but as a way of organizing, shaping how movements share knowledge, distribute responsibility, make room for differences, respond to harm and build collective power.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Understanding Systems of Oppression <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second day of the school moved from grounding the collective to examining the systems that shape women’s lives and struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants explored the root causes, mechanisms and effects of different forms of oppression<\/strong>, asking not only what oppression looks like but why it persists, how it is reproduced, and who benefits from the systems that sustain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussions also focused on the different ways power operates. Participants examined visible forms of \u201cpower over\u201d<\/strong>, exercised through institutions, laws, rules, and force, while also exploring hidden and invisible forms of power<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invisible power can shape what people understand as normal, possible, or acceptable. Hidden power can determine whose voices are heard, who gets to participate and which issues reach the political agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding these different forms of power is essential for feminist organizing. It allows movements to move beyond simply naming injustice and instead ask: Where does power sit? How is it maintained? Who benefits from it? And where is our collective power to challenge and transform it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing together feminists from different contexts across Africa also made clear that systems of oppression may take different forms and have different histories, while remaining interconnected. Political education thus became a collective process of making connections between lived experiences, structures and possibilities for resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Learning beyond the classroom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afro-IFOS also understands political education as something that happens beyond formal sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the third day, participants stepped outside the classroom to visit Nairobi National Park and the Nairobi Safari Walk<\/strong>, reflecting on the relationship between people, land and nature, and on the particular realities of a city where wildlife conservation exists alongside a vibrant urban culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day continued with music, dance and collective celebration. Afro Cure, a local group of teenage dancers, welcomed participants with performances and invited them to dance together. Local artist Kake wa Kake facilitated a drum circle, creating another space for connection and collective expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These moments of joy and cultural exchange were followed by a return to Kenya’s history of resistance. Archivist and researcher Njuki Githethwa<\/strong> shared reflections on Kenya’s Second Liberation and the mothers of political prisoners, women who organised, protested and demanded justice for their loved ones. Their struggles recalled the often-unrecognised role of women in political transformation and connected the experiences of past generations of resistance with the organizing taking place today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The presence of the World March of Women’s symbols and the participation of feminists from different African contexts also reflected the international character of the movement: rooted in local realities while connected through shared struggles and collective political action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagining feminist economies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question of transformation also extended to the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants worked collectively to imagine feminist economic alternatives rooted in their own experiences. Using the image of a tree, groups mapped the roots of economic injustice, the mechanisms needed for change, and the fruits of a feminist economy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The roots identified realities such as exploitation, inequality, the undervaluing of labour and unpaid care work. The trunk represented mechanisms for transformation, including collective organising, the recognition and redistribution of care, social protection and dignified conditions for casual and informal workers. The fruits represented the societies movements are fighting to build: dignified living, economic security and decent work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants moved between the different groups and contributed to one another’s proposals, turning the exercise into a collective process of political imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This methodology reflects the broader spirit of Afro-IFOS: knowledge is not something delivered to participants but something built collectively from lived experiences, political analysis and shared struggle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Building collective power through feminist organizing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first days of Afro-IFOS have established a strong foundation for the journey ahead. From Ubuntu and collective care to the analysis of oppression and power, from Kenya’s history of resistance to the construction of feminist economic alternatives, the school is creating connections between where we come from, the realities we face today and the world we are fighting to build<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the centre is a simple but profound question: I am because we are. But are we?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For feminist movements, Ubuntu cannot remain a principle we invoke at the beginning of meetings. It asks us to practise solidarity, care and accountability in the ways we organise. It asks us to recognise difference without allowing it to become division, to build collective power without reproducing hierarchies, and to remain committed to one another while confronting the systems of oppression that shape our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Afro-International Feminist Organizing School continues until 19 September<\/strong>, creating further spaces for political education, collective reflection and movement-building among feminists across Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Afro-International Feminist Organizing School: Grounding Feminist Organizing in Ubuntu 9\u201319 September 2026 \u00b7 Kajiado, Kenya The first-ever Afro-International Feminist Organizing School (Afro-IFOS) is bringing together feminists from across [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232346172,"featured_media":11376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[944,55,33,518],"tags":[1278,1282,1276,229,1280],"class_list":["post-11373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-posts","category-africa","category-news-eng","category-regions","tag-afro-ifos","tag-grassrootsfeminism","tag-ifos","tag-solidarity","tag-ubuntu"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/peCWNi-2Xr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":964,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=964","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":0},"title":"Preparatory meeting for the IFOS- Africa was realized on the 13th and 14th of November, in Tanzania","author":"communicationwmw","date":"4 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On the 13 and 14th of November, the organizing committee from Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe met in Dar Essalam, to strategize and put together the final proposal for the International Feminist School of AFRICA.\u00a0 This sub-regional school has a journey and a background that we need to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Africa"","block_context":{"text":"Africa","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=55"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tanzania.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tanzania.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tanzania.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/tanzania.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1012,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=1012","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":1},"title":"The WMW Americas in Honduras: for the first face-to-face experience of IFOS","author":"communicationwmw","date":"15 August 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The WMW Americas in Honduras: for the first face-to-face experience of IFOS Together with The Continental Day for Democracy and Against Neoliberalism, around 100 militants from the Americas gather for a week of popular feminist training. On October 7th, the Berta C\u00e1ceres International Feminist Organising School began in Honduras, which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Americas"","block_context":{"text":"Americas","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=59"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-14-at-16.28.21-1024x771-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C771&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-14-at-16.28.21-1024x771-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C771&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-14-at-16.28.21-1024x771-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C771&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2023-08-14-at-16.28.21-1024x771-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C771&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8581,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=8581","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":2},"title":"The African Delegation in Black Feminist March in Brasilia","author":"communicationwmw","date":"12 December 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Afro-Latina Convergence on Feminist Economy Dialogues and Transnational Solidarity Following the People\u2019s Summit in\u00a0Bel\u00e9m, the African delegation took part in the series of events of Afro-Latina Convergence on Feminist Economy Dialogues and Transnational Solidarity between 20-26 November. The African Delegation of World March of Women consisted of communications lead teams\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "*English Posts"","block_context":{"text":"*English Posts","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=944"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MMM_MMN_Noelly-Castrof_-0110.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MMM_MMN_Noelly-Castrof_-0110.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MMM_MMN_Noelly-Castrof_-0110.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MMM_MMN_Noelly-Castrof_-0110.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MMM_MMN_Noelly-Castrof_-0110.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9284,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=9284","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":3},"title":"World March of Women International Committee Meets in Nairobi, Kenya","author":"communicationwmw","date":"17 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Nairobi, Kenya | 31 January \u2013 4 February 2026 The International Committee (IC) of the\u00a0World March of Women\u00a0(WMW) gathered in person in Nairobi, Kenya, from 31 January to 4 February 2026. Hosted by the Kenyan National Coordination (NCB Kenya), the meeting brought together the International Committee of the WMW to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "*English Posts"","block_context":{"text":"*English Posts","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=944"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-17-at-13.53.51-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-17-at-13.53.51-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-17-at-13.53.51-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-17-at-13.53.51-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-02-17-at-13.53.51-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11103,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=11103","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":4},"title":"Cotonou Declaration 2026 \u2013 World March of Women Africa Region","author":"communicationwmw","date":"18 August 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"1st \u2013 4th August 2026 We, the participants in the Africa Regional meeting of the World March of Women representing some 13 African countries, gathered from 1 to 4 August 2026 in the city of Cotonou, Benin, This Cotonou meeting brought together National coordinating bodies (NCBs) from West, East, Southern\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "*English Posts"","block_context":{"text":"*English Posts","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=944"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-18-at-16.44.26.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-18-at-16.44.26.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-18-at-16.44.26.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-18-at-16.44.26.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-18-at-16.44.26.jpeg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":998,"url":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?p=998","url_meta":{"origin":11373,"position":5},"title":"13th International Meeting Public Events Programme","author":"communicationwmw","date":"3 October 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The World March of Women is excited to release our schedule of public events happening this weekend in Ankara, Turkey as a part of our 13th\u00a0International Meeting. We invite and welcome all sisters to join us in feminist solidarity from October 6-8, 2023 for panel discussions, demonstrations, performances, and more!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "13th International Meeting"","block_context":{"text":"13th International Meeting","link":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/?cat=300"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/im1.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/im1.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/im1.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/im1.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/marchemondiale.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5.png?fit=902%2C602&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/232346172"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11373"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11391,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11373\/revisions\/11391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marchemondiale.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}