Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GCF?
The RCF brings together movement leaders, coaches, trainers, organizers and activists working with movements to learn from each other and gain new skills to support movements. During the RCF, Coaching Fellows will be connected with Coaching Mentors and veteran activists from movements around the world to work with and learn from. Coaching Fellows will get the complete Rhize toolkit, a peer network and funding to apply these new skills to train movements in their local communities. The Rhize Coaching Fellowship is an applied learning program where Coaching Fellows will not only learn new tools and skills, but will also be guided and supported through the application of those tools and skills.
How will this program work in the time of covid-19?
The RCF is originally designed to involve a significant amount of in-person work, including a retreat and delivering trainings in your community. However, much of this work is not currently safe due to the spread of covid-19. The program has been re-designed to include a virtual retreat, and support coaches in virtual movement support work and trainings. We have developed these alternative plans through a consultative process to ensure that every participant can still continue to perform, learn and receive all of the benefits of the program remotely. If the participants feel safe (health and security-wise), the Rhize team will support them in conducting in-person field work for the movement mapping and First Exposure trainings.
Why did Rhize launch the Coaching Fellowship?
Because activists are often new to organizing, having been activated out of a passion for justice and freedom, they tend to enter movement-building without the access to these lessons of past movements. If we can connect movement leaders so that they can learn from one another, we can help movements reduce the duplication of mistakes and work across countries, geographies, and languages to innovate movement-building.
What will I get out of being a part of the RCF as a Coaching Fellow?
Coaching Fellows will learn how to apply plans for movement support work in the communities they work with. CFs do not have to be leaders of the movements they work with, but they can be a prominent supporter and active participant. Coaching Mentors will help CFs execute their plans with support and guidance.
Throughout the 6-month fellowship, you will gain new skills, relationships and capacity to build upon your work and develop stronger movements and communities. Rhize’s support will include:
Intensive training in Rhize toolkit including the our: Movement Mapping Tool, First Exposure Training, and activity-based facilitation approaches
Personalized training and ongoing support from veteran activists from historic movements around the world
A mentor who has been through the Rhize program in the past and who is experienced in training and movement support
A network of peers and experienced organizers to learn from and share new best practices
A customized, personal development plan that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals around movement training
Support to complete a mapping of movements in your community
Monthly stipend and funds for up to movement mapping and first exposure8 trainings and ongoing
NOTE: Coaching Fellows are not being hired as Rhize staff.
What will I get out of being a part of the RCF as a Coaching Mentor?
If you are based in a community where you would want to organize activities and train additional coaches, then being a Coaching Mentor will give you the skills and training to do so. Additionally, Coaching Mentors are check-in buddies for Coaching Fellows, helping them to experiment, innovate and apply lessons learned.
A monthly stipend for you participation
Individualized support and a development plan from Rhize staff, advisors, and veteran activists
Regular group learning opportunities throughout the course of the GCF
Expand one’s network of activists and connect with new people to learn and exchange with
NOTE: Coaching Mentors are not being hired as Rhize staff.
What is the time commitment?
For Coaching Fellows: On average, the Rhize Coaching Fellowship will require 8 hours per week. Some weeks this will be more, and some weeks it will be less. Coaching Fellows are also required to attend the in-person retreat.
For Coaching Mentors: On average, the Rhize Coaching Fellowship will require 3 hours per week. Some weeks this will be more, and some weeks it will be less. Coaching Mentors are also required to attend the in-person retreat.
Is there funding attached to the RCF?
Yes. Coaching Fellows and Coaching Mentors will receive stipend and funds for trainings, workshops and other movement support activities, as well as a monthly reimbursement for internet costs.
Who do I get support from as part of the RCF?
As a Coaching Fellow or Coaching Mentor, you will get support from Rhize’s team. The team working on this RCF includes a program graduates and Mariam Azeem (Rhize’s Director of Movement Support and Learning). In addition, Coaching Fellows and Coaching Mentors will be supported by coaches from the Global Coaching Corps, who all have experience working with movements around the African continent.
What is the Rhize Global Coaching Corps?
The Global Coaching Corps (GCC) is a global network of coaches that Rhize helps to facilitate who support each other and work together to train movements around the world, most of whom have gone through either Rhize trainings or the RCF. Members of the GCC work together so that they can learn from one another and evolve best practices for movement-building together. Rhize acts as a facilitator so that coaches can come together and learn from each other in a peer-to-peer method, sharing lessons and experiences directly with each other.
How could I support a coach in another region?
It’s possible to fund a coaching program in a new region! Please contact [email protected] to inquire how you might support new coaches around the world.
Can anyone apply?
Just about! The Rhize Coaching Fellowship is open to anyone who works with movements. The RCF (Africa) program is open to anyone who lives in any African nation. Below is a description of what type of positions Coaching Fellows and Coaching mentors might currently hold, as well as a list of requirements.
Coaching Fellows are movement organizers, educators, trainers, activists and mobilizers who have a track record of working with and training communities.
Coaching Mentors are experienced individuals who have worked with movements, learned from challenges and best practices and are excited to share the knowledge with rising movement actors.
Candidates for the Rhize Coaching Fellowship (Africa) must meet the following requirements:
Current resident in an African country
Proficient in English
Passionate about movements and the theory and practice of nonviolence
Have experience working as an organizer, activist and/or educator for movements
Able to meet the time requirements (8h/week for Fellows, 3h/week for Mentors))
Able and willing to participate in a week-long virtual retreat in late February/early March 2023
Who can I contact for more informaiton?
For further questions, please contact Mariam Azeem, Rhize’s Director of Movement Support and Learning at [email protected].