“EXPLORING THE REAL WORK OF SOCIAL CHANGE”
A 5-DAY WRITESHOP - 18 TO 22 NOVEMBER 2013, JOHANNESBURG
A Call for Expression of Interest in Participating.
IN A NUTSHELL
From 18 to 22 November 2013, 40 to 60 social change
leaders and practitioners, from around the world, will
gather for a 5-day Writeshop to collaboratively write
the Barefoot Guide 4 – Exploring the Real Work of
Social Change.
This 4th Barefoot Guide will present and illustrate
many leading examples of multi-actor social change
initiatives in different contexts, exploring how and
why they have worked, what the practice is behind
each and what we can learn for future work.
THE VALUE OF THE BAREFOOT GUIDE 4
Many social change practitioners, in all walks of life,
are wanting to move beyond isolated, project-based
change activities. Many “projects” are proving to be
short-lived, unsustainable and lacking in life and
ownership. We know that the future lies in more
integrated, multi-actor programmes requiring very
different understandings of change and the
strategies, approaches and practices that make them
possible.
This Barefoot Guide 4 will share working examples of
such integrated, multi-actor programmes and reveal
the real work that lies behind them, to inspire, guide
and support social change leaders and practitioners.
We are looking for ongoing initiatives that contribute
to change that is inclusive, co-creative and holistic,
that bring diverse actors together (like community,
government and business), enabling those who are
marginalised to organise and express themselves to
meet on equal terms with others, to shape future
processes for the benefit of all.
THE BENEFIT OF GETTING INVOLVED
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Working alongside co-writers who will support
and facilitate the writing process, enabling you
to better capture your own stories and practice.
Showcasing your approach to social change in a
global publication with wide reach and influence.
Deepening your understanding of your approach
towards social change and learning from others.
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An opportunity to engage with a unique
creative, collaborative Writeshop process.
Building relationships with a variety of
interesting practitioners from around the globe.
A chance to contribute your good experience
and insights so that others may be able to grow
and learn.
PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT … WHO AND HOW ?
You are invited to participate in this initiative in one
or more of the following ways:
 as a practitioner/writer who will develop a case
story, draft a chapter or part of a chapter, based
on your own practice (you will not be expected
to write this before the workshop but will be
supported and enabled through the process);
 as a co-writer, helping other practitioners/
writers to develop their draft chapters;
 as a theorist drawing insights from case studies
and authoring these for a more theoretical
chapter;
 as a sponsor, either sponsoring a participant or
contributing to core costs.
WHAT IS A BAREFOOT GUIDE?
The Barefoot Guides are freely downloadable books,
written in accessible language, focusing on a variety
of practices related to social change. They have been
translated into several languages: Swahili, Chinese,
Bahasa, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Vietnamese and
Arabic.
Barefoot Guides are filled with stories, illustrations,
questions,
discussions,
conceptual
sections
(demystified and accessible) and tips and ideas for
social change leaders and practitioners to individually
or collectively study or dip into, to stimulate deeper
thinking and conversations about their real work, and
to enable them to become more effective. Visit our
website to find out more:
www.barefootguide.org
Contact us: contact@barefootguide.org
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED ?
There are several ways to participate: (Please put X in the relevant box)
A. Write a Case Story at the Writeshop 18 to 22 November 2013, as part of a chapter.
B. Write a Conceptual Input at the Writeshop 18 to 22 November 2013, as part of a chapter.
C.
Participate as a co-writer at the Writeshop, helping to develop the case stories and inputs
that others have brought.
D. Sponsor partners or grantees to write a case story and/or to participate in the Writeshop.
To
possibly make a financial contribution to the Writeshop costs.
Name:
Organisation:
Country:
Email:
Please tick (click) which best describes your organisation:
Social movement
International NGO
Community-based Organisation
Donor, Trust or Foundation
Local NGO
Private sector
National NGO
Individual
Other (please describe):
COSTS OF PARTICIPATION:
This is not a centrally funded process. All participants (or their sponsors) are asked to pay for their own travel,
accommodation and, if possible, a “Writeshop Contribution” towards the facilitation, illustrating, editing and
publishing costs.

The food/accommodation fee for all Writeshop particpants is 500 Euros each – for all meals and 4 nights.
We are booking a residential venue in Johannesburg for the whole Writeshop.

We are asking each participant to make a “Writeshop Contribution” towards the facilitation, editing,
illustration and layout costs– any amount will be appreciated. (750 Euros from each participant will cover
all of our costs, but please contribute whatever you can).
We will also be raising funds in various ways, including Kickstarter crowdfunding, to cover the costs of the
facilitating, editing, illustrating and DTP costs. We hope that several donors will support their partners to
contribute and attend the process. If you have any ideas to help us, or if you wish to volunteer towards
organizing the process, please come forward – contact@barefootguide.org
YOUR ROLE IN THE BFG4
A. If you wish to write a Case Story for the Writeshop:
We are looking for a social change Case Story that you can show is successful in its purpose to contribute
to the focus of the Barefoot Guide 4 (as stated above). Please briefly describe:
1. The Case Story or concepts that you would like to write about. (150 words)
Click here to enter text.
2. What you think is particularly interesting about your approach or concepts (50 words)
Click here to enter text.
N.B. We can provide writing support to you for your writing process before the Writeshop.
3. Please put X in the box if applicable:
I am able to make a Writeshop Contribution to the facilitation, illustrating, editing and
publishing costs of
Euros
B. If you wish to write a Conceptual Input for the Writeshop:
We are looking for conceptual/theoretical inputs that help us to better frame social change practice.
Drafts could be written before the Writeshop. Please briefly describe:
1. A brief description of the concepts that you would like to offer. (150 words)
Click here to enter text.
2. What have you found is particularly interesting or helpful about these concepts (50 words)
Click here to enter text.
3. Please put X in the box if applicable:
I am able to make a Writeshop Contribution to the facilitation, illustrating, editing and
publishing costs of
Euros
C. If you wish to participate as a co-writer at the Writeshop Conference:
1. Some of your experience, and interest, in working on social change that you would bring to the
Writeshop (100 words).
Click here to enter text.
2. What writing experience do you have? Can you send us a copy of, or reference to, something you have
written?
Click here to enter text.
3. Please put X in the box if applicable:
I am able to make a Writeshop Contribution to the facilitation, illustrating, editing and
publishing costs of
Euros
D. If you wish to sponsor partners/grantees of yours to write a case story for the Writeshop or to
participate as co-writers:
1. How many partners can you sponsor?____
2. Please provide some information about potential partners/grantees you can sponsor, and how we
could invite them on board.
Click here to enter text.
3. Please put X in the box if applicable:
We are able to make a Writeshop Contribution to the facilitation, illustrating, editing and
publishing costs of Click here to enter text. Euros
Please email this form to contact@barefootguide.org
CONTACT / ENQUIRIES
If you have any questions you can write to contact@barefootguide.org
We can also arrange to have a Skype chat to discuss your contribution.
The website will have regular updates regarding the Barefoot Guide 4: www.barefootguide.org
PUBLISHED BAREFOOT GUIDES
The Barefoot
Guide 1:
Working with
Organisations
and Social Change
This is a practical, do-ityourself
guide
for
leaders and facilitators
wanting to help organisations to function and
to develop in more
healthy, human and
effective ways as they
strive to make their
contributions to a more humane society. It has been
developed by the Barefoot Collective. The guide, with its
supporting website, includes tried and tested concepts,
approaches, stories and activities. Its purpose is to help
stimulate and enrich the practice of anyone supporting
organisations and social movements in their challenges of
working, learning, growing and changing to meet the
needs of our complex world.
The Barefoot
Guide 2:
Learning Practices
in Organisations
and Social Change
The Barefoot Guide 2 is a
free,
down-loadable,
practical resource for
leaders, facilitators and
practitioners involved in
social change who want to
improve and enrich their
learning processes.
This book is the joint effort of a group of development
practitioners from across the globe. We have created
something that will help us and others to start, and
continue, the journey towards learning and social change.
We (the writers) are all passionate about learning and
have brought our different experience and expertise to
the book. It includes topics as diverse as community
mobilising and development, adult learning, funding,
evaluation, facilitation, and creative writing.
The Barefoot
Guide 3:
Mobilizing
Religious Health
Assets for
Transformation
Martin Luther King, who
fought and died for
political rights, could say
that “of all the forms of
inequality, injustice in
healthcare is the most
shocking and inhumane.”
Health is one way to
describe our capacity to
be alive and to play our role as members of families and
neighborhoods, indeed as citizens. But how does one
choose life for the community? How do we as leaders
make sure that our lives are about life and health? The
journey this Barefoot Guide will take you on is a response
to those questions! The connection between religion and
public health is important. This is not just an opinion but a
fact. For example in Africa, depending on the country,
anything between 20-70% of public healthcare is
delivered through religious institutions or groups. This
BFG focuses on understanding and working with that
reality. Religious assets for health are everywhere, they
matter to a lot of people, and they can be mobilized for
the health of all.
These Barefoot Guides are offered free to the world and can be downloaded on this website:
WWW.BAREFOOTGUIDE.ORG. The website also contains an online community, called the BarefootGuide Connection,
holding a Resource Centre, Forum Discussions, Blogs and other things of interest. It contains translations of the books
into several languages… Swahili, Chinese, Bahasa, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic.