How to Plan a Workshop: Learning about inaccessibility from disability activists

The original version of this blogpost had ableist language, as pointed out by the activists of the Kenya Network for Women with Disabilities. We extend an apology to persons with disabilities and the women of KNWWD. We also wish to thank KNWWD for so generously correcting us and offering to educate us on ableist language and where we failed. Below is a list of the changes we made in the latest version of this blogpost. 

In late January, we hosted a meeting to support the Kenya Network for Women with Disabilities which left us with some lessons that will remain with us in all our work going forward. The meeting was focused on developing a communications strategy to achieve the important and overdue objective of having fully accessible hospitals in six counties around Kenya. Their contributions to the workshop were undergirded by a conviction that their experiences of exclusion, discrimination and harm, as well as their work as community trainers, politicians and activists were critical sources of knowledge and expertise that could inform policy. 

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Well Made Strategy Handbook

Strategic Communications for Social Change handbook, THE REMIX.

“How hard can it be?” we thought when we first discussed our Communications for Social Change handbook. 

Oh, the hubris!

Multiple versions, three design houses and three years later, we present to you: Strategic Communications for Social Change, the remix.

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Taking Action on the Climate Crisis: How WMS plans to work on the Climate Crisis

Free books! Competition! 

By TEAM WMS 

Well, we made it to February! And if the last year has taught us anything, it is that we must all play our part. The covid-19 response is all about our own personal contributions to the bigger system, our responsibility each to act for the good of others. We must work together to thrive and if we all do our part, things will get better!  

That applies to individual people wearing masks to protect their fellows and it applies to governments supporting Covax to protect their fellows.  

Somewhere between washing our hands, physical distancing and wearing masks, we were hit by an insight! The exact same thing applies to the climate crisis. Only thirty years late…  

As the US once more accepts its climate crisis responsibilities, so must we. 

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We’re hiring! WMS Strategic Communications Associate

WMS has been working in East Africa for the past ten years.  Our vision is to accelerate the pace of positive change by improving communications and strategy for individuals, organizations and networks who can be forces for good in Africa.  We help organisations harness the power of good communications to influence policy change, prepare for and anticipate crises, inform the national discourse, build will for social reforms, nudge entire communities towards new norms and identify and influence key individuals. 

We have developed a proven methodology to help partners across sectors, from security to financial inclusion, from education and agriculture to health and governance, to develop strong and clear communication strategic plans. 

Please look through our website for more information https://www.wellmadestrategy.com   

We are looking for a curious and inspirational associate who is keen to learn new skills and share them with others. Applicants will be judged on their willingness and ability to learn rather than their particular knowledge of strategic communications. We are committed to investing time and money to train the ideal candidate.  

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Njuhi Chege consultant at Well Made Strategy

Starting a new job on April Fool’s Day in the midst of a pandemic

I love mischief on April Fools’ Day but starting a new job on this year’s April 1st was a proper shocker.

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Strategic Handbook for Social Change by Well Made Strategy

Communicating for change

There’s nothing like a near death experience to get you thinking. When I emerged from a coma in February last year one of my very first thoughts was whether we were letting down any of our partners. Being the sort of partners they are, they soon told me to shut up, stop worrying and get better. I took their advice and just recently received the “all clear” after a year in which – with the help of my incredible family and wonderful friends – I dodged death a score of times.

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Guest Post: Artful Conferences by Lucy Maina — Education initiative uses social practice art to innovate.

How do you inspire innovation? The Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI) had the daunting task of encouraging innovation among 160 educators from five countries in East Africa at the last RELI convening. To meet the challenge they solicited the help of the culture consultants at limeSHIFT. limeSHIFT works with communities – public and private – to make them their most productive, purposeful and creative.

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Why the World Cup has everything to do with think tank communications

First published by onthinktanks.org: The World Cup is now in full swing and, whether you love or loathe it, football will continue to dominate the news cycle over the next few weeks.

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Robert Mugabe: my part in his downfall

History will remember this as the week that Mugabe finally fell. But history will almost certainly forget the bit-part role I played in his downfall.

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Insights PODCAST: strategy SPECIAL

LISTEN to the FIFTH episode of the new Well Told Story INSIGHTS Podcast

To listen: CLICK HERE (26 mins)

Subscribe on iTUNES so you never miss an episode.

This is a special episode about the work of Well Made Strategy, our strategic communications consultancy section.

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