## Changemaker Retreat – Coonoor
2–4 September 2025
A shared fellowship ecosystem is being developed to support individuals working for positive change in their communities. This platform aims to provide tools, mentorship, resources, and pathways that enable changemakers from diverse backgrounds to create meaningful local impact.
A three-day retreat in Coonoor brought together fellows from multiple CSOs across India to build connections, exchange experiences, and co-learn. Participating organisations included Adavi, Astitva, Blue Ribbon Movement, Durga India, Goonj, Gram Vikas, Nature’s Club, Reap Benefit, Sauramandala, Socratus, Timbaktu, and YouCan.
## Day 1 – 2 September | Building Community
The retreat opened with arrival and informal interactions, setting a welcoming tone.
Theatre of the Oppressed sessions served as an icebreaker and reflective exercise. Through short plays, participants explored social realities, personal journeys, and the power of art as a tool for dialogue and change. During Introductions & “Sense of the House” (SOTH), fellows shared personal motivations and changemaking values through storytelling. The SOTH exercise established collective norms of openness, respect, and shared responsibility, fostering a safe co-learning space.
Fireside Chat with Ashwin Mahesh focused on leadership as systems-building rather than authority. Key themes included citizen participation, evidence-based governance, learning from failure, and balancing idealism with practicality. The interactive discussion inspired participants to reflect on their roles in systemic change.
The day closed with dinner, cultural exchange, Antakshari, and a bonfire, strengthening trust and camaraderie.
## Day 2 – 3 September | Learning by Doing
A Treasure Hunt in Coonoor town promoted teamwork, adaptability, and collaboration while offering cultural exposure. The Changemakers Marketplace allowed fellows to showcase initiatives in a peer-learning format, leading to idea exchange and potential collaborations.
Parallel Workshops (Learn by Doing) Participants attended two sessions among five:
- Reap Benefit: Technology for public problem-solving
- Gram Vikas: SOTH in community development
- Socratus: Observation and citizen engagement
- Durga India: Strategic thinking for sustained impact
- YouCan: Smartphone storytelling for public narratives
A Roots of Wisdom cultural concert highlighted the role of art in resilience and collective identity.
## Day 3 – 4 September | Reflection & Collaboration
Participants reflected on learning and identified offerings that each organisation can share within the alliance, including:
- Socratus: Citizen Jury, Climate Recipes, systemic problem-solving tools
- Reap Benefit: Changemaker Portfolio, Samaaj Data, Changemaker Fund, WhatsApp Chatboard
- Sauramandala: Program incubation, research learning, folklore preservation
- YouCan: Ecological education, storytelling, Earth Educator Fellowship
- Durga India: Active Bystander Training, gender sensitisation
- Blue Ribbon Movement: Youth civic engagement, collective decision-making models
- Astitva: Revival of Kurumba art
- Adavi & Timbaktu: Community-led conservation and agrobiodiversity
- Goonj: Cloth for Work, climate action, Gram Swabhimaan
- Nature’s Club: Climate leadership, tree plantation, sustainable farming
### SOTH Reflections
- Socratus applied SOTH to values and motivation.
- Gram Vikas applied SOTH to community context, ownership, and stakeholder roles.
- Participants reflected on responsible engagement, self-awareness, and navigating community power dynamics.
## Key Takeaways
- Exposure to diverse approaches strengthened confidence and broadened perspectives.
- Peer learning encouraged innovation, collaboration, and cross-regional understanding.
- Participants gained confidence in communication, technology use, and community mobilisation tools.
- Art, culture, and informal interactions were critical in building trust and fellowship.
## Way Forward – India Changemakers Alliance
The retreat laid the foundation for a collaborative platform where changemakers can:
- Share tools and challenges
- Learn from contextual solutions
- Strengthen collective impact, as emphasized during the retreat: the goal is to expand the number of people actively engaged in solving community problems.
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