Being Fully Human: Dismantling Race and Racism in Conscious Communities
Join the Kopanya Institute on an eight-week online journey exploring race and racism in spiritually and socially motivated communities – from communities of practice and non profit organisations, to spiritual and religious communities, to yoga and therapeutic communities and spaces.
The course provides an opportunity to hold a mirror up to the narratives and practices that exist in these spaces that seek to connect people to themselves, each other, and often ‘the Divine’ or ‘greater good’ – yet can lead to experiences of alienation, exasperation, disconnect and trauma. We will present a range of models, reflexive exercises and practical tools to support you in working through the energy and emotions of race and racism in an embodied and integrated way, so that you can find right relationship to your heart, gut, and own expression, building pathways to healthy communication and connection with others.
~~~For more detailed information on this course click here~~~
For self study or group course options in 2024, email kopanya.courses@gmail.com
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Talking to Kids About Race and Racism
Join the Kopanya Institute for a 12 week online course exploring how to talk to kids of all ages, and other adults, about race and racism. The course is designed for anyone who is curious about how to have these conversations with kids, from parents and teachers, to caregivers and aunts/uncles – whether you have kids or not, this course is for anyone with an interest in a simple and accessible way of approaching what can be an intimidating subject!
The energetics of racialised encounters are challenging at the best of times, affecting us in profound physical ways. In interactions with children these can be even more difficult and confusing. Through practical tools and reflective exercises, and looking at real examples of the difficult questions kids ask, and the racialised situations they find themselves in – we help you to become equipped to support young individuals in their own task of meaning-making in a complex world, in a way that is true for them.
~~~For more detailed information on this course click here~~~
For self study or group course options in 2024, email kopanya.courses@gmail.com
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Diving Deeper: Talking to Kids About Race and Racism – Part Two
Kopanya’s newest offering launched on 25 May 2023! Based on multiple requests and our shared journeys with many of the participants from our “Talking to Kids about Race and Racism” course, we were excited to run Part 2 for the first time in 2023 with an amazing group of parents, teachers and individuals who are wanting a support the next generation and see positive change in our world!
This new course is spread over 9 months (the length of time that children usually spend in the womb!) to allow for spaciousness, a supportive community and deep diving in tough questions and complex topics. Every month there are two topics – each with a core reading, reflection questions and a guest speaker – and one group call at the end of the month (every last Wednesday or Thursday from 6:30-9:00 pm, with breaks) where the speakers share and invite discussion, and participants have an opportunity to share about what they have read and experienced with each topic.
~~~For more detailed information on this course click here~~~
Next cohort starting on 28th February 2024
register at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CGJQZV2
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Gender, Power and Consent
We have been privileged to work with a range of organisations and individuals around themes of gender, power and consent over the last few years. This has included a) unpacking gender and sexual harassment in the workplace, b) gender, sexuality and power with young adults, and c) ‘Consent for Kids’.
In our work with both adults and children, we explore why consent matters and how to navigate asking for and receiving consent – in the communication and negotiation of social, emotional, and physical relationships and boundaries, not only in relation to gender and sexuality, but in the expression of identity as a whole. This involves developing our emotional intelligence and intuition in navigating interpersonal power in everyday relationships. We provide a safe space to reflect on these themes personally and collectively, across age groups and the gender and LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
Contact us to find out more
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Conversations about Race and Racism: A Course for Marketing, Communications and PR Teams
Many South African consumers are very tuned in to whether or not they feel authentically represented in marketing campaigns – whether they are being patronised through reductive or even offensive visuals and other narratives, or if they can indeed see themselves in rich and layered imagery being reflected back on billboards and in media of all forms. Given our country’s complex and traumatic history, it requires a proactive approach by management to build a consistently inclusive culture, brand and marketing/ communication strategy.
The intention in this course is to equip individuals and leaders in marketing, PR or customer-facing roles with essential tools around identity, representation, and power – particularly in visual imagery. At the heart of the process is unpacking ideologies of inferiority and superiority, and what has been normalized as mainstream culture, particularly within the aspirational culture of marketing. The aim is to bring awareness to privilege along various axes, and acquire lenses that can be more in tune with, and respectful of, a diverse market.
Contact us to find out more
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Identity, Power and Belonging: A Workshop for Social Change Organisations
In our experience working with NGOs, civil society and advocacy organisations, the strong desire to effect change in the world, and assumptions that everyone is on the same page internally, can lead to missing critical internal conversations. Irrespective of the levels of good will and good intentions within any contemporary organisation, there is a need to look at how power, privilege, race, gender, and other variables are operating.
Unless these issues are explicitly addressed, there is the risk of misunderstandings, assumptions, and the overt and subtle reproduction of problematic power relations that permeate broader society. This workshop unpacks perspectives and experiences of identity and belonging in organisations, through a trauma-informed lens, offering education and empowerment through key concepts and tools around identity and power. Kopanya takes an intersectional approach and the workshop includes explorations of race and racism alongside other manifestations of marginalisation and oppression.
Contact us to find out more
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Re-defining Transformation, Diversity and Inclusion: A Workshop for Executive Leaders and Management Teams
Through surveys, intensive dialogue, and the sharing of tools and informative content, Kopanya offers a space for leadership teams to build a common language to talk about transformation, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace – a critical foundation for the broader mandate of positive change in this regard.
The workshop begins by focusing on building an increased awareness around personal and collective experiences of history, identity, power and belonging. We then ensure the team practises the muscle of having robust and effective conversations that will support them in driving forward the transformation agenda in an inclusive way that feels authentic to the individuals and business concerned. Kopanya also offers one-on-one coaching as a support to individuals as an optional part of the process.
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Conversations about Race & Racism: An online course for Leadership and Management Teams
In working with leadership and management teams on the topics of transformation, diversity and inclusion, a request and need kept emerging for follow-on training that would support managers and supervisors in leading their teams effectively and inclusively on a day-to-day basis. In response, we designed a six-month training course called “Equipped to Lead”, which is well-suited for diverse, multi-lingual managers and supervisors, coming from a range of educational backgrounds. The course is made up of six modules, which include a 2-hour online call with the course facilitators, individual exercises to work on in-between the calls, peer coaching and mentoring, and partner/group activities.
The overall goal of the course is to educate and empower staff around how they lead, how they handle challenging conversations, and how they can make a positive impact in their roles. Like our in-person workshops, we focus on creating a safe space to explore these issues, whilst providing simple and accessible tools to then continue this conversation once each session is complete. This contributes towards ensuring that the working environment becomes more inclusive for all employees.
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For more information about this course or our other offerings, please contact kopanya.courses@gmail.com