Enhancing Organizing Skills: A 2-Day Workshop in Pokhara by UNI Nepal

A 2-day workshop on Organizing Skill Enhancement was held on 16th and 17th January 2023 in
Pokhara. The workshop was organized by UNI and aimed to provide participants with
knowledge and skills on organizing and leadership. The program was attended by 20
participants who actively participated in the exercises and discussions throughout the two-day
training.
The first day of the workshop began with introductions and setting norms for the group.
Participants were introduced to the concepts of organizing and the role of the union. A short
tea/coffee break was taken before moving on to the next session.
Session 2 focused on the organizing sentence, the importance of organizing, and the reasons
for working as a union. Participants participated in an exercise to coach on the organizing
sentence and discussed the challenges, actions, and outcomes in organizing. They also took part
in a story training exercise to help them connect with the workers. The session ended with a
lunch break.
Session 3 continued with an exercise to rank issues, followed by a tea break. In the final session
of the first day, participants took part in a leaders ranking and selecting exercise. They also
discussed the traits of leaders that are desirable and those that should be avoided. The
participants were also provided with questions to be asked to potential leaders.
On the second day of the workshop, Session 4 began with a focus on the “4 Cs” of organizing:
Connect, Context, Commitments, and Catapult. Participants took part in an exercise to apply
the 4 Cs in breakout groups. A tea break was taken before moving on to the next session.
Session 5 focused on building leadership teams. Participants were given an exercise to
potentially set as homework. The session ended with a lunch break.
Session 6 covered strategies, tactics, and organizing using Nepalese Law. Participants took part
in an exercise to plan their campaign using a Gantt Chart. A tea break was taken before moving
on to the final session.
In the final session, participants presented their campaign plans and the workshop was
evaluated and closed. Participants received feedback on their presentations and discussed
areas for improvement. The workshop was concluded with a closing ceremony, where
participants received certificates of completion. Overall, the two-day workshop was a
comprehensive and interactive learning experience for the participants, providing them with
the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively organize and lead a campaign. The exercises
and discussions were well received by the participants, and they expressed a desire to apply
their new knowledge and skills in their future work.