Learn what drives positive social change in your role as a changemaker
If we want to make lasting social and political change, we must understand power dynamics, systems and influencing strategies that can shift the status quo. This free-to-access course will help you understand the context of the issues you’re passionate about and your existing sources of power and influence.
You’ll be guided by examples of successful international movements and community action. You’ll finish this course with the skills you need to spot and act upon opportunities, and contribute to the change you want to see in your community and the world.
What topics will you cover?
- Unit 1: what kind of change we are talking about, understanding change, changemakers and their stories.
- Unit 2: understanding the context of change, thinking about conflict and focusing on the change you would like to see.
- Unit 3: understanding power and how it shapes changemaking, applying tools analysing power, and thinking about systems.
- Unit 4: the power of collective action, working in partnership with others and the qualities of a changemaker.
- Unit 5: spheres of influence, and mapping where power and influence lie.
- Unit 6: developing strong stories for change, understanding narratives and developing messages.
- Unit 7: taking action to make change happen, strategy and tactics, developing your action plan, and the steps to implement your plan.
- Unit 8: tackling challenges and taking your next steps, reflecting on change, overcoming challenges, and staying inspired and focused.
Oxfam/Open University course certificate
This course is free and open to all. But if you want to be awarded an Oxfam/Open University course certificate for your learning, you will need to do the following:
| 1. Enrol on the course using any of the 'Enrol now' buttons on this page. Once you have done so, you’ll be returned to this screen. |
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| 2. Complete the pre-course survey (the link is further down this page). This will help us to better understand what you hope to gain from the course, and will help with evaluating and improving the course for the future. This survey is led by Oxfam and the anonymised results will be shared with the Oxfam learning team and with The Open University. |
| 3. Complete the course content to the end. Ensure that every unit has been completed. |
| 4. Complete the post-course survey. This will help us to evaluate the course and improve it for the future. Summarised and anonymised findings will be shared with Oxfam and Open University to evaluate the course. |
A global movement for change
Oxfam is part of a global movement, campaigning for economic, gender and climate justice – for change that lasts. We believe, together, we can forge an equal future, with equal rights and equal opportunities, so that every one of us can thrive, not just survive.
Oxfam works in more than 90 countries, together with thousands of partners and allies. We support communities to build better lives for themselves, grow resilience and protect lives and livelihoods in times of crisis. Since we want lasting solutions, we fight the inequalities that keep people locked in poverty and injustice. We tackle not the symptoms but the systems, and we campaign for genuine, long-lasting change.
To find out more about our work with partners around the world, visit the Oxfam website.
There are many other international, national and local organisations and social movements which you could add your voice to. There will be opportunities in the course to identify those which connect with your change issue and to join them.
