Women Learning Liberation (WLL) is WoMin’s long-term political education course, designed to support peasant and working-class African women activists resisting extractives in their communities by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools to build and strengthen their organisations and movements.
It was implemented in Cameroon, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, South African and Uganda during 18-months starting in July 2024. The course follows an African Ecofeminist Popular Education approach, recognising participants’ agency as active and creative social agents who can critically examine and transform the conditions around them.
“One key lesson I personally took from facilitating WLL is the importance of Popular Education and the idea that leadership is something we build collectively. I learned that it is not about standing in front and delivering knowledge, but about creating a space where women can reflect, share, and find their own solutions.
This has completely changed the way I work. I now focus much more on participatory approaches, using visuals, storytelling, and role-playing. … I have seen how these approaches make the sessions more dynamic and inclusive, and how they help women gain confidence in expressing their ideas. Today, the women I work with are more engaged, more willing to speak, and more active in shaping their own projects and initiatives.” – WLL facilitator, Laetitia, Guinea
The main themes explored as part of WLL were those central to the polycrisis in Africa, such as extractivism, capitalism and colonialism, among others, drawing from WoMin’s extensive work and documentation. As part of the curriculum development, there was a clear intention to show how the different themes are interlinked. Materials such as the session outlines, concept notes and facilitator guides were developed.
A significant highlight of the WLL was the Pan-African Gathering, which took place in Maputo, Mozambique, from October 2nd to 5th 2025. This Gathering served as a pivotal milestone in the educational journey, providing participants with a unique opportunity to convene in person across the 6 countries, share invaluable experiences, and nurture Pan-African solidarity.
As part of our efforts in supporting Ecofeminist movements in the continent, we created this open-source library for other organisers interested in similar topics, to adapt and facilitate sessions in their communities.
Women Learning Liberation Pan African Gathering Report
Women Learning Liberation Curriculum
The Women Learning Liberation curriculum is structured around eight national learning modules, with each module facilitated by trained feminist educators who guide participants through complex sociopolitical issues while honing their leadership skills and fostering a deeper understanding of grassroots movements. We are making these modules available to support popular educators and movements in their own organising and learning.
Download all eight modules in English or French below. Individual modules are available to download here.
Facilitator Interviews
Facilitators from each of the six countries where WLL was carried out shared their reflections on the process. These interviews are a rich resource on the challenges of teaching in diverse contexts and the powerful insights that have emerged.
- Teaching in context : Building Trust through Long-Term Political Education in Cameroon
- Teaching in context: Learning and belonging in Ivory Coast
- Teaching in context: Learning with the learners in Madagascar
- Teaching in context: Expanding on language in Uganda
- Teaching in context: Making learning accessible in Guinea
- Teaching in context: Building spaces for dialogue in South Africa
Learn more about WoMin’s Ecofeminist Popular Education work.
