Firm- Foundation Social Inclusion and Gender Training conducted by Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO)

A self-reflecting and building two-day training on ‘social inclusion and gender’ by Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) for Certa Foundation and Certa Law Chambers.

 Through multiple activities and workshops, VSO facilitators Sarah Challoner and Bonny Mukombozi demonstrated that “(Negative) Attitudes + the power to act = Discrimination”. They showed our organization how discrimination takes many forms, including direct, indirect, inaction, and victimization. The implications of this lead to loss of opportunity, self-respect, and blocked access to resources and services. A reflective and introspective session that prompted us to contemplate our responses to discrimination and our individual tendencies to discriminate.

 The training progressed to its second day focused on ideologies of superiority. These are ideas that elevate one group of people above others or imply superiority. Such ideologies can damage societies or institutions since the fusion of “discrimination +ideologies of superiority = social exclusion”. To illustrate, when discrimination intertwines with the ideology of white superiority/supremacy, it manifests as racism. We reflected on the mechanisms that keep such ideologies in place and how to “turn them on their heads”!

 The training concluded with an organizational self-assessment, evaluating to what extent we promote inclusion at Certa Foundation and Certa Law Chambers and action plans that will lead to DEI organizational frameworks, to improve our current work environment. 

 This training heightened our awareness of the diversity among us, both within and beyond our organization, instilled a greater sense of mindfulness and consideration for one another, and furthered the inclusiveness of the organization overall.

‍