EMPOWERING WOMEN
The Academy for Conscious Social Change
At the heart of Umurage Growth is the Academy for Conscious Social Change, a mindfulness-based leadership program and social venture incubator for change agents who wish to launch social change ventures (micro-NGOs) in their own communities.
The Academy for Conscious Social Change is a four-phase training and empowerment program that blends mindfulness and social entrepreneurship skill-building through a participatory, integrated, and holistic curriculum designed to catalyze personal and social transformation.
Phase One: Interactive Training
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Our intensive program provides essential tools for diagnosing key social issues. Academy participants design micro-NGOs that address community issues, are financially sustainable, and have measurable impact. Our curriculum guides participants in constructing a mission, vision, theory of change, operational plan, organizational design, start-up and operating budgets, financial sustainability strategy, goals and evaluation metrics, strategic partnerships, code of conduct, baseline issue studies, and communications strategies.scription text goes here
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Phase One also incorporates mindfulness-based leadership training and personal growth work to build confidence and self-awareness, unlock ideas, and develop leadership capacity. Our approach provides contemplative skills for understanding human behavior, defusing conflict, engaging stakeholders, overcoming fear, and building a sense of ownership by collaboratively diagnosing issues and developing local solutions.
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We further utilize trauma-informed mind-body techniques with scientifically demonstrated impact for alleviating post-traumatic stress, to ensure our participants who are survivors of war and gender-based violence are well enough to pursue their new endeavors.
Phase Two: Venture Development
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We provide direct facilitation as participants complete a business plan for a viable community-based, non-profit organization. Hands-on coaching ensures that the new micro-NGO is designed to be self-sufficient, has measurable goals, has a sustainable financial structure, and will work at the root level to create systemic change for women.
Phase Three: Seed Funding
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Ventures meeting our criteria receive a seed grant for 100% of their start-up costs. Funding is disbursed over several tranches to teach basic bookkeeping, financial analysis, and reporting to protect against cost overruns.
Phase Four: Apprenticeship
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Once a venture is launched, we provide high-engagement coaching and mentorship to support participants in reaching self-sufficiency as soon as possible.
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Our Trauma-Informed Approach
We provide training in a range of mind-body techniques that have a scientifically demonstrated positive and lasting impact.
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Why Inner Work Matters
Discover why inner work and personal transformation are integral to sustainable change.
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Our Multifaceted Approach to Healing
We provide training in a range of mind-body techniques that have a scientifically demonstrated positive and lasting impact.
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Inner Development Goals
An essential framework of 23 transformative skills that contribute to sustainable development..