Inter-Organizational Solidarity and Learning Journey: The Learning Community

We designed the BİRLİKTE Learning Community to help participating organizations get to know each other better, strengthen their communication, and facilitate experience sharing. Based on their needs and demands, we held multiple in-person and online meetings—sometimes featuring experts, sometimes led by the organizations themselves. With the support of our partner The Wheel, we connected with peer organizations from Ireland, engaged in discussions on current issues in civil society with guest experts, and turned these conversations into a publication. Most importantly, we learned from each other’s experiences. We made sure to include not only successful examples but also instances where we faced challenges and learned from our mistakes.

Our methods for community building: sharing and collaboration

The key principles in our community’s operation were sharing and collaboration. Each event provided an opportunity for participants to come together, exchange experiences, learn from each other, and collaborate. This collaboration was not limited to knowledge and experience sharing—it also contributed to joint advocacy, strategic partnerships, and solutions to common challenges in civil society. It was especially rewarding to see how one organization’s method could inspire another.

While forming the community, we recognized the diversity of experiences and knowledge among participants and the enriching effect of this variety. Therefore, we adopted an interactive approach, encouraging participants to share their experiences and utilize this knowledge in their own organizations as well as in the broader civil society sphere.

What did we do? What did we discuss?

During our two-year implementation period, we organized multiple meetings focusing on organizational capacity topics based on the needs of our participant organizations. So, what did we discuss in these meetings?
    •    Organizational Meetings: We created spaces for collective work and learning. We held five in-person and seven online organizational meetings. These meetings allowed our organizations to take the lead and create experience-based learning environments. One of the highlights was ensuring an open and safe space for discussion. Thanks to this environment, organizations shared not only their successes but also their failures. Listening to the challenges of one organization helped another be better prepared for similar situations. Our participants consistently emphasized the safety of these gatherings, and we were pleased to foster such a supportive atmosphere.
    •    Civil Space Discussions: We addressed the pressing issues of civil society. This series of meetings, known as Civil Space Discussions, was designed to analyze and discuss current topics and challenges in civil society. We asked organizations what topics they wanted to explore, and the most requested themes were workers’ rights and human resource management in CSOs. Adopting a participatory approach, organizations themselves shaped the content and final publication from these discussions. We’re excited to announce that our publication “Work Relations in Civil Society” will soon be available.
    •    Online Information Sessions: Bridging distances. We hosted 22 online interactive sessions, some of which were webinars led by our organizations in their areas of expertise. To ensure accessibility, we incorporated interactive tools and shared recordings on our digital platform for those who couldn’t attend live.
    •    Thematic Meetings with Irish Civil Society: During this implementation period, our program partner was The Wheel, Ireland’s equivalent of STGM. Through thematic meetings with peer organizations in Ireland, we had the opportunity to exchange experiences, compare civil society structures in both countries, and explore good practices. Some of our focus areas included good governance, HR management, leadership, and data systems—all strengths of our Irish partners.
    •    On-the-Job Learning Program: We designed this program to enhance the capacity of individuals (members, employees, volunteers) within participating organizations regarding their activities and institutionalization processes. This initiative allowed organizations to observe the operations, mechanisms, procedures, and principles of experienced peer organizations firsthand. Participants gained perspective by working at peer organizations and applying best practices to their own organizations.

Through this program, organizations also participated in 10-15 day study visits to European organizations, fostering peer learning. These visits provided opportunities to observe, build closer relationships, and adapt best practices to their own organizations. Additionally, participants gained insight into the structure and functioning of civil society in various European countries. One of the most significant outcomes was the strengthening of partnerships—many organizations started working on joint projects with their host organizations.

What did participants say about the BİRLİKTE Learning Community?

• Safe Space & Solidarity

“It was a very safe space. We had two days of learning from each other and committing to support one another.”

•  New relationships & Sustainable bonds

“Getting to know organizations and their working areas enriches both our methods and our personal relationships. It was an exciting meeting, and the idea was highly appreciated. The relationships we built here continued beyond the meetings, leading to lasting bonds.”

• Different perspectives & New applications

“This process made us ask how we could improve our existing institutional practices. For example, we never considered allowing leave for hormone therapy treatment, in addition to menstrual leave. We have now started working on adding this to our policy documents.

“I learned a lot about fundraising. We often felt helpless trying to run our organization solely depending on grants. This was incredibly helpful.”

• Participatory & Productive meetings

“I think the meetings were highly participatory. It was well-prepared and structured over two days. Listening to experiences and receiving direct support from someone within civil society felt truly valuable.”

What did we take away?

The BİRLİKTE Learning Community provided opportunities not only for education and knowledge sharing but also for collaborative problem-solving and developing partnerships. Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the BİRLİKTE process was discovering the power of coming together and thinking collectively. Because solidarity is not only needed in times of crisis—it is always a vital source of strength.

A heartfelt thank you to all the organizations that actively participated, to the experts who supported us, and to everyone who contributed sincerely to this journey.