Notes and transcripts from the May 28 session - why and how to participate in the global WSF process https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JCZxu8ayb-zvT4Ut1kNuB1dj4j6jTcTap8jwyKbhrJE/edit?usp=sharing Next webinar June 11: https://fsm2026benin.org/activites/426/?lang=es Registration for Zoom webinar June 11 (register as soon as possible: step to join the WhatsApp group) https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hyY9OpZoQ4SN9J-X0iLFug Documentation of past webinars https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AsgVboWc3YzDv2GFJ44GwzRzEZf1NCI8fiUwGoRV0Ig/edit?tab=t.0--------------------------------------------------------------------------A/ Quick Summary and Possible Next StepsThis was a webinar meeting on participation in global World Social Forum processes, where Pierre encouraged discussion with organizations from different countries about how to become visible, primarily in the Intersections social forum processes and the WSF 2026 Benin process.The participants shared their experiences, intentions, and questions, which were discussed; hence the expression EIPC To rate each moment of the webinar: Roberto represented an intercultural association from Ecuador focused on ancestral medicine and solidarity economy, Mario spoke for the Mexican Community Trade Network, Javier explained the work of the church and mining network on divestment in mining, Rayza represented a Colombian foundation that works on environmental issues, Debora spoke about the SEMAPI union from Brazil RS, an entity already visible as a participant in the FSMI process https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/entite/654 Idrissa from Guinea-Bissau spoke about organizing a caravan of 50 young people to participate in the World Social Forum in Benin. Information was shared about available processes, including the Intersections Forum (participation possible at no cost) and the Benin Forum (with a fee of €125 for non-African organizations from the Global South https://fsm2026benin.org/frais-inscription/?lang=es). Challenges such as distance, costs, and language barriers to African participation were discussed. Participants noted that the conversation could continue in the WhatsApp group associated with the webinar until the next webinar planned for June 11th, and that registration on two multilingual social forum sites was encouraged. to make your organization's participation visible. Possible next steps: Debora - SEMAPI - https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/entite/654 Develop and propose a joint activity https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/activites-passees with organizations from Africa (especially with Idrissa and her group from Guinea-Bissau) at the Intersections Forum, to be shared in several corresponding mutual visibility groups (FSMPOA, and FSMI) during June or July. Idrissa - several organizations from Guinea-Bissau: Coordinate obtaining logistical and registration information for the caravan of young people from Guinea-Bissau to the Benin Forum, and promote the registration of several Guinean civil society organizations on the FSMI and WSF 2026 platforms. Both - Share the invitation to the next webinar https://fsm2026benin.org/activites/426/ suggesting early registration so that we can then join the associated WhatsApp group and guide Brazilian organizations and those from other Portuguese-speaking countries to register for the Intersections Forum and give visibility to the perceptible dynamics of the Benin Forum in terms of organizations https://fsm2026benin.org/organisations/?lang=es Activities https://fsm2026benin.org/activites/?lang=es and articles https://fsm2026benin.org/articles/?lang=pt - encouraging those motivated to pay their registration fee to propose activities and articles. Javier - Church and Mining Network: Consider registering the Church and Mining Network at the Intersections Forum and/or Benin, and prepare activities https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/activites-passees to popularize the topic at WSF 2026, seeking support for interpretation and then associated articles on divestment in mining and solidarity-based economic alternatives. Mario - SEPIC - REMECC and others - Mexico: Register Sepic and/or Remecc in the Intersections Forum and evaluate participation in the Benin Forum, considering the proposed activities on transformative economies and active youth. Pierre - Caritas intl - https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/entite/264: Send detailed instructions to interested participants on how to register and create activities in the Intersections Forum and in the WSF2026 in Benin. Rayza - Fundacion Fumpalur - Colombia: Evaluate the possibility of registering the Foundation in the Intersections Forum and participating with activities related to the environment, rights of rural and peasant communities. Roberto - Intercultural Association of Yachaks AIYAPU PUMAPUNGO - Ecuador: Consider registering this organization in the Intersections Forum, and contemplate The proposal of online activities related to ancestral medicine and solidarity economy. All participants: Invite organizations in your area to register for the next webinar (June 11) https://intersectionsglobal.net/fsmi/activites/278 (see the Zoom registration link there) and join the WhatsApp group to learn how to participate in the Global Social Forum to strengthen the network and visibility of your organizations in social forums. Also, for those interested in transformative economies - there is the EVMET space with a personal entry related to an entity that can then be made visible. Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/CS2FTZUwfiDEvNTM9 B/ Summary: Debora expressed her desire to organize some activity at the FSMI.
Pierre mentioned the main obstacles to physical participation, including the distance and costs of sending people to Benin, as well as language barriers due to the small number of Spanish and Portuguese speakers in the region. Roberto presented his intercultural organization, explaining its focus on food sovereignty, the popular and solidarity economy, and the rights of nature from the perspective of 10,000 years of Indigenous history. Pierre asked him about the organization's intentions to gain visibility in the World Social Forum processes, specifically the Intersections World Social Forum and the 2026 World Social Forum in Benin. He emphasized the importance of organizations being visible and proposing specific activities to ensure the forum process has an impact. Each organization has the autonomy to participate in the forum, regardless of its membership in larger networks, and Roberto's Association can register on its own without depending on internal procedures and discussions of broader networks. Mario from the Mexican Community Trade Network confirmed his intention to register his organizations in the FSMI process. and share experiences of active youth and exchange knowledge about traditional medicines with Roberto. Javier explained his participation in the Episcopal Commission for Social Studies in Peru and his work with the Churches and Mining Network through the Latin American Group of the Thematic Social Forum. He described the launch of a mining divestment platform that seeks to convince church and civil society organizations not to invest in mining due to its negative impacts on territories and the health of populations. The platform has three areas of action: generating information on the financial flows of large corporations, developing ethical codes and criteria, and promoting divestment with sustainable alternatives. Pierre explained the opportunities for participation in the Intersections Forum, including the possibility of organizing online activities and seeking allies at no cost. For the WSF2026 process, there is a fee of approximately $125 for Latin American organizations - the Churches and Mining Network could take advantage of this platform to create visibility and popularize the network in Africa. In the context of the World Social Forum 2026, where many interactions are expected in the next two months, Rayza from Colombia presented her environmental organization, which works with rural women, farmers, and fishermen to strengthen public environmental policy in Colombia. The Intersections Forum is a social forum process consisting of free, voluntary dialogue meetings focused on the exchange of experiences and strategic discussions. Debora presented SEMAPI, a union that has participated in the World Social Forum for 20 years and is active in defending workers' rights in Brazil. SEMAPI has a broad base, ranging from children and adolescents to agricultural workers and environmental issues. SEMAPI can register as an organization in the Benin Social Forum process, as Brazil currently has little visibility at the event.
And then consider whether you want to pay or be more active in the Intersections Forum where participation is free. Idrissa, a social activist from Guinea-Bissau and youth delegate, presented the challenges of organizing and financing a caravan of 50 young people to participate in the World Social Forum in Benin. Pierre suggested that the various organizations involved in this project consider participating in the Intersections Forum, which is free, and coordinate with some organizations that could pay the fee for WSF 2026. There will be an upcoming webinar in Spanish/Portuguese on June 11th, and you can maintain dialogue in the WhatsApp group associated with the webinar.