Giving Is Healing Foundation at the World Social Forum 2026: Connecting Voices, Strengthening Action
Cotonou, Benin Republic — August 2026
Giving Is Healing Foundation (GIH Foundation) participated in the World Social Forum 2026 in Cotonou, Benin Republic, joining NGOs, civil society organizations, activists, and changemakers from across Africa and beyond.
Registered as an organization for the Forum, the GIH Foundation team travelled to Cotonou to engage with diverse voices, exchange experiences, and contribute to conversations shaping social and community development across borders.
The University of Abomey-Calavi served as a major gathering point for the Forum’s activities and thematic discussions. Participants from different backgrounds and movements came together in a vibrant environment that encouraged dialogue, knowledge exchange, solidarity, and collaboration.
For Giving Is Healing Foundation, participation in the Forum went beyond attending sessions. It provided an opportunity to share experiences from our work in educational empowerment, community well-being, and migration protection, while learning from organizations addressing similar challenges in different parts of the world.
Building Connections Beyond Borders
One of the valuable aspects of the Forum was the opportunity to connect with fellow NGOs, CSOs, grassroots movements, and individuals working to create positive social change.
Through conversations and exchanges, GIH Foundation explored opportunities for collaboration and strengthened relationships with organizations committed to advancing human rights, dignity, and community well-being.
The discussions reinforced an important reality: many of the challenges communities face today do not stop at national borders. Issues such as unsafe migration, inequality, exclusion, and limited access to opportunities require cooperation across communities, countries, and institutions.
Advancing Safe Migration and Human Rights
As an organization working across educational empowerment, community well-being, and migration protection, GIH Foundation remains committed to approaches that place human dignity at the centre of migration discussions.
The Forum provided a platform to reflect on how civil society can contribute to safer migration pathways, stronger protection systems, and greater respect for the rights of migrants and vulnerable populations.
It also created space to consider how communities can be better positioned to participate in decisions that directly affect their lives.
Taking the Conversation Forward
Our participation in the World Social Forum 2026 was an opportunity to learn, connect, contribute, and reflect.
From Cotonou, GIH Foundation returns with new perspectives, strengthened relationships, and a renewed commitment to community-centred action. The experience demonstrated the importance of bringing diverse voices together—not simply to discuss challenges, but to build partnerships capable of turning ideas into meaningful action.
For Giving Is Healing Foundation, the Forum is not an endpoint. It is another step in our continued commitment to community development and inclusive societies.
As the conversations continue beyond Cotonou, GIH Foundation remains committed to strengthening partnerships, amplifying community voices, and contributing to lasting social change.