16th to 19th July 2026: Participated in a 4-Day Training of Trainers' (ToT) Programme by Centre for Social Justice at Ahmedabad.

Archana Casmir, legal awareness co-ordinatior at Dhwani Legal Trust participated in a four-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme that was organised by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from 16th July to 19th July.

The training aimed to strengthen the understanding, skills, and capacities of participants involved in legal, paralegal work and community-based justice initiatives. The programme focused on building effective trainers who can further spread legal awareness, support communities, and empower people to understand and access their rights.

The training was designed in an interactive and participatory manner, encouraging participants to share their experiences, reflect on their work, and develop practical approaches for engaging with communities.

Day 1: Understanding the Meaning of Paralegalism

The first day focused on understanding the concept and meaning of paralegalism. Participants explored the role of paralegals in bridging the gap between communities and the formal legal system. Discussions highlighted that paralegals are not only providers of legal information but also facilitators who support communities in identifying problems, understanding rights, and accessing justice.

The session helped participants reflect on the importance of community-based legal support and the responsibilities of paralegals in promoting equality, inclusion, and social justice. Through discussions and activities, participants examined the challenges faced by people while accessing legal remedies and the role paralegals can play in addressing these barriers.

Day 2: Co-Creation of Knowledge

The second day focused on the concept of co-creation of knowledge. The session emphasised that knowledge is not limited to experts or institutions but is also developed through people’s lived experiences, struggles, and collective learning.

Participants engaged in activities that encouraged sharing of experiences and perspectives from their own communities. The discussions highlighted the importance of respecting local knowledge and creating learning spaces where everyone contributes. This approach helped participants understand that effective legal awareness work requires listening to communities and building solutions together.

Day 3: Paralegals, Social Workers, Capacity Building, and Designing Sessions

The third day focused on the role of lawyers, paralegals and social workers and the importance of continuous capacity building. The session explored the skills required by paralegals, including communication, community engagement, problem-solving, legal understanding, and facilitation skills.

Participants discussed different methods of designing effective training sessions for communities. They learned how to plan sessions based on the needs of the audience, simplify complex legal information, and use participatory methods to make learning more accessible and meaningful.

The session also encouraged participants to think about their own roles as trainers and how they can create spaces where community members feel confident to ask questions and participate actively.

Day 4: Communicating Simple Messages Through Creative Methods, Reflection, and Evaluation

The fourth day focused on spreading legal and social messages through simple and effective communication methods. Participants explored creative tools such as skits, posters, flyers, and other forms of communication to make important messages easily understandable for communities.

The activity highlighted the importance of using local and accessible methods while conducting awareness programmes. Participants worked on developing ways to communicate legal information in a simple manner that connects with people’s everyday experiences.

The final sessions included reflections on the overall learning from the four-day training. Participants shared their key takeaways, challenges, and ideas for applying the learning in their respective fields. An evaluation session was conducted to understand the effectiveness of the training and gather feedback from participants.

Activities Conducted During the Training

• Group discussions and experience sharing: Participants shared their field experiences, challenges, and learnings related to paralegal work and community engagement.

• Interactive sessions on paralegalism: Activities were conducted to understand the role, responsibilities, and importance of paralegals in supporting communities and improving access to justice.

• Knowledge co-creation exercises: Participants engaged in group activities to recognise and value knowledge emerging from lived experiences and community practices.

• Role plays and practical exercises: Participants practised communication methods and explored ways to simplify legal concepts for community members.

• Session designing activities: Groups worked on planning and designing awareness sessions based on community needs, focusing on effective facilitation and participation.

• Creative communication activities: Participants developed ideas for spreading social and legal messages through skits, posters, flyers, and other simple communication tools.

• Reflection and feedback sessions: Daily reflections and final evaluation activities were conducted to review learning, share insights, and identify areas for further improvement.

Conclusion

The four-day ToT programme organised by CSJ was a valuable learning experience that strengthened participants’ understanding of paralegalism, community engagement, and effective training methods. The participatory approach created an environment of shared learning and reflection. The training enhanced the capacity of participants to design meaningful awareness sessions and communicate legal knowledge in simple and impactful ways.

The programme reinforced the importance of paralegals and social workers in promoting access to justice and empowering communities through knowledge, support, and collective action.