Self-care for civil society organizations is not a luxury or indulgence but an essential requirement to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of our efforts toward social transformation. This perspective draws inspiration from feminist movements and collective practices.
Anna Langheinrich, senior consultant at Colectivo Meta
The Origin of Self-Care for Civil Society Organizations: A Political Act
The idea of self-care finds its origins in Black feminism, especially in the work of Audre Lorde. She famously stated in A Burst of Light (1988), “Taking care of myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political struggle.” Lorde underscores how Black women, navigating numerous systems of oppression, embraced self-care as a powerful form of resistance.
This political legacy goes beyond the individual, urging us to nurture collective spaces too. For those of us in civil society organizations, this translates to making internal well-being a key strategy to support our fight for social transformation.
In this context, self-care transcends individual practices, relying instead on collective dynamics that promote mutual support, reciprocity, and justice. Civil society organizations in Latin America can take inspiration from environmental rights defenders, who embed care into their connections with the land and their communities. This perspective allows us to adopt care strategies that avoid perpetuating extractivist approaches in our work.
How Do We Start Implementing Self-Care as Part of an Organizational Strategy?
Self-care in civil society organizations should not be limited to isolated activities such as yoga classes or active breaks. Although these initiatives are valuable, the change must be structural, aimed at transforming our organizational culture.
We can implement the following strategies:
- Respectful Schedules: Define clear boundaries to ensure disconnection beyond working hours.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Develop policies that support a healthy work-life balance.
- Emphasis on Rest: Promote the use of time off and vacations as essential rights.
- Collective Care: Foster spaces for open dialogue and mutual support to address both individual and shared concerns.
- Humane Leadership: Build leadership that prioritizes and is attuned to the care needs of the team.
These measures not only support those of us within civil society organizations but also reinforce our identity by reflecting the values of justice we advocate
The Cost of Burnout and Neglect of Self-Care
Neglecting self-care within civil society organizations comes at a significant cost.
- Emotional burnout: Consistent exposure to traumatic narratives takes a toll on mental well-being.
- Staff turnover: Burnout results in the loss of talent, increasing the expenses of recruitment and training.
- Reduced impact: Exhausted teams are less productive and innovative, which weakens their overall performance.
Burnout is widely recognized by human rights organizations in Latin America as a significant threat to their efforts, highlighting the critical need to adopt sustainable care practices within our organizations.
Incorporating Self-Care into Strategic Planning
Self-care must be at the heart of our strategic planning as civil society organizations, with active participation from all members contributing their ideas, experiences, and aspirations. Key suggestions include:
- Initial Assessment
Evaluate the current state of organizational well-being using tools like surveys, staff turnover data, and reviews of internal policies.
- Set Clear Goals
Define specific self-care objectives, such as minimizing work overload or enhancing activity planning to achieve targets.
- Dedicated Budget
Allocate funds to support initiatives like stress management workshops or collective reflection sessions.
4. Leadership Commitment
Leaders should actively embody self-care practices, setting an example to inspire the team.
- Ongoing Evaluation
Regularly review and adjust strategies to ensure they align with the evolving needs of the team.
Self-Care as Ethical Alignment
Civil society organizations strive to uphold human rights, socio-environmental justice, and equity. To truly embody these values, it is essential to reflect the same principles of care within our internal practices and dynamics.
Integrating self-care into strategic planning strengthens not only our well-being but also the integrity and sustainability of our efforts.
For civil society organizations, self-care is both a political act and a fundamental strategy to secure the effectiveness of our work.
Rooted in Audre Lorde’s feminist ideals and inspired by collective practices across Latin America, this approach reminds us that caring for ourselves and our teams is as vital as caring for the causes we fight for.
We are the Foundation of Change
At COMETA, we’ve embraced practices that reflect our commitment, including adhering to digital disconnection by restricting work emails to between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and compensating for time spent on weekends or work trips. These measures protect both individual and collective well-being, while also reinforcing our core values, demonstrating that care is integral to sustaining the social impact we aim to achieve.
