Engage – Shams Community

Calling all Changemakers

Contribute to making the world a better place by creating safe spaces that bring people together and encourage collective community learning, dialogue, and social change.

Shams HOST PROGRAM

Shams Community Hosts are members of the global Shams community who are trained in hosting and facilitation in order to lead grassroots, community-based activities that bring people together to discuss and learn about social issues with the aim to solve them.

Hosts will be able to facilitate the Shams Table discussions and gain invaluable knowledge about leading bigger conversations within their own communities. Our goal is to help Shams Hosts develop into passionate global citizens who constantly seek to understand different cultural views and convert community dialogue into positive community impact.

Be a Changemaker

Create safe spaces in your own community by bringing people together to discuss and learn about social issues, inspiring individuals to take innovative and sustainable action.

Expand Your Global Network

Connect with, learn from, and engage with passionate individuals from around the world who are working to create change in their own communities.

Learn, Develop, & Grow

Invest in your personal development through ongoing training and mentorship in hosting, leadership, and facilitation, while also learning about an array of social issues.

Access Dialogue Tools

Access our Shams toolkit which includes over 200 topics for dialogue and discussion, in addition to an expanse of resources for facilitation and event planning.

Build Your Professional SkillSet

Build your skills in leadership, dialogue facilitation, community-building, and cross-cultural communication and open up career opportunities as a certified Shams Host.

Find Joy in Community

As part of a supportive and shared community, get to know more about yourself, learn alongside countless other young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and have fun joining in activities that promote cross-cultural exchange.

Shams Community host Training program

Hosts complete our Host Training Program to become members of Shams Community. Through this training, they receive ongoing learning and development with an expanse of Shams resources, access to our online membership platform (Workplace), access to member-only events, activities, and trainings, and a connection to our global community of changemakers, all while supporting and amplifying the mission of Shams.

Hosts are expected to commit to hosting 1-2 Shams Table events (online or in-person) per month after completion of the facilitator training.

Shams Table

#ShamsTable is a unique format that gathers 5-10 people with different backgrounds to express and exchange their thoughts on local and global social, economic, and environmental issues, while also giving space for the personal aspects of each. We aim to provide individuals with non-judgmental spaces that encourage sharing knowledge, personal stories, and critical thinking.

Shams Tables are 2 hour roundtable conversations about specific topics led by a host trained on facilitation and creating safe spaces. The hosts use prepared questions to inspire conversation and to ensure different aspects of the topic are covered.

At the heart of Shams Table are two parts: meaningful dialogue and the sharing of a meal.

training schedule

Our current cohort of Host Training is full, however we will be hosting additional cohorts this year!

Shams Host Training runs for 6 weeks with live trainings twice per week via Zoom. The twice-weekly Zoom sessions are typically 2 hours long and take place in the evening, Amman time.

We operate from the Amman time zone, but we do our best to accommodate multiple time zones.

format

Our training program takes place exclusively online so that anyone can join from anywhere in the world.

The program will be a mix of live group training sessions held via GoogleMeet, independent study (utilizing videos, manuals, and readings), partner collaboration, and a one-to-one consultation with your Shams trainer.

training team

Our Host Training Team is comprised of Shams leaders with extensive experience in facilitation, cross-cultural dialogue, community-building, event planning, marketing and media.

Meet the Shams team.

cost

The cost of completing the Shams Host Training Program is 29 USD / 20 JOD. This one-time fee covers your training, materials, and ongoing development.

Online payment is available in USD through PayPal and in JOD through Zain Cash. Members located in Jordan are welcome to pay at our Shams office in Jabal Amman.

Scholarships are available. Please reach out to join@shamscommunity.org for details.

Sample

Training Schedule

Week 1

01 Intro to Shams – Sunday

02 Dialogue & Facilitation – Wednesday

Week 2

03 Creating A Safe Space – Sunday

04 Facilitation Tools – Wednesday

Week 3

05 Building Your Table – Sunday

06 Promoting Your Table – Wednesday

Week 4

07 Comm. Engage. & Admin – Sunday

08 Practice Shams Table – Wednesday

Week 5

09 Individual Consultation – Sunday ** 30 minute appointments booked via sign-up

10 Host Your Table – Flexible ** choose day/time slot to host your first Shams Table within designated 2 week period

Week 6

11 Next Steps – Wednesday

“A safe space to speak what's on your mind".

"Being in Shams Community gives you such a safe space to open up and speak what's on your mind and in your heart. It's such a blessing. It really is a huge benefit that you will never find anywhere else."

Yazeed, shams host