This toolkit is rooted in the belief that learning drives change – not just for individuals but across whole systems. It draws on two core ideas:

• Learning happens through doing: Grounded in real activity, learning is most powerful when it emerges from shared experiences, reflection and iteration. This is the basis for embodied learning, which starts from what’s actually happening on the ground.
• Learning happens through relationships: Change is co-created through interaction, not just through individuals acting alone. This is based on the concept of symmathesy (see Section 2.3 for further details), which highlights:
  • Mutual learning – all parts of a system influence and learn from each other.
  • Relational – it’s about the interactions, not just the parts.
  • Context and history matter – each interaction is shaped by the environment, dynamics, and lived experience.
  • Change is constant – living systems are always adapting.
  • Emergence – we must pay attention to what is subtle, unexpected or unfolding through relationships.

These principles are embedded in the toolkit’s learning activities and support LocalMotion’s belief that connections create change, and deeper relationships lead to deeper change.