World Comics Network

World Comics India (WCI) also spread the idea of Grassroots Comics out of India. In South Asia, it is functional in Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, while also being introduced in few countries of Europe - UK, Sweden and Estonia. In 2005 it was introduced in West Africa and in 2007 to Latin America. There are few examples like Mongolia where people started using it own their own (by simply reading our particle book).

South Asia- Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal Latin America- Brazil  Europe-Finland, UK Africa-Mozambique, Benin, Tanzania Central Asia-Mongolia	Goenkar Changemakers Newways- Assam Comics Division Mizoram Comics Division Jharkhand Marathwada Comics Club Comics Manch Barmer

In 2006, a new chapter was opened in Pakistan in collaboration with Lahore based Insan Foundation. Eighteen people from different walks of life participated in it, shared and discussed issues and made their own stories. A new group “World Comics Network Pakistan” was formed under the leadership of Nida Shams. Workshops were conducted across Sindh, Punjab and other different regions of the country. Issues like water shortages, women’s rights and so on. Similar work was organized with students from University of Karachi and also in the region of Azad Kashmir.

In Sri-Lanka the Grassroots comics workshop was done with Oxfam in a four day training workshop in Colombo, 2005. The comics were later published and distributed by Oxfam in Tamil and Singhalese throughout the country. In 2006, group of participants were trained as trainers who in turn conducted a number of workshops across the country. An exhibition was held in Sri Lanka. Few of the trainers have also conducted training workshops in India.

In 2005, the first Comics Workshop was organized in Nepal with Save the Children Sweden. It was attended by 40 participants from different South-Asian countries. “World Comics Network Nepal” was formed. This network is presently functioning dynamically and is organizing workshops on a wide range of issues.

The first workshop conducted in Brazil was with Revista Viração in Sao Paulo. After which a series of workshop was done in Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza. Keeping with this momentum, Viração has organized several workshops on themes like campaign for women, children and many more. Viração has also published Comics Strips in their annual magazine keeping with the spirit of Comics Power.

WCI organized a ToT workshop in 2005 in collaboration with Community
Pride Initiative, a Manchester based organization. The new trainers
formed the group Community Comics-UK in the leadership of Kezia Lavan. This group has conducted comics workshops with small groups in Manchester and Salford. They have also started using comics in various campaigns run by community based organizations.

A number of workshop have been organised in collaboration with World Comics Finland. WCF Website

The concept of Grassroots comics was first introduced in Tanzania, Africa. In April 2003, the Tanzanian Association for Non Governmental Organizations (TANGO) and World Comics Finland arranged a workshop in Dar e Salaam.

World Comics Finland introduced this idea in the development sector in African Countries. The Mozambician Association Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo (ADPP) conducted the workshop with trainees from the Teachers Training Colleges under them.  The first workshop was done in 2005.

A workshop was organised in Cotonou (Benin) in 2005 by Plan Benin and Finland. It was attended by activists of African Movement for Working Youth and Children and conducted by Sharad Sharma and Leif Packalen.

Clare Hill along with her colleagues organised a workshop for health workers in 2008.The workshop was first of its kind in Mongolia.
Here is one sample of the comics produced during the workshop.

Goenkar Changemakers
Newways- Assam
Comics Division Mizoram
Comics Division Jharkhand
Marathwada Comics Club
Comics Manch Barmer