Berlin, Germany
March 23-25, 2026
Join us in Berlin!
Be part of a three-day, cohort-based training designed to strengthen the skills, strategy, and capacity of advocates across Europe. Apply to participate and deepen your impact alongside peers working to advance systemic change for farmed animals.
What is AVA Academy?
An intensive, practice-based training for animal advocates in the European context.
AVA Academy is a three-day, cohort-style program focused on applied learning rather than presentations. Participants deepen one core competency area and build cross-cutting skills through rotating electives designed to strengthen strategy, communication, policy fluency, and sustainability in advocacy work.
Who is AVA Academy for?
For advocates seeking to strengthen their skills and impact.
The Academy is designed for NGO staff, campaigners, fundraisers, researchers, policy and legal practitioners, communications professionals, grassroots organizers, and emerging leaders who want structured, practical training they can apply directly within animal advocacy work.This includes NGO staff, campaigners, researchers, fundraisers, policy and legal professionals, communications teams, students, emerging leaders, and others seeking structured, skill-based training to increase their impact.
What to expect from this AVA Academy:
Three-day intensive format — a small-cohort, workshop-based learning environment with no recordings and full-day participation require
One Core Track — you will register into a single afternoon track for all three days to gain deep skill development in one domain
Rotating Morning Electives — all participants rotate through sessions in EU policy, message & media, wellbeing and sustainable leadership, and in some cases data & research
Practitioner-led facilitation — sessions are taught by experienced movement practitioners, not keynote speakers, using applied exercises and peer learning
Europe-anchored content — programming is designed for the European advocacy and funding context, with global relevance
Application-only admission — space is limited (~80 participants) to protect cohort quality and interactive learning
Tiered pricing and travel support — registration depends on organizational budget, with Travel Award applications available to accepted participants
In-person only — no hybrid or livestream; the value comes from live, confidential, practice-based engagement
Lunch provided — meals are included during Academy hours; lodging is self-organized, with a discounted hotel block coming soon
All venue, lodging, and meals information for Academy participants!
Hosted at smartvillage Berlin with a discounted hotel block coming soon.
The Academy will take place at smartvillage B-Neukölln in Berlin. The venue does not provide onsite lodging; AVA will release a discounted hotel block at a nearby property once confirmed. Lunch will be provided for all participants during Academy hours each day.
Do you need financial assistance to participate?
Cost should never be a barrier to contributing to this work.
Ticket pricing is tiered based on organizational budget, and accepted participants who indicate financial need will receive a separate Travel Award application link by email. Travel Awards are available to reduce or fully offset travel costs, and AVA strives to ensure that advocates in need can access at least one AVA program per year.
Interested in facilitating at the event?
Facilitators lead applied, workshop-style sessions that build concrete skills for European animal advocacy.
AVA Academy Berlin is not a lecture or keynote environment — facilitators guide small-cohort learning, practical exercises, and strategy labs aligned with one of the Academy’s Core Tracks or Morning Electives. Ideal facilitators are experienced practitioners able to teach through practice, support peer learning, and connect content to the European advocacy context.
To apply to facilitate, please email the AVA Program Team directly at Program@AVASummit.com
AVA Academy Berlin FAQ
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AVA Academy Europe is an intensive three-day professional development program for leaders and advocates working to strengthen the animal advocacy movement in Europe. It combines deep training in one core track with shared cross-cutting electives.
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Your primary afternoon learning cohort for all three days.
Participants choose one Core Track to follow throughout the Academy, allowing for deep, continuous skill development in a single domain. Tracks for Berlin include:Leadership & Organizational Resilience
Fundraising & Philanthropy
Advocacy Strategy & Campaign Design
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Rotating sessions that build shared, cross-cutting skills.
All participants attend each elective once over the three mornings. Electives are designed to create a shared foundation across disciplines and may include:EU Policy & Power Mapping
Message & Media Lab
Wellbeing & Sustainable Leadership
Data & Research for Advocacy (where applicable)
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Summits are large convenings for strategy alignment and movement-wide collaboration. Academies are small, intensive, and workshop-driven — built for deep learning and applied practice rather than broader knowledge sharing and networking.
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Advocates of any seniority pursuing professional skill-building — including NGO staff, campaigners, fundraisers, researchers, policy practitioners, communications staff, and emerging leaders working at national, EU, or regional levels.
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Each Core Track is taught by a Lead Facilitator with relevant movement experience, supported by a Co-Facilitator or Coach, and selected for applied, workshop-style teaching.
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Yes. Ticket cost and support levels are based on organizational budget size, and Travel Awards are available separately for participants who require funding to attend.
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Lunch will be provided for all three days of the Academy.
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Attendance is capped at approximately 80 participants to preserve a small-cohort, workshop-based learning experience.
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By application only. Selection prioritizes diversity across roles, regions, and experience levels, and requires commitment to attend all three days.
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March 23–25, 2026 — smartvillage B-Neukölln, Berlin, Germany.
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All accepted participants must register for the Academy. Registration fees are tiered based on organizational budget size, and some participants may receive partial or full support depending on eligibility. Facilitators do not purchase a ticket, but if facilitators require travel funding they must still apply separately for a Travel Award.
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Applicants will receive a decision via email after the review period closes. Accepted participants will be given instructions to complete registration, select their Core Track, and confirm any support needs such as visa letters or Travel Award applications.
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If your Academy application is accepted and you indicate that you need financial assistance, the AVA Program Team will email you a Travel Award application link. Travel support is not automatic — you must complete this separate form after acceptance for your request to be considered.
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Registration costs are based on the applicant’s organizational budget:
Over €500,000/year — Standard ticket: $450 USD
€250,000–€499,999/year — Reduced ticket: $150 USD
€100,000–€249,999/year — No ticket cost + 50% travel support eligibility (up to $250)
Under €100,000/year — No ticket cost + 100% travel support eligibility (up to $500)
Financial support for travel is not automatic. If you are accepted and indicated need, you will receive a separate Travel Award application by email from the AVA Program Team.
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Yes. Because the Academy is cohort-based and workshops build on prior sessions, accepted participants must be able to attend all three full days.
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No. You must choose one. Facilitators and participants experience the Academy differently, and roles cannot be combined in the same year.
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No. The Academy is designed as a live, workshop-based environment with confidential discussion. Recordings are not provided.
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Yes, international applicants are welcome, but content is designed primarily for Europe-based advocacy contexts and funding ecosystems.
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Yes. If you are accepted and require a formal invitation letter for visa purposes, AVA can provide one upon request.
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No. Spots are limited and cannot be held for future cohorts. If you cannot attend, you may reapply for a future cycle.
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Yes. You will select your Core Track during registration after acceptance, and it will be confirmed in your pre-event materials.
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If I apply and am not selected, will I receive feedback?