Join our professional community of practice

Freire Institute is a community of practice, a membership association and a professional development institute for educators dedicated to critical pedagogy, popular education, and transformative learning. By blending professional development with community-based learning, we create spaces where education becomes a tool for both personal and collective empowerment. We serve as a vibrant community of practice, providing a supportive network for educators, activists, and community organizers committed to social justice and meaningful change.

We are currently offering 12 months of membership free of charge for professional and community educators. You will be notified before your membership expires, and you can choose to renew or cancel your membership at that point. For details of how to take up this offer, please visit our membership page.

Full membership falls into two broad categories:  Professional and Community.

• Professional membership is designed for professionals working in education, such as academics, teachers, trainers, and researchers. This includes education professionals who are retired or currently not in employment. Multiple professional members in a single educational institution or agency can join as a Professional Team, allowing for broader participation and engagement. A Professional Team membership starts at five members (contact us if you require more; additional renewal fees may apply).
• Community membership is available to community educators, including organizers, volunteers, activists, advocates and campaigners, or other community practitioners who may not have a formal educational role but share our commitment to transformative education and social justice in their work. Multiple community members in a single organization can join as a Community Team. This membership promotes solidarity and collaboration between professional educators and grassroots community actors. A Community Team membership starts at five members (contact us if you require more; additional renewal fees may apply).

All membership applications must be approved before membership starts. If you are unsure about the category of membership that applies to you, please contact us.

For renewals, we offer a 50% discount for professional teams where the institution is based in low-income or lower-to-middle income countries. This does not apply to remote campuses of institutions based elsewhere. Professional Members who are retired (Emeritus) have a 25% discount on renewals. Community Members who are full-time students also get a 25% discount.

For more information about applying for membership, please click on Membership Enquiries below.