|
|
|
Article 6 Training on "Stepping Stones"
methodology for HIV/AIDS interventions By Donald Kasongi, ACORD After prioritising the use of Stepping Stones methodology at its HIV/AIDS conference in Pretoria in March 2001, ACORD held a 'Stepping Stones' workshop near Mwanza, Tanzania from 15 -25 October 2001. The Stepping Stones methodology enables communities, programmes and organisations to address communication problems, to empower vulnerable groups especially women and children in decision making .The methodology works in peer groups of same age and gender, because of different needs, interests and experiences, so as to promote openness when sharing experiences. During this training, there were more sessions done together (men and women than is normally the practice). The first eight days were dedicated to indoor adaptation, focusing on the "Stepping Stones" manual and video. Each section of the workshop, which the manual describes, has a theme, which is captured in the session title. The aim of the workshop is to enable individuals, their peers and their communities to change their behaviour, individually, as peers, together through the stepping stones which the session provides and practice ways of improving their interpersonal relationships. Lessons from the manual and video as presented by workshop participants: -Some people may change for the better in everything such as being assertive, sharing decision making, about sexual partnership -It was concluded that there is a need for individuals to support each other, trust one another and discourage being judgmental about others. The four stages of change enabled participants to internalise the learning fast .The stages are: Learning about sexual health, HIV/AIDS and other STDs Sharing and discussing problems and ideas by talking with peers, partners and children Caring by accepting responsibility for the way in which our behaviours affect other including PLWHAs and those affected by AIDS Changing behaviour in ways that we want in order to improve our sexual health Participants looked in depth at societal issues constraining community development like HIV/AIDS conflict, poverty and lack of awareness on various aspects of life. Participants together with facilitators analysed the flow of vital information in the community and barriers to effective communication that were creating unnecessary friction between individuals and groups. Lessons on perceptions, love, power, the "I" perspective were particularly enjoyable and thrilling .The long workshop journey took participants and facilitators from the workshop with its usual brainstorming and fun to reality. Participants reported to have sharpened their individual capacities for analysis on human frailties and life cycle irrespective of their divergent cultural backgrounds. Participants also acknowledged the fact that individuals have the means to change for the better and that development workers should practice what they preach before anybody else does. It was further appreciated that programme teams are in no case insulated from the problems affecting communities with which they interact After sessions of reflection on the manual and video, the workshop team worked with a community in Lukobe village for two days to test the practical application of the methodology. Lukobe is a peri-urban village under the administration of Mwanza city .The ACORD programme in Mwanza (Mwanza Urban Livelihood Programme) works with 14 streets and 9 peri-urban villages including Lukobe. The workshop in the community was inspiring. The workshop was made in form of movement and songs, which attracted many community members. Community members broke into four peer groups and each came up with concerns that were directed to the Mwanza programme. Community members requested the ACORD programme team in Mwanza to train Stepping Stones facilitators from the community in order to strengthen the local capacity to use the methodology in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support, and these should be conducted at a time when people don’t have a lot of work (minimum activities season) Participants prepared workplans on how SS will be integrated into their respective HIV/AIDS interventions during the year 2002. At the end of all sessions, workshop participants and community members from Lukobe concluded that the methodology: -Promotes participation and interactions from different cultural and professional backgrounds -Enables communities and individuals to consider their current positions, situations and why they behave the way they do. -Could be used in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS during design of or into programmes which had not considered the impact of the pandemic before. -Could be used to explore useful or destructive our behaviour is to mankind and how we can collectively mobilise everybody for the good of society. A full report on the Mwanza training on Stepping Stones methodology is available on request from: The AIDS Programme Manager, Or The Country Co-ordinator, |
