Building Leadership in Building Leadership in Communities to Advance the Communities to Advance the

Response to HIV/AIDSResponse to HIV/AIDS The Stepping Stones Approach to grassroots

transformation through gendered inter-generational communication and relationships skills trainings around

the world

Salamander Trust, Strategies for Hope and Baron Oron,

MenEngage Conference S Africa October 2009

Session GoalsSession Goals

Become familiar with the principles, Become familiar with the principles, structure, process and achievements of the structure, process and achievements of the Stepping Stones community mobilisation Stepping Stones community mobilisation methodology.methodology.

Understand some of the main challenges in Understand some of the main challenges in implementing Stepping Stones.implementing Stepping Stones.

What is What is SteppingStepping Stones? Stones?

1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, 1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, Communication and Relationship Skills, Communication and Relationship Skills, Gender Relations, and Community Gender Relations, and Community Mobilization.Mobilization.

What is What is SteppingStepping Stones? Stones?

1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, Communication and 1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, Communication and Relationship Skills, Gender Relations, and Community Relationship Skills, Gender Relations, and Community Mobilization.Mobilization.

2. Developed and pre-tested in 1994 in 2. Developed and pre-tested in 1994 in Buwenda, Uganda, it has since been Buwenda, Uganda, it has since been adapted for many other parts of the world adapted for many other parts of the world by over 5,000 organisations.by over 5,000 organisations.

What is What is SteppingStepping Stones? Stones?1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, Communication and 1. SS is a training package on HIV/AIDS, Communication and

Relationship Skills, Gender Relations, and Community Relationship Skills, Gender Relations, and Community Mobilization. Mobilization.

2. Developed and pre-tested in 1994 in Buwenda, Uganda, it has 2. Developed and pre-tested in 1994 in Buwenda, Uganda, it has since been adapted for many other parts of the world by over since been adapted for many other parts of the world by over 5,000 organisations.5,000 organisations.

3. It was designed to meet the communication 3. It was designed to meet the communication needs of the voiceless, including young needs of the voiceless, including young people, women, and people with disabilities, people, women, and people with disabilities, in the areas of sexual and reproductive in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and gender relations.health, HIV/AIDS, and gender relations.

RESULTS… RESULTS… (see (see

www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)

1. Many similar “anecdotal” stories – producing a convergence of evidence from many different parts of the world

RESULTS… RESULTS… (see (see

www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)

1. Many similar “anecdotal” stories – producing a convergence of evidence from many different parts of the world

2. Several formal evaluation reports from different users

RESULTS… RESULTS… (see (see

www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)

1. Many similar “anecdotal” stories – producing a convergence of evidence from many different parts of the world

2. Several formal evaluation reports from different users 3. Video clips from experienced Kenyan, Ugandan and

Gambian Stepping Stones trainers about their own experiences with workshops amongst Muslim and Christian communities

RESULTS… RESULTS… (see (see

www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)www.steppingstonesfeedback.org)

1. Many similar “anecdotal” stories – producing a convergence of evidence from many different parts of the world

2. Several formal evaluation reports from different users 3. Video clips from experienced Kenyan, Ugandan and Gambian Stepping

Stones trainers about their own experiences with workshops amongst Muslim and Christian communities

4. 20074. 2007: Randomised Control Trial results and : Randomised Control Trial results and qualitative study from Medical Research Council, qualitative study from Medical Research Council, South Africa, South Africa, echoing many of the results also echoing many of the results also documented abovedocumented above

A number of significant changes have taken A number of significant changes have taken place in Buwenda and other places where place in Buwenda and other places where

Stepping Stones has been applied:Stepping Stones has been applied:

• Reduction in gender violence and greater harmony and mutual respect around decision-making in households

• Greater ability of women to discussdiscuss sexual matters with their children

• ReductionReduction in alcohol consumption • Large and sustained increaseincrease in condomcondom use by members of all

peer groups• Improved relationsrelations with community members who had not

participated in SS workshop• Development of care and supportcare and support for HIV positive people and

their carers within the community

What is is about Stepping Stones that What is is about Stepping Stones that transformstransforms communities? communities?

• Peer group work and discussions• Interactive exercises – participants do the work!• Discussions, role plays, and diagrams• Being able to address people’s own most pressing

issues• Ownership of the process by the community• Involvement of all stakeholders• Holistic response to HIV (linked with sexual and

reproductive health and gender issues)• Emphasis on gender - and inter-generational relations

throughout

How is Stepping Stones Structured?How is Stepping Stones Structured?

Each workshop session has a theme, captured in the session title.

• Sessions A-DA-D focus on exercises that develop group cooperation and help participants recognize their own perspectives of life.

• Sessions E-FE-F focus on HIV and safer sex, • Sessions G-JG-J help participants analyse why we behave in

the ways we do… … a variety of factors such as alcohol, workloads,

traditions, need for money, social expectations, and our own personalities are considered in depth.

How is Stepping Stones Structured?How is Stepping Stones Structured?

• Sessions Sessions K-NK-N help participants to think about and help participants to think about and practise ways in which they can change their behaviour practise ways in which they can change their behaviour in a manner which allows them both to be more in a manner which allows them both to be more assertive and take more personal, social, and assertive and take more personal, social, and community-wide responsibility for their actions.community-wide responsibility for their actions.

• The whole workshop aims to enable individuals and The whole workshop aims to enable individuals and communities to change their behaviour individually communities to change their behaviour individually andand collectivelycollectively – and therefore more – and therefore more sustainablysustainably - through - through the Stepping Stones methodology. the Stepping Stones methodology.

Strengths of Stepping Stones …Strengths of Stepping Stones …

Opens up space for promoting dialogue and effective communication on a variety of difficult subjects

Provides an entry point for human rights interventions and social inclusion at community level

A tool for galvanizing community advocacy and support

Promotes collaboration –not competition - among stakeholders

Where has Where has SteppingStepping Stones Stones been Introduced?been Introduced?

• Many countries in Africa, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

• Also in Asia, including Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia

• Latin American countries

• Pacific Island nations: Fiji, Solomon Islands…

Where has Where has SteppingStepping Stones Stones been Introduced?been Introduced?

• Many different contexts:Many different contexts:

People with disabilities Pastors and Imams and their congregations School pupils and teachers NGO staff People living with HIV and AIDS National and constituency AIDS Control Councils Girls and boys out of school Women’s rights groups University staff, administration and students Villagers

ChallengesChallenges for SS implementation… for SS implementation… Time: Community pace vs Project timeframe – NGOs often

need to move on fast to next community…

Community expectations may be hard to meet

Communities need to be told and understand when the role of the implementing agency is finished

Resources for responding to identified community needs and behavior change initiatives - eg micro-finance grants, & supportive VCT or ANC services - may not be locally available

Suggested Peer Group ExerciseSuggested Peer Group Exercise

• Form peer groups (eg older men/younger men (3 minutes)

• Think about typical situations experienced by people like yourself engaging in risky sexual behavior and later regretting it (5 minutes)

• Create a 3 minute role play that enacts one of these situations and perform in your peer group. (5 minutes)

• Discuss why these characters had sex, and what your peer group character could have done differently to avoid risky sexual behavior in this situation. (10 minutes)

CONTACT DETAILSCONTACT DETAILS

• International: www.steppingstonesfeedback.org (avec information en Français, con información en

Español)

• Uganda:

• The Gambia: