The Regional Stigma Training of Trainers Project
The Regional Stigma Training Project trains national teams of trainers to using and roll out the manual Understanding and Challenging HIV Stigma: Toolkit for Action. This toolkit was designed with communities, to help people understand stigma, its effects and root causes and to develop strategies to challenge it.
Since it was established in mid-2004 under the umbrella of the Africa Regional Programme (ARP), this project has trained and supported national teams of trainers in Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and Kenya. While the project was initiated and continues in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, the urgent need for action on stigma combined with its successful methodology has meant that the project has now started work in West Africa at the invitation of Alliance partners, with training also being provided in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Burkina Faso during 2006.
The training has a two-fold aim and using participatory methods, it focuses both on learning how to use the manual and on gaining high-quality facilitation skills. During the training, focus is given to developing and implementing action plans for addressing stigma. Consistent follow-up is an integral part of the project, with ongoing mentoring and technical support. Organisations can also apply for small grants to implement anti-stigma activities.
The toolkit was written with and by communities themselves, involving HIV activists and positve people from over 50 NGOs/CBOs in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia. Adaptation of the toolkit is built into its structure and process as exercises may be developed for specific contexts and the existing seven modules are regularly updated. Workshops can therefore be tailored for specific target groups and the exercises used accordingly.
The training is unique as it enables participants to learn what cannot be ‘taught’ in a conventional manner as stigma revolves around attitudes, fears and working with feelings.
The project aims to partner with national positive people's networks when possible, to ensure positive people's involvement at the forefront of anti-stigma work and to help build training and organisational capacity through their involvement.
