Health communication, HIV/AIDS, social mobilisation, learning evaluation, capacity building

Alice Welbourn, author of the original Stepping Stones manual, introduced the Stepping Stones methodology. Speaking of its use in several countries, Alice explained how its emphasis on reflection as the path to a solution brings consensus to issues such as inter-generational tensions and alcohol abuse.

The keywords that characterise the methodology are: analyse, explore, rehearse and reflect. Stepping Stones workshops aim to be progressive, foster group development, engender co-operation and seek change.

Illustrating the process as a wheel of change, Alice described how it progresses through learning, sharing, caring and changing. Use of Stepping Stones has resulted in tangible changes such as:

Rob Vincent, Learning Co-ordinator of the Exchange programme, described some initial learning from participatory approaches. He emphasised the importance of gender analysis, abandoning pre-conceived notions about sexuality and power in sexual relationships, dealing with misogyny and homophobia (a hindrance to message delivery) and designing a support network for facilitators.

Akua Prempeh of Goldenstool Communications, Momodou Conteh of Worldview the Gambia and Cheikh Traore of the Terrence Higgins Trust raised more issues. They shared some of the lessons emerging from their participation in the Building Bridges programme of Exchange workshops that took place in Nicaragua and the UK in May this year, where they compared approaches with Feminist organisation Puntos de Encuentro, and the Association of Men Against Violence in Nicaragua.

Akua shared her amazement about how progressive Nicaragua's society is, calling it 'a social revolution'. Stepping Stones implementation in the UK, she explained, is challenging because of the myriad organisations in the field (all with their own agendas) and the dispersal of various target communities.

Describing how Stepping Stones enabled community mobilisation around vital issues, Cheikh explained that a focus on men is essential in constructing a gender sensitive approach. Men tend to take more risks, have more sexual partners, wield more control over women and have often been accused of being the driving force behind HIV and AIDS. In addition, fear of being labelled homosexual obstructs an open and healthy discussion about HIV and AIDS because of the rampant homophobia in some African countries. This prevents men from seeking counselling services.

Linking men's movements to larger organisations to provide a range of services is one solution. Stepping Stones, Cheikh noted, has not been applied to infected people, and said that this could be an avenue worth exploring.

The FACTS program in Gambia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, uses Stepping Stones, adapting it for the target communities rather than trying to develop it's own approach from scratch. FACTS is trying to expand nationwide in the countries it is currently operating in, explained Momodou Conteh from Worldview, the Gambia. Conteh described how the Stepping Stones method has been an immense success because of its emphasis on personal reflection and behavioural change. Its bottom-up approach encourages ownership and sustainability.

Participants explored the question of how to develop, and sustain gender sensitive approaches to reproductive and sexual well being, that engaged men more fully.

A careful and thorough assessment of people's present condition is essential. One of the topics discussed was the outcry against female genital mutilation (FGM). Alice explained that Stepping Stones could be used to educate about the harm caused by female genital cutting, while maintaining its ritual value as an initiation into womanhood. Some instances of implementation have resulted in men openly discussing the uselessness of the practice and its subordination of women.

Another observation noted was how a pre-conceived 'agenda' is detrimental to community development and problem solving. Solutions need to be derived in a participatory manner, and must suit the social climate.

Stepping Stones can be made a more powerful tool by displaying its achievements at the grass root level to individuals in activism and local policy. Donors can serve as the key intermediary in this process. More funding can be ensured and project results can set forth a wave of wider change and increased confidence in the Stepping Stones methodology.

Out of the 20 people who attended the discussion, 11 filled in and returned their evaluation forms. Most people said the presentations were very good and that they learned a lot about Stepping Stones and how to adapt it. Several of them thought two hours was too short a time to discuss the issues in detail while ten percent thought two hours was the right amount of time.

Gender sensitive approaches to reproductive and sexual well-being