PLA Notes 37 February 2000 14 Gambian experiences with Stepping Stones: 1996-99

Document begins: PLA Notes 37 February 2000 14 Gambian experiences with Stepping Stones: 1996-99 Matthew Shaw and Michelle Jawo (Welbourn 1995). This is a manual describing ! Introduction a series of participatory exercises designed to facilitate HIV prevention by encouraging a gender analysis of sex and its context. The The Gambia is an Islamic, Anglophone workshops then move into assertiveness country situated in the middle of Senegal in training, encouraging participants to be West Africa. Its population is about 1.1 assertive about their feelings and dialogue with million, spread along the banks of the River their partners, focusing on communication and Gambia. The main economic activity is relationship skills. It was originally designed subsistence agriculture (groundnuts, millet, for use in Sub-Saharan Africa, although has livestock) and fishing. HIV prevalence is since been adapted and used in many different quite low at about 2% of the population and as countries across the world. It operates around yet no-one has publicly declared themselves to a workshop structure, with separate peer age be HIV positive. Therefore many people are and gender groups. doubtful that HIV really exists. Moreover, many men are suspicious of Family Planning As outlined in the beginning of the Stepping ...