Training of Trainers in Stepping Stone Approach: 20th June to 29th June 2007. Bangalore

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Greetings from HIV and AIDS Thematic Unit of ActionAid India!

We are organising Training of Master Trainers in Stepping Stone

Approach. Stepping Stone is a training package on HIV and AIDs,communication and

relationship skills. This training offer you and your community some " stepping

stones " to protect yourself from the threat of HIV and also for coping with the

reality of AIDS, as you cross the river of life.

Bangalore, India. Monday 20th June to Friday 29th June 2007

Organised by HIV and AIDS Thematic Unit

Action Aid International- India

Stepping Stones is a participatory training package about HIV,

communication, gender and sexual health. Although many people are using the

package without any assistance, we know that training can

significantly improve the way in which it is used. Participatory

methods are still new to many people and Stepping Stones’ attention to

sensitive issues of gender and sexual health can be challenging for

many community workers. Training can help them acquire skills of

participatory training and to understand the core issues at the heart

of problems of HIV and AIDS. So we are keen to encourage more

Training of Facilitators courses (TOFs). However, we face a shortage

of local Trainers who can run these courses. Specially master trainers

from specialized field like gender, sexuality, health, disability, human rights

etc. We are therefore pleased to be able to run this Training of Master Trainers

(TOT) for 30 trainers from specialized field across India.

Objectives of the course:

To increase the pool of skilled Trainers from specialized field in the country,

so that more Training of Facilitators courses can take place for special groups.

These in turn will build the capacity of community workers and spread the use of

Stepping Stones in the country.

To improve participants’ ability to train Facilitators in effective

participatory methodologies such as Stepping Stones to address the

issue of HIV and AIDS with special groups such as PLHAs, sexworkers,

transgender disables etc.

To improve participants’ communication skills and understanding of

issues concerning sexual and reproductive health, gender and rights.

Outcomes of the course:

Participants in the TOT will be expected to train and promote the use

of participatory approaches to sexual health work in their project

areas.

Dates: The training days will be from Wednesday 20th to Friday 29th June 2007.

Location The course will be residential. It will be held in

Bangalore. All participants will be informed of the exact venue and

other arrangements nearer to the time.

Curriculum: All training will be conducted in a participatory manner,

in tune with the Stepping Stones approach. The provisional curriculum

is as follows:

Familiarization with Stepping Stones

Participants experience Stepping Stones for themselves. It is

important for Master Trainers to address their own issues around safer sex,

communication, gender, traditions and discrimination if they are to be effective

in training others. Much of this work will be done in peer groups (men and

women working separately), in the same way that Stepping Stones is used at

community level.

Training others to use Stepping Stones

• Planning for developing or building on a strategy for promoting

the use of SS in your project areas.

• Topics to include in your TOF curriculum

• About how to run a TOF

Participants: There will be a maximum of 30 participants. Each

sponsoring organisation will have to sponsor a male and female staff

or community member.

The following minimum selection criteria apply:

Individuals: all participants must:

• speak English fluently (this is the common language which will be used at the

TOT)

• be experienced trainer in specialized field like gender,health,

disability,sexuality,humanrights etc be experienced in participatory training

• be comfortable with the idea of talking about sexual health issues

• be willing to be challenged and to learn personally from the training

• have a commitment to training others following the TOT

Cost: he costs of training, accommodation and food will be Rs.5000.

Each participant will also be given a copy of the Stepping

Stones manual. This is a ten day in house training program and the

participants need to stay over night at the place of the program.

If you would like to be considered for attendance at this training,

please fill Section A of this form and get your manager to complete

Section B. Please return both Sections with your current job

description and CV to Action Aid.

Remember, the closing date for receiving applications is Friday,

5th June 2007

Please note, your sending in an application does not guarantee you

will be given a place. HIV & AIDS Thematic Unit will

make decisions regarding the allocation of places.

All applications are to be forwarded to Christy.Abraham@... and

medhashriram@...

WELCOME TO THE STEPPING STONES USERS’ GROUP

There are now over 1,500 organisations using Stepping Stones in over

100 countries around the world!

Application before the closing date will have greater space to secure their seat

in the training.

Thank you,

with warm regards,

Medha Shriram

HIV and AIDS Thematic Unit

ActionAid International-India

e-mail: <medhashreeram@...>