Gender and Health Research Unit

Stepping Stones

The original Stepping Stones manual has been adapted for use in South Africa by a partnership between the CERSA-Women's Health group of the Medical Research Council and the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa (PPASA) .

What is Stepping Stones?
Stepping Stones is a workshop series designed to promote sexual and reproductive health. It addresses questions of gender, sexual health, HIV/AIDS, gender violence, communication and relationship skills. In doing so it recognises that sexual relationships are always situated within a broader context of relationships with sexual partners, families and the community or society in which people live. These influences substantially determine how people behave.

It is relatively easy to give people knowledge about making changes in their lives e.g. using condoms but people often find that they are not able to make such changes because they do not communicate well with their partner, fear violence or abandonment, or think their culture or religion does not allow it. If we are successful in reducing interpersonal violence and frustrations arising from poor communication people will feel healthier.

What do the Stepping Stones Workshops provide?
Stepping Stones workshops provide opportunities for participants to examine their values and attitudes towards gender and relationships, to build on their knowledge of aspects of sexual health and HIV/AIDS, and to develop skills that will help them communicate their needs and wants to others.

The workshops are based on participatory learning approaches, as people learn better when their knowledge is affirmed and they are able to discuss issues and come to their own conclusions.

Using the Stepping Stones manual
The manual is intended to be used in its entirety with peer group participants who work through all sessions, each building on previous sessions. It is designed for use with people of any age and both genders.

Originally developed for use in small, rural communities in Uganda, it has now been adapted for South Africa. In making the adaptation, we recognise that many South Africans live in cities: community change may be achieved if communities are seen as poeple from a neighbourhood, a school, a women's group, a football club or a church group. All exercises are designed so that they can be used in rural and urban settings, with literate and non-literate people.

Stepping Stones manual contents
The Stepping Stones workshops are designed to be held with two or more peer groups drawn from a community at the same time (although this is not essential). They consist of 14 sessions held with separate peer groups, three meetings of the peer groups together and opening and closing meetings for the whole community.

The 14 sessions for the separate peer groups cover the following topics:

• Introduction for the group and development of group skills
• Images of men and women: exploration of ideals and realities
• Images of sex and sexual health problems
• Exploration of love: what we look for and expect to give
• Exploring our sexuality: problems and concerns about sex and reproductive health
• Conception and contraception
• STDs and HIV
• Safer Sex
• Gender violence
• Let's look deeper: Why we behave in the ways we do
• Assertiveness skills: Part 1
• Assertiveness skills: Part 2
• Dealing with loss
• Let's prepare for the future: future decisions and changes