Building the capacity of emerging leaders in South Africa to address stigma and discrimination against LGBTI and Sex Workers
Abstract
Using an inter-disciplinary approach through our established network of partner organizations and experts, the programme will provide a unique combination of leadership and interpersonal skills development; innovative approaches to HIV prevention, sexuality and sexual health; current evidence-based research; fundamentals of health and human rights; and effective approaches combating all forms of stigma and discrimination. Thematic areas will include the link between homophobia and HIV-related stigma, understanding the social context of sexuality, targeted HIV prevention and treatment interventions, barriers and challenges, social and gender inequalities, promoting access to HIV care and treatment, advocacy and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention initiatives. We will select representative individuals working in the LGBTI and sex work communities with vision, initiative, creativity and charisma who can demonstrate need in their community as well as a commitment to combatting all forms of stigma and discrimination.
Interwoven with the thematic areas above will be skills and tools for problem identification, strategic planning, community mapping, communication, project management, budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation. We have found that these critical programme management skills are often missing in the background education and experience of emerging leaders in South Africa. In addition, a key innovative aspect of our model is that it emphasizes the importance and transference of non-cognitive skills such as persistence, conscientiousness, commitment, integrity, teamwork and self-confidence. This ensures that participants exit the programme transformed into dynamic, new leaders possessing not only new skills and knowledge, but also as more prepared, confidant and assertive individuals. After completing the programme, they will return home and to their work environments equipped to effectively and sustainably move their communities towards a stigma and discrimination free future.
