Sasa! An Activist Kit to Prevent Violence against Women, HIV and AIDS
In development, for publication in 2008
Through our work with communities in East and Southern Africa, we have learned that reproductive health education and the ABC approach are insufficient to prevent HIV infection among women. In order to effectively prevent HIV, we must also recognize and work to prevent the violence that many women experience in their intimate relationships. In East and Southern Africa, violence against women is fueling the epidemic – it is both a cause and a consequence of HIV infection. To this end, Raising Voices is creating an activist kit, titled SASA! for organizations working to prevent HIV infection and violence against women.
In Kiswahili, sasa means “now”. At Raising Voices, we believe that the time to begin thinking differently about preventing the spread of HIV is now. SASA! will provide organizations with practical materials and information to incorporate into their existing HIV and VAW programs to address these issues in tandem and recognize the linkages between the two. In addition to its Kiswahili meaning, SASA! is also an acronym for the four sections of the toolkit: Start, how to begin your work; Awareness, educating and providing information on the link; Support, providing suggestions and a platform for discussion on how we can create supportive relationships and communities; Action, practical ideas for how everyone can prevent VAW and HIV.
The multi-media kit will be filled with practical resources and activities for advocacy, local activism, training, and media that organizations working on violence or HIV/AIDS can use to incorporate these cross-cutting issues into their work. Highlights include: a 30 minute advocacy film (on DVD) and screening guide, posters, comic sheets, community drama sketches, radio programs (on CD) and a series of training modules. All the materials are designed to push the boundaries on these issues, helping organizations and their stakeholders analyze old problems in a new light and rethink issues of power to respond boldly and create a climate of activism against violence and HIV/AIDS.
To learn more about the development of SASA! contact us.
