Understanding and challenging HIV stigma. Toolkit for action. Introduction and Module A. Using the toolkit. Naming the problem. Revised ed.

The toolkit is a collection of participatory educational exercises for use in raising awareness and promoting action to challenge HIV stigma. Trainers will select from the exercises to plan their own courses for different target groups. The exercises use a learner-centred participatory approach to training - one built around discussion and small group activities. The aim is to facilitate open discussion on HIV-related stigma and what we can do to promote a change in attitude and practice. The toolkit was developed to provide people working in the HIV field with a set of flexible educational materials to raise their own understanding and help them facilitate awareness-raising with community groups. The aim is to help people at all levels understand stigma - what it means why it is an important issue what its root causes are - and develop strategies to challenge stigma and discrimination. The idea behind the toolkit is to create a safe space where HIV workers and community members can: talk abouttheir own fears and concerns about AIDS; look at the roots of stigma and how it affects us our families children and communities; examine their own attitudes and judgemental habits; and develop strategies and skills to confront stigma and discrimination in different settings. (excerpt)