SISI Promotional Video

Sisters Informing Sisters Initiative (SISI) is Strike the Rock Foundation's signature project in South Africa. It empowers women through an informal, home-based, peer-led intervention programme on HIV/AIDS and gender-violence. Women meet in homes for five weekly sessions on gender pride, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health rights, self-assertiveness and self-care, and advocacy. Self-esteem is boosted through the sharing of poetry and songs at the beginning and end of each session. A trained facilitator, who also leads the participants into role-plays and other interactive skills to practice assertiveness and self-care techniques, communicates key concepts on each topic. Condom demonstrations -- male and female -- are also used to empower women to protect themselves and their partners. All participants learn about the different types of gender violence and the social, economic, mental and emotional impact it can have on them and their loved ones. Participants learn how to get a protection order and how to navigate the medical and legal system if they or someone they know has been raped. Each participant develops a crisis plan and a list of important numbers and references. The closing session is a vehicle through which SISI circles develop an advocacy campaign to assist women and children in their communities. Participants return for a follow-up session within two months to track progress on their advocacy campaigns and to reflect on and further practice key skills learned in the SISI circles. The final session, approximately two months after the follow-up session is a graduation programme whereby all SISI circles come together to celebrate and share their accomplishments in sisterhood.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Strike
• the
• Rock
• Foundation
• SISI
• Sisters
• Informing
• Initiative
• Anika
• Millhouse
• Kay
• Benjamin
• women
• empowerment