Building the Capacity of Young Women in St. Kitts

Women attend SISTA training.

CHAA is using a method that has been tried and tested over many years in the US, is recognized as one of the most effective in the world, and was designed for African American women. It has been scientifically tested, is widely used by community groups in the US, and is recognized as one of the most effective projects available for HIV prevention.

CHAA is looking to pioneer this project in the Caribbean, through adapting the project for St Kitts and using it for women working in the factories in St Kitts. CHAA through the brokerage of USAID was able to bring in highly experienced trainers from the US to train a group of facilitators from St Kitts in how to run group sessions for women. The trainers have worked with hundreds of organizations in the US on how to run Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics About Aids (SISTA) and have also helped to adapt the project for other countries, such as for women in Ethiopia.

Over the period 29 March to 1 April, 2010, sixteen women were trained by the CDC Master trainers in the SISTA methodology. At the end of the training one participant stated, "I feel strong and empowered". Another participant admitted that she had a very bad attitude but, "thanks to the SISTA training, I now know how to be assertive and not aggressive when I'm speaking to my partner. It has taught me a lot and I am excited to share this with my peers." These local-trained facilitators will then conduct sessions with the women at the industrial sites which are aimed at building their pride and self-esteem, gain HIV knowledge, communication, negotiation, coping and decision-making skills, to help reduce their risk of HIV.

Evidence based interventions have not been previously implemented in the Eastern Caribbean region. As such St. Kitts and Nevis can be considered ahead of the field in this area and poised to make a significant contribution to HIV prevention.