Relationships: Intimacy without Risk - Facilitators Guide to MCP Community Dialogue

From C-Change, this manual emerges from the Relationships: Intimacy without Risk Community Dialogue programme in Lesotho, whose goal is to reduce the practice of having more than one sexual partner at the same time, also called multiple concurrent partnership (MCP). It provides guidance for holding a series of conversations during which participants reflect on how they can improve their relationships and sexual lives without taking on extra lovers. In groups (ideally including 10 to 12 members), dialogue sessions are spread over at least 11 weeks; the concept is that time is needed for people to think about what they are learning and to enable them to go through a process of change in their values, attitudes, and behaviour.

The manual offers detailed instructions for 11 sessions; here is just one example - from Session 2: Let's Talk about Sex. Learning outcomes are outlined, followed by an overview of (and then very specific instructions for) each of the activities in the 2 hour and 20 minute session. In short, the activities in this particular session, described in the resource, include:

• Activity 1: The Language of Sex. In this activity, participants come up with locally acceptable words for sexual parts of the body and different sexual acts.
• Activity 2: Our Body's Hot Spots. Participants draw an outline of a man and a woman and show where their sexual hot spots are. This is followed by a discussion on more pleasurable sex with less risk.
• Activity 3: Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships. This activity has participants deciding whether certain relationship situations are healthy or unhealthy. It notes that we all have a responsibility to make our relationships healthier and more sexually and emotionally fulfilling.
• Activity 4: Where can we go for support? This is a resource mapping activity where participants identify what sexual health services are available in the community and encourage each other to make use of these services and facilities.
• Closing Circle: Pocket Tour helps build trust and encourages talking openly among group members.

Materials needed are specified, and advice is provided. For example, in this session, the facilitator's guide advises: "you need to feel comfortable talking about sex. If you are not comfortable, the participants will also not be comfortable..."