Abstract
This article considers the complex ways volunteer outreach workers can frame their engagement with a community-based HIV prevention
programme for South African township MSM. Drawing on research conducted during the Ukwazana programme in Cape Town it begins by exploring limitations towards MSM participation with programme facilitators (namely previous
feelings of mistrust and community homophobia) and strategies developed to offset these concerns. It then considers how great
care must also be taken to appreciate how volunteers from marginalised groups can frame training as a key condition for participation.
To understand this it is therefore necessary for facilitators to acknowledge a number of additional concerns. These include
community status, a lack of bonding social capital between volunteers and a highly developed from of critical consciousness
by volunteers regarding HIV prevention possibilities. This article therefore suggests that effort to initially engage marginalised
communities must also be met with effort to understand the complex ways volunteers relate to other MSM and to each other.
programme for South African township MSM. Drawing on research conducted during the Ukwazana programme in Cape Town it begins by exploring limitations towards MSM participation with programme facilitators (namely previous
feelings of mistrust and community homophobia) and strategies developed to offset these concerns. It then considers how great
care must also be taken to appreciate how volunteers from marginalised groups can frame training as a key condition for participation.
To understand this it is therefore necessary for facilitators to acknowledge a number of additional concerns. These include
community status, a lack of bonding social capital between volunteers and a highly developed from of critical consciousness
by volunteers regarding HIV prevention possibilities. This article therefore suggests that effort to initially engage marginalised
communities must also be met with effort to understand the complex ways volunteers relate to other MSM and to each other.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0287-x
- Authors
- Andrew Tucker, The University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies, Department of Geography, Sir William Hardy Building, Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3EN UK
- Glenn de Swardt, Health4Men, Cape Town, South Africa
- Helen Struthers, Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- James McIntyre, Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165