*Y.C.* Sexual Revolution
Location
I would like to use Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed model for social change to work with women's groups in Kenya to address the AIDS epidemic. This innovation is in the idea-stage. The Theatre of the Oppressed was created to allow oppressed people a forum to voice frustrations and have a safe environment to rehearse strategies for overcoming oppression. Through group brainstorms, theatre games and scene work, participants are given the opportunity to process injustices and have a voice in finding the solution. I believe that, because The Theatre of the Oppressed offers vulnerable populations a safe forum to practice strategies for creating changes in their behavior as individuals and a community, it fits perfectly into the public health model for social justice and behavior change. The groups would meet on a weekly basis for nine months to address issues important to them. We would strategize and practice ways to alleviate oppression and create a healthier environment for them to practice behaviors that would keep them safe and protected from HIV/AIDS and STIs. The goal would be to learn about STIs and HIV/AIDS, discuss and practice methods for protecting against these diseases as well as building a network of women who can support each other in the face of this epidemic. Additionally, by starting a dialogue about sexual health, women will also gain the courage to talk about taboo topics with ease and be able to share this knowledge with other women in the community and in their families. The sustainability in the project lies in the education gained, practiced skills for negotiating safer sexual practices and an established women's group within the community. The Theatre of the Oppressed model is sustainable as well because it is a non-traditional approach to theatre education in that there is no director, actor and audience- all participants are spectactors and have an equal voice in the process. Once participants have walked through a few "rehearsals" they will have gained the skills to facilitate sessions independently.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Jessica
Last Name
Risco
Website
Organization
Country
Are you an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who would like to apply for a nine month Young Champions Program mentored by an Ashoka Fellow?
Yes
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Organization Country
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Your idea
Name Your Project
*Y.C.* Sexual Revolution
Country your work focuses on
Kenya, CO
Describe Your Idea
I would like to use Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed model for social change to work with women's groups in Kenya to address the AIDS epidemic. This innovation is in the idea-stage. The Theatre of the Oppressed was created to allow oppressed people a forum to voice frustrations and have a safe environment to rehearse strategies for overcoming oppression. Through group brainstorms, theatre games and scene work, participants are given the opportunity to process injustices and have a voice in finding the solution. I believe that, because The Theatre of the Oppressed offers vulnerable populations a safe forum to practice strategies for creating changes in their behavior as individuals and a community, it fits perfectly into the public health model for social justice and behavior change. The groups would meet on a weekly basis for nine months to address issues important to them. We would strategize and practice ways to alleviate oppression and create a healthier environment for them to practice behaviors that would keep them safe and protected from HIV/AIDS and STIs. The goal would be to learn about STIs and HIV/AIDS, discuss and practice methods for protecting against these diseases as well as building a network of women who can support each other in the face of this epidemic. Additionally, by starting a dialogue about sexual health, women will also gain the courage to talk about taboo topics with ease and be able to share this knowledge with other women in the community and in their families. The sustainability in the project lies in the education gained, practiced skills for negotiating safer sexual practices and an established women's group within the community. The Theatre of the Oppressed model is sustainable as well because it is a non-traditional approach to theatre education in that there is no director, actor and audience- all participants are spectactors and have an equal voice in the process. Once participants have walked through a few "rehearsals" they will have gained the skills to facilitate sessions independently.
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
The Theatre of the Oppressed is the upstream approach in its purest form. The ideas for change come solely from the groups served. The use of the arts for behavior change is often neglected in the field of public health- this is unfortunate because theatre allows the individual to distance themselves from their own situation and try on different roles fearlessly. This style of theatre takes the pressure off of the individual to "perform" but rather, provides an open forum to try roles at their own pace. This is truly a "come as you are" approach to health education and it works!
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
Up until now, I have been a freelance facilitator/trainer of Theatre of the Oppressed. I have used the Theatre of the Oppressed model with communities both domestically and abroad and have witnessed the transformation of community groups. Augusto Boal created this model for communities to engage one another and it is very powerful. People walk away from sessions inspired! Most recently I worked with a group of college students at the University of Arizona. Not only did the group deeper levels of confidence and self esteem in the students, but it lit a fire in them to not take oppression lightly. Over a year later, this core group of students is still going strong! They've takled hard issues, including: binge drinking, sexual assault, gay marriage, stressand apathy. While I have had the opportunity to use this model to address health related issues, it was not until graduate school that I was able to put a theoretical connection onto the mode of public health behavior change into Boal's model.
Problem
Women's lack of power in negotiating safe sex practices.
Actions
Again, this proposal is in the idea stage. However, the pedagogy of the theatre of the oppressed explains the stages of community change very clearly: organize, brainstorm, practice, change. These steps are achieved through many theatre games, forums and activites until the community agrees on an idea for change. Boal says that theatre in itself is not revolutionary, but that it is the practice for revolution. This model allows individuals and communities to practice ways to alleviate oppression in a safe environment. The changes do not happen over night, but are visible.
Results
I believe in mobilization and strength in numbers. Through these women's groups, I hope to see the building of community and stength in an oppressed population to better support one another in making stides toward practicing safer sexual practices.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Year One: an safe space to meet with women's groups for 1-2 hours weekly. In this space we would need the ability to discuss, brainstorm and move around. Because it takes time to build groups and trust, I anticipate a slow start in the begining and am realistic about the responsibilities and time commitments of women in rural Kenya. However, I know that, in time, these groups will build in strength and solidarity. The goal for year one would be to build groups and train them in the Theatre of the Oppressed model. Obviously, the issues and needs raised will come from the groups themselves, but health messages will be omnipresent through posters, special discussions, etc. By the end of year one, all women's groups will have identified strategies for practicing safer sex and the barriers they face in doing so. These groups will have also identified ways to work around these barriers.
Year Two: A group facilitator will be identified to maintain the general organization of the groups. This is not a top-down model with an authoritative leadership style. Rather, this "leader" will serve to remind women of meeting times, organize the space and keep the group on track. The goal for year two would be to try putting the sex safe ideas in practice. This can be done through group initiatives within the community, inviting more women to join the groups, talking with men's groups, etc.
The goal for Year Three would be to keep on the good fight by keeping the groups together, meeting, practicing and continuing to support one another through hard times and challenges. The more women that can be invited to join, the better. In order to create true societal change, there would need to be a sea change in thinking and behaviors for all women. They would set the standard of how they would like to negotiate their relationships.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Life. The reality is that the relationships between oppressors and oppressed is very complex. We all have times of low energy, low self esteem and limited confidence. The hope would be for these groups to be a space to continually build each other up during these low times.
How many people will your project serve annually?
Fewer than 100
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
Is your organization a
Not registered
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with government?
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Because this is a grass-roots movement, no partnerships are necessary in this phase. However, connections with NGOs and community based organization could prove to help the sustainabiliy of this project. Identifying local agencies doing health outreach and advocay would be useful in terms of understanding on the ground health concerns, providing resources and support and helping the groups feel a connection to an established entity within the community at large. Business and government partnerships are not necessary in this stage because the purpose of the innovation is to improve interpersonal relationship within individual communities- this movement could lead to a policy change down the road, but not at this point in the intervention.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
A community partner to help recruit women and help create buy-in from the community, a safe space to meet, a cultural understanding of sexual health, HIV/AIDS and safe sex.
The Story
What was the defining moment that you led to this innovation?
I had the privalege of training with Augusto Boal at a conference in Los Angeles, California. I spent 8 hours with him and left feeling completely changed to the core. Never have I found a more inspiring, life-changing form of pedagogy. Since that training, I have used Theatre of the Oppressed in all of my work and travel- it has never failed me. I chose the field of public health specifically for its committment to social justice. I believe that the two models for advocacy and community development perfectly compliment each other.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I have a degree in theatre and am a working actress. While in my undergraduate program I served as the director of a Boal-inspired theatre troupe and was able to use this skill as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. While serving in Peace Corps I began to contemplate social inequities and injustices and was no longer satisfied with a life as an entertainer. I worked with women's groups in Morocco and was challenged by individual privalege. Upon returing to the United States, I knew that I had to find a way to balance my creative engergy and desire for human service. I researched public health programs and dediced on a masters degree at the University of Arizona. While studying, I was offered a graduate assistantship in the office of Social Justice. There I was able to start a Boal theatre troupe with undergraduates. It was through the overlap of work and study that I really began to think about the power of using theatre in the public health forum.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
College or university
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
 | jessicarisco updated this Competition Entry. - 697 days ago |
| danafrasz said: Hi Jessica, You simply need to edit your entry form and select that you wish to apply for the Young Champions program. There are ... about this Competition Entry. - 697 days ago read more > |
| jessicarisco said: Hello Dana, Thank you for your great feedback. I would love to apply for the Young Champions program but am having difficulty doing ... about this Competition Entry. - 700 days ago read more > |
| jessicarisco updated this Competition Entry. - 700 days ago |
| danafrasz said: Hi Jessica, Did you have any interest in applying for the Young Champions program? Are you between 18-35 and interested in 9 month ... about this Competition Entry. - 700 days ago read more > |
| Claire Bangser said: How and why did you select Kenya as the place where you would like to implement this program? about this Competition Entry. - 700 days ago read more > |
| jessicarisco updated this Competition Entry. - 708 days ago |
| storrsb2 said: After the nine months would you just leave or would you try to teach them how to do their own groups? How is this going to be ... about this Competition Entry. - 709 days ago read more > |
| miller32 said: Can you elaborate more on how this theater method is used, what is done in it, and what results it will yield? about this Competition Entry. - 710 days ago read more > |
| jessicarisco updated this Competition Entry. - 711 days ago |
