The Sex Worker Academy Africa (SWAA) is a ground-breaking learning programme for community empowerment and capacity building, led by and for sex workers. It delivers an effective blend of knowledge and experience. The Academy is presented over the course of a week, and includes workshops, site visits and art advocacy sessions. The Academy is an African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) initiative and supported by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) who assisted the concept of South-South learning and capacity building. ASWA is responsible for identifying the countries to attend the Academy and supports in-country organisations and national networks in selecting the individuals to attend the Academy.
The goal of the Academy is to strengthen sex worker-led organisations and communities across Africa, building capacity on local, national and regional levels.
The SWIT also known as (sex workers bible) is the foundation for the Academy curriculum. The curriculum covers the following key elements of the SWIT, adapted for the learning style of the Academy:
- Community Empowerment
- Addressing Violence against Sex Workers
- Community-led Services
- Condom and Lubricant Programming
- Clinical and Support Services
- Programme Management and
- Organisational Capacity-Building
The 25th SWAA kicked off on 17th March 2021 and will end on 24th March 2021. It brings together sex workers’ led teams from Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya to develop organising skills, learn best practices, stimulate national sex worker movements, and strengthen the regional network.
The participants are drawn from:
- Nigeria: Greater Women Initiative for Health and Rights (GWIHR)
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): HODSAS, UMANDE, ACODHU-TS
- Kenya: HAPA-Kenya in Mombasa and Bikiltu in Marsabit
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