Peer educator group formation [compatibility mode]

BY

OLASHORE EMMANUEL

� A peer is a person who belongs to the same

social groups as another person or group. The

social group may be based on age, sex,

occupation, socio-economics, health status occupation, socio-economics, health status

and other factors

� Education refers to the development of a

person’s knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, or

behaviors as a result of the learning process.

� A peer group is a social group

consisting of people who are equal in

such respects as age, education, or

social classsocial class

� Peer educator group is a group

comprising of people belonging to a

group from a specific environment, such

as a school, work place, the army, prison, as a school, work place, the army, prison,

youth or sports clubs who are trained to

educate other members of the same

group.

� Young People take on responsibilities

� Educators and target groups communicate better

because they speak the same language and slangs

� Peer Educators gain skill that are useful for their

personal developmentpersonal development

� Peer Education can supplement other education

interventions including activities implemented by

teachers, social workers and health providers

� Peer Educators can reach or gain access to groups that

can be difficult for persons outside these groups

� Conduct needs assessment

� Create a work plan

� Identify an adult program coordinator� Identify an adult program coordinator

� Form a project monitoring team

� Consider incentive for the group

� Identify existing resources

� Identify existing needs

� Identify the existing gaps

• Identifying an appropriate coordinator for the program is critical to its success.

• The program coordinator should be;

• Dedicated

• Enjoy working with youth

Knowledgeable • Knowledgeable

• Comfortable with sexual and reproductive health issues

• Perhaps most importantly, “seen by the peer educators as trustworthy, credible, ‘one of them,’ someone they could turn to for help and advice at any given time.”

� Once a program coordinator is on board, it is time to choose a group of young people for the project’s team.

� To ensure youth participation in the planning stage, the program coordinator can recruit stage, the program coordinator can recruit some peer educators early on.

� In choosing youth, ensure that they are of both genders and that they represent the project’s target population as closely as possible.

� Professional/Networking Incentives

� Personal Incentives� Personal Incentives

� Opportunity to meet and socialize with other youth

� Opportunity to recruit and train new peer educators

� Participation in conferences and meetings

� Job references/letters of recommendation

� Scholarships/school credit� Scholarships/school credit

� Participation in a regional or international network of peer educators

� Exchanges with other youth programs

� Opportunity for media coverage

� Identifying items

� Certificates

� Discounts for youth and their families

� Opportunity for personal and professional developmentdevelopment

� Recognition by the community and the program

� Field trips

� Recreational activities

� Inform and educate other peers

� Counsel, refer and follow up

� Provide feedback

� Distribute educational materials/RH commodities

� Keeps records of activities and events� Keeps records of activities and events

� Mobilize peers for meeting and facilitate selection of meeting venue

� Conduct activities that can bring about positive behavioral change

� Clarify issues to other peers

� Respect to other peers

� Co-teaching or guest lecturing

� Presenting a theatre piece or role play

� Leading group discussions

� Organized sessions with students in school and out-of-school settings, where peer educators might use school settings, where peer educators might use interactive techniques such as game show quizzes, role plays, or stories

� Promoting the availability of trained people

� Conducting educational outreach and referrals including rallies