LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 51
Tips for a Successful Peer Educator Program^20
Training
- Develop simple, attractive materials with the help of the potential peer educators.
- Use a variety of active methods of learning.
- Use facilitation skills, not “teaching”.
- Include sessions on confidentiality and stigma.
- Check and re-check accuracy of information.
- Assess attitudes and values and plan activities to address needs accordingly.
- Provide opportunities for lots of practice.
- Plan visits to clinics and meetings with other peer programs.
- Clarify roles and expectations.
- Ensure that peer educators know when and where to seek help for difficult problems.
Remember, training should be fun (otherwise peer educators will lose interest)!
Implementation
- Encourage peer educators to work in pairs and/or groups.
- Organize short planned sessions with small groups of young people.
- Mentors should be readily available.
- Include regular meetings for feedback, planning and improving skills.
- Ensure that peer educators are not overloaded.
- Recognize and appreciate efforts of peer educators.
- Provide an “identity”—T-shirts, certificates, etc.
- Have a probation period for new peer educators.
- Give a break from peer education, and organize fun activities.
(^20) See http:/www.fhi.org for “How to Create an Effective Peer Education Project,” AIDSCAP booklet.