EFA’s first group of Peer Educators began training in March 2009 and the efforts were universally considered to be a great success! The Peer Educators spent three days learning about the program and gaining tools for educating association and community members about the particularities of HIV/AIDS and the best methods for prevention and protection. Peer Educators are now working to share their new knowledge with their colleagues. The next training is scheduled to run in June.

Background

Earlier this year, the EFA regional office in Maroua launched its newest Youth Network initiative: the creation of a Peer Education program. Each association in the network has selected two members to act as Peer Educators for their association. The Peer Educators act as the point people for all educational activities within the association including the education of association members and the coordination of community education campaigns.

About the Training Session

Once selected by their association, the Peer Educators traveled to Maroua for a three-day intensive training on various themes including behavior change communication, conflict resolution and HIV prevention strategies. At the end of the training, the Peer Educators were given a small kit of supplies for their use when conducting activities for their association.

What’s Next?

Each year, the regional office will conduct 6 trainings for the Peer Educators. Each training will focus on a different theme or set of best practices or activities. Following trainings, the Peer Educators are responsible for distributing the information that they learn to the rest of their association members. Peer Educators will serve two-year terms.

Tags: Maroua, News from Cameroon, peer education, peer mentoring, training