What is Peer Education?
1) Promoting responsible sexual behaviour amongst peers so that they are less vulnerable to infection with HIV.
2) Giving young people powerful experiences of social learning regarding health through candid and serious discussions among peers and adults.
3) Developing the necessary skills in future professionals to manage HIV prevention and care in the workplace environment.
Peer Educators are also equipped to:
Deliver knowledge and information about HIV and AIDS;
Facilitate attitudes and value clarification;
Encourage appropriate and realistic behaviour change;
Develop campus social structures that will support these changes; and
Reach at risk students that will not normally access information , health or support services.
More about P2P
In order to become a Peer Educator you need to complete the Basic HIV and Gender Facilitation short course which takes place over two training weekends (twice each year). Upon succesfully completing this registered short course, 4 of these students may apply to become an intern at the OIHC.
This training is for registered Stellenbosch University and Boland College Stellenbosch campus students only. Students from the Health Science Faculty are especially encouraged to apply.
Closing dates for applications: 10 April 2012
The P2P training will take place over two weekends:
13~14 and 20~21 April 2012.
All students who succesfully complete the short course will receive a SU certificate of competence.
The training material will be provided free of charge provided that you make a full commitment to the program. If you have confirm attendance but fail to attend you will be billed R350 to be paid within one month after the final training day.
The PROS of being a Peer Educator:
• Peer educators receive extensive sexuality-related information that they can apply to their own lives. For example, they may reduce their own risky behaviours based on what they have learned.
• They have an opportunity to play a constructive role in the community, which may increase their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment, and may also help community members see students in a positive light.
• Peer education programs provide students with work experience and substantive content for resumes and college applications.
• These programs give students a voice and let them be in control of something positive.
• Peer educators may form supportive relationships with program staff and with other peer educators.
• Peer educators and their contacts receive information they may not receive elsewhere.
• Peer educators may learn leadership, team-building, listening, presentation, and communication skills.
• Some students are more comfortable seeking information from a peer than from an adult, and because students are typically around their peers more than adults, the information becomes more accessible.
• Stellenbosch University commitment to youth development can be demonstrated to the community by implementing peer education programs.
• Through peer education programs, students have opportunities to make new friends and to meet people they otherwise may never have met.
• Interacting with peer educators can remind Stellenbosch University employees that they are in the business of helping young people and can provide an opportunity to see the direct benefits of their hard work.
