THE PEER EDUCATION

Module 1

PEER EDUCATION
Section I

WHAT IS PEER EDUCATION?

A strategy whereby people are trained and equipped to reach out to peers with information and skills for purposes of influencing knowledge gain and attitude change in order to make informed choices and decisions. Can be used to influence positive behaviour change.

IMPORTANCE OF PEER EDUCATION

A persons peer group, having much in common, has a greater influence to choices and decisions they make and eventually on their behaviors and practices.

Advantages

Peers are credible source of information to others Starts by influencing positive change among the educators Utilizes an already existing means of sharing info and proving help Very helpful in sustaining support for the hard to reach

Who is Peer?

Who is Peer Educator?

A peer is someone who shares many things with another that may include;

Geographical coverage Experiences/ Concerns Interests Age Category Professional needs Social Status

A peer is someone who has been prepared and equipped to reach out his/her peers with information and skills for purposes of influencing voluntary decisions, actions, practices or behaviors. A peer educator can be an adult or a youth depending on the target audience for the program.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD PEER EDUCATOR

Be able to role model the desired behaviors A good communicator who listen, is open and flexible Knowledgeable about subject matter Available when required to support others in need Sociable Observe confidently Have an interest and desire to help

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PEER EDUCATOR

As a Role Model
to change others, we must change ourselves first We cannot succeed as advocates of positive change unless we demonstrate that change in our lives

As an Agent of Change

Have a deliberate effort and provide skills necessary for others to adopt the change we want them to have A multiplier effect refers to a situation where those we influence to change have been able to maintain the positive change in their own lives and are impacting positively on their peers behaviour or those around them

As a Multiplier Facilitator

TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE AN

EFFECTIVE INFLUENCE ON OTHERS: Take time and determine the people you can support to change in a given period Learn more about their interest, knowledge levels, risk perception levels, attitude and beliefs among other barriers Determine how many you can reach Determine the key behaviors that you want to influence in each of your peers and focus on those for a time Keep regular follow ups to assess Record any progress

COMMUNICATION PROCESS
Section II

Communication

The process of sending and receiving information among people

Characteristics of a GOOD Communicator: Be in SHAPE

S H A P E

- Sincere/ Sensitive - Humorous/ Honest - Attentive/ Articulate - Proficient - Emphatic/ Enthusiastic

THE 7 CS OF COMMUNICATION
Command attention Call for action Communicate a benefit Clarity Cater to the heart and the head Create trust Consistency counts