John Boke Mwikwabe is a peer educator in Naivasha, Kenya.
I have been a peer educator ever since I was 16 years old. I was recruited by a community-based organization known as KNote and took a one-week peer education training. That was in 2001. Since then, I have had 567 different youths in my group. The peer education program works with youth between the ages of 14 and 24 years old.
In the peer-education sessions, the main aim is to pass basic information on various health issues…with HIV being number one on the list. I have gone far to make the sessions exciting and something to look forward to by doing things like:
- Providing one-on-one and group counseling for my peers
- Arranging exchange programs with other peer groups in and outside of Naivasha
- Playing outdoor sports
- Visiting homes for children who have either been affected by or infected with HIV
- Leading discussions on drugs and drug abuse
The composition of the group includes married couples, dating couples, straight single people, and gays and lesbians. It is an all inclusive out-of-school peer group.
The main reason why I keep doing this is because I get to learn something new from my peers all the time; they keep me on my toes! I highly appreciate the responsibility I’ve been given when I realize the difference the group is making amongst my peers. I guess it’s like they say, there’s joy in receiving but the greatest joy is in giving.
A comment on peer education from the IYWG:
For information on evidence-based practices and guidance on how to apply these practices to current youth peer education (YPE) programs, read the Evidence-Based Guidelines for Youth Peer Education.
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March 22, 2011 at 9:02 am
johnmwikwabe
we are also working on reading and sharing some of the articles aired by different people about various issues and share them out.
By doing this,one would feel closer to similar problems and share their experiences with others. It would also act as an eye opener on new and arising issues being shared from different parts of the world. Thank you half the world for your efforts in bridging the youths and constantly informing them on various issues facing them. Thumbs up.