About Peer Education
Peer education is a popular concept that implies an approach, a communication channel, a methodology, a philosophy, and a strategy. The English term ‘peer’ refers to “one that is of equal standing with another; one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade or status”. The term ‘education’ (v. educate) refers to the “development”, “training”, or “persuasion” of a given person or thing, or the “knowledge” resulting from the educational process (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 1985).
In practice, peer education has taken on a range of definitions and interpretations concerning who is a peer and what is education (e.g. advocacy, counselling, facilitating discussions, drama, lecturing, distributing materials, making referrals to services, providing support, etc.) (Shoemaker et al.1998; Flanagan et al.1996)
Peer education typically involves the use of members of a given group to effect change among other members ofthe same group. Peer education is often used to effect change at the individual level by attempting to modify a person’s knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours.
However, peer education may also effect change at the group or societal level by modifying norms and stimulating collective action that leads to changes in programmes and policies
Peer Education is a non-formal learning process that gives empowerment, confidence and independence to young people whatever their background. Peer Education is underpinned by the principle that young people are the experts on their own lives and are therefore the best starting point in any learning process.
Peer Education Projects give young people the opportunity to utilise their skills and share their knowledge (information) with their peers and other members of their community. Peer Education Projects help create positive images of young people. Peer Education Projects help to change attitudes and behaviours towards young people and encourage adults to recognise the value that young people’s contributions bring to society at local, national and international levels.
Peer education as a youth-adult partnership
Peer education, when done well, is an excellent example of a youth-adult partnership. Successful peer education is indeed about young people and adults working together to achieve the goals of a programme.
Youth-adult partnerships arise from the conviction that young people have a right to participate in developing the programmes that serve them and a right to have a voice in shaping the policies that will affect them. In addition, youth participation can help achieve stronger program outcomes. While a rights-based approach is the underpinning of youthadult partnerships, this effort should also achieve improved program results.
Youth participation can help achieve better program outcomes for the young people involved with an organization, for the adults in the organization, for the target audiences of young people and providers, and for the community as a whole. The target group’s full involvement in the development of the programme contributes to the programme’s sustainability and effectiveness.
Youth participation ensures that the programme responds to the specific needs and concerns of the target group and that the approaches used are interesting and engaging.