What is Peer Education?
Communicating with young people about HIV/AIDS is not easy. The AIDS Foundation has recognized that young people are best suited to do this job. So we train teenagers to give their friends the facts about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent this killer from taking over their lives. Peer Educators receive thorough training in the transmission, prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases that are a problem among teens in the Concho Valley.History of the Peer Education Team
The Team started in 1998 with only two members. By the end of 1999 the Team consisted of fifteen members from all walks of life. Of those original fifteen, twelve are still active. We have trained forty-one educators to date, and only four of those have left the program. Even members who have moved away to attend college stay in touch and are active on their college campus, educating other students about HIV. Members of the Team have received local, state, and national recognition. The Peer Educators were recognized by the Governor's Office in 2002 for their outstanding work and dedication.How do you become a Peer Educator?
- You have to be interested in what the Peer Education Team does.
- Contact Tony (tony@saaf.net) at the AIDS Foundation and let him know you are interested.
- Attend the training sessions where you will learn:
- The facts about HIV/AIDS
- The facts about condoms
- The facts about drug use and condoms
- How HIV testing is done
- The facts about birth control options
- Tattoo and piercing risks; how to choose a tattoo artist
- The facts about other sexually transmitted diseases
- How HIV is likely to affect your life in the future
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