The Training of Trainers Manual - UNFPA

Training topic
Peer education – theory and practice
Objectives of the session
To help participants to understand the nature and purpose of peer education and
to gain insight into the mechanisms of behaviour change and how these relate to
peer education.
Exercise: Peer education − what and why
Objectives
To have a common understanding of the concept of peer education
30
minutes
Materials
To identify the benefits and the limits of peer education
Three flip charts and markers
Process
Prior to this exercise, review the content in Section 1.
Also suitable for
training of peer
educators
Conduct three consecutive group ‘call-outs’ (an activity similar to brainstorming, in
which participants call out their responses) on the following questions:
■ What do we mean when we say ‘peer education’
■ What are the possible advantages of peer education
■ What are the possible disadvantages of peer education
Record all responses on the flip charts.
When agreeing on a working definition of peer education, it is important to come
as close as possible to the following description:
Word sense
A peer is a person who belongs to the same social
group as another person or group. The social group may
be based on age, sex, sexual orientation, occupation,
socio-economic or health status, and other factors.
Education refers to the development of a person’s
knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, or behaviour as a result of
the learning process.
‘Peer (health) education is the process
whereby well-trained and motivated
young people undertake informal or
organized educational activities with
their peers (those similar to themselves
in age, background, or interests). These
activities, occurring over an extended
period of time, are aimed at developing
young people’s knowledge, attitudes,
beliefs, and skills and at enabling them
to be responsible for and to protect
their own health.’
36 Training of Trainers Manual