THE PEER EDUCATOR PROJECT

n order to complete this project I worked with an NGO that I had previously volunteered for called Support for International Change (SIC). The head of SIC and I decided that there was a great need to return to schools that previous volunteers had taught at, and breathe life again into the discussion about AIDS and HIV in these rural schools. We decided that we would create AIDS/HIV clubs to create a sustainable program in each of these schools. I led a team of three Tanzanian teaching partners, and another American volunteer to create a curriculum that would teach HIV biology, behavior skills such as confidence and self-respect, and how to say "No" firmly to peer pressure. Moreover we taught the students what it means to be a club, how to run as a club, and created a manual with non-resource intensive projects for student to implement in their schools and communities. We had students practice teaching part of the curriculum and gave them constructive criticism to strengthen their teaching skills. Furthermore, on the second day of our teaching we had students write skits about HIV stigma, forced sex, and transmission/ prevention of HIV. They performed these skits in front of us and then in front of their schools. We taught them songs such as Lean On Me and encouraged students to write raps and songs about these topics. Overall we taught at 15 schools, each for two days, trained over 240 students, and set up clubs that meet monthly to spread awareness about AIDs and HIV in their communities. SIC staff are responsible for checking in on the clubs, helping them with issues that arise, and making sure they have the supplies they need. We called this project, "The Peer Educator Project".