SKNVibes.com News: High Schoolers Take Advantage Of Peer Education Network

St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service

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Photos from HIV/AIDS Peer Education Network workshop at the St. Johnson's Community Center
Basseterre, St. Kitts (August 30, 2005): Twenty high school students are learning effective ways of communicating with and educating their peers on HIV/AIDS during a five-day workshop at the St. Johnsons Community Center.

The HIV/AIDS Peer Education Network (HAPEN) was launched yesterday.

It features local resource personnel training young people on ways to educate each other on related topics such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, which some adults may feel uncomfortable discussing with adolescents.

Peace corps volunteer Stefanie Bachman coordinated the project. She explained the main reason for its inception.

Weve done a lot of HIV/AIDS programmes with adults and younger children and we felt that this particular audience (age group) is much more receptive to peers people their own age so its a lot easier to get the message across that way, she told SKNIS.

Participant Ivana Williams, 15, of the Verchilds High School told SKNIS that she is learning a lot at the sessions. I do think that it is worthwhile being a part of this project, she stressed. The programme & teaches you about counseling and planning for a presentation. I want to become a marriage and family counselor and this that will give me a head start.

Ms. Williams noted that her participation in this programme has opened up a new topic of discussion with her friends as she tries to advise them on abstinence and the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

This sentiment was shared by 14-year-old Vernard Woodley of the Sandy Point High School. He summarized his impression of HAPEN. Its good, you learn a lot, he disclosed. It gave me a head start for when Im going back to school so I wont mess up my life.

Coordinator Bachman thanked her colleagues, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Youth for their assistance. She also extended appreciation to the facilitators and guidance counselors for organizing the workshop.

Ms. Bachman concluded by paying tribute to the participants who are spending the last week of their summer break at the 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. sessions.