Health Promoters- Youth Leading Youth

One of the most effective ways to internalize information or truly learn new material is teaching that information to other people. Through our youth health promoters in Poroto, we utilize this idea to facilitate not only the transfer of information, but also the development of leadership practices. The idea of youth health promoters is to train adolescent leaders in important teen-related health issues including teen pregnancy prevention, sex education, drugs and alcohol, and HIV/AIDs prevention. I work with the nurse and other staff from the health post to address these topics during our weekly meetings and the health promoters use this information to plan their own activities and replicas with their peers. The health promoters function as a youth group, facilitating community activities and events, but also transmit this important health information to their peers.

This past month we began health “replicas” with each high school classroom; the health promoters were divided into pairs , chose themes to research, and prepared presentations for their peers. In a survey I administered previously, less than 20% of students indicate they receive adequate health information. When sex-ed or other touchy topics are addressed in schools they often include very limited information or are skimmed over. Teen pregnancy, alcoholism, and other adolescent health issues are extremely prevalent in Poroto, so it’s imperative to distribute health information that will truly impact youth lifestyles. Utilizing peer-to-peer distribution of health knowledge, youth health promoters are able to hone their own leadership skills while serving as role-models for other students. The health promoters have a significant degree of autonomy over their presentations to insure the Information is presented in a way that is relevant and interesting to their fellow students.

Confidence and self-esteem are often lacking among Peruvian youth, but the adolescent health promoters demonstrate a significant degree of self-confidence during these presentations. Not only are they speaking publicly in front of their peers, they are addressing issues that are often considered taboo. Through these sessions a dialogue is being opened about various topics that affect their own personal development, family lives, and future. Together we decided the themes for the replicas, and in addition to the usual (teen pregnancy, STDs/HIV&AIDS, drugs/alcohol, etc) they also chose “love and illusion” which was quite a popular presentation as teenage boys were forced to share their ideas of love with the class. Although there is definitely room for improvement, these initial replicas were a good indication of the growing skills acquired by the youth health promoters. If these kids can stand in front of their peers and confidently talk about sex and other touchy issues, I think they’ll be able to stand up for themselves and their community as leaders.