YPEER

The peer-to-peer network

Peer-to-peer education has become one of the most widespread methods for solving the problems of SRH. Young people prefer to discuss their sexual behaviour and other delicate questions with their contemporaries than with their parents or other adults. This is the main principle of peer-to-peer education - youth education by their contemporaries. However, its success depends on the preparation and support of its trainers and by providing them with essential materials, monitoring and feedback. With this in view, UNFPA has created a peer-to peer education network (Y-PEER), which offers training, guidance, a website and other resources.
More than four years have passed since Y-PEER has been created in Kyrgyzstan. Its aim is to expand the rights and opportunities of young people, for them to exchange information and experiences and to develop skills in order to change risk related behaviour. The network provides opportunities for dialogue and exchanges of opinions between young people taking part in the peer-to-peer programme and improves the quality of education and knowledge on SRH issues.

Members of Y-PEER include young people, active peer educators, trainers of trainers and youth advocates for adolescent sexual and reproductive health. These people contribute to and benefit from the resource materials, tools, training programmes and campleigns provided by the Y-PEER Network's Web Site, electronic communications, and face-to-face meetings. As of 2007, Y-PEER linked more than 5000 members from 39 countries. The network continues to evolve and grow as more young people and organizations join.    

In four years of existence in Kyrgyzstan the Y-PEER networks have achieved the following results:

1. More than forty organizations, working with peer-to-peer programmes have taken part and used the Y-PEER network resources. NGOs have successfully used the resources. They have the most sufficient and professional information base for reproductive health education, prevention of HIV/AIDS, drug addiction and risk behaviour. The NGOs work very successfully with adolescents, realizing that youth participation enables them to create, plan and introduce very effective training programmes.
2. A stable basis has been formed for the network's development in the country and support for the trainers in peer-to-peer education. Currently a systematic database is available to people constantly using the network, which is regularly updated.
3. More than twenty modules have been developed on the prevention of HIV/STD, reproductive health, non-risk behaviour, contraceptives and reproductive rights; the guidelines for the trainers who work according to the peer-to-peer system in Russian and Kyrgyz languages; methodical and visual and video aids were used for skill training and the interactive education of young people for the prevention of STD
4. In 2007 120 young people and young volunteers from 23 organizations took part in events organized by the network on a national level. The volunteers were introduced to international experience by the network. More than 1000 young people and adolescents from all the regions of Kyrgyzstan took part in cascade training sessions organized by participants on the ground.
5. In the country a united team of trainers has been established for peer-to-peer education.  The trainers uphold contacts and exchange experiences. Trainers exchange information between organizations.
6. In 2007 young trainers acquired a set of practical handbooks and textbooks. "The trainer's chest" was issued - a set of textbooks and visual aids.

Several organizations support the institutional memory of the Y-PEER network Kyrgyzstan. A database of success stories from trainers and the programme as a whole has been created and is constantly updated, the network's traditions and attributes are also maintained.
The education system is currently using the peer-to-peer education resource. The peer-to-peer system was introduced into the State programme as a warning against HIV/AIDS and its social and economic consequences in the Kyrgyz Republic (2006-2010) as an effective component of the educational and preventative programmes. The national strategy for reproductive health also includes peer-to peer in the preventative programmes for young people and adolescents. The system has been integrated into programmes for sexual education in pilot schools as part of a World Health Organization project "Healthy schools" and has been widely used in the UNFPA project "Healthy lycees". Currently teachers from many schools are using manuals, which have been developed and issued by the network for trainers.

For more information on Y-PEER: www.youthpeer.org