Practical Training in Peer Education

1. Practical Training in Peer Education By Michelle Brinkworth & Jody Limbrick Estonia June 2011

2. Rationale of Peer Education Peer education makes use of peer influence in a positive way. A young person’s peer group has a strong influence on the way he or she behaves. Young people get a great deal of information from their peers on issues that are especially sensitive.

3. Peer 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.

4. Peer Education Is the process whereby well-trained and motivated young people undertake informal or organised 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 life (especially work related areas).

5. What are Ice breakers and energisers? • Ice breakers are activities that are undertaken at the beginning of a session to help people feel at ease • Energisers are activities used to stimulate and motivate participants during training sessions

6. Why use Ice breakers and energisers? • Energise & motivate • Create a positive group atmosphere • Help people to relax • Break down social barriers • Help people

7. Activity 1 Circulate The group forms two concentric circles with the same number of participants in each circle, the people in the inner circle facing outwards and the people in the outer circle facing inwards. The inner circle remains stationary and the outer circle moves one person anticlockwise every 30 seconds. The aim is for everyone to introduce themselves in the shortest possible time.

8. Activity 2 Follow the Leader All but one in a circle, one player in the middle. The middle player closes her eyes, and the rest of the group quietly chooses a leader. Middle player opens her eyes and tries to find the leader. The whole group follows the leader, in everything he does. As soon as the middle player finds out who the leader was the game is over. This only works if movements are clear, not too fast, and if the group ‘follows the leader’ as fast and as precisely as possible.

9. Communication • People who lack confidence and have low self-esteem often find it difficult to communicate effectively with other people. The majority of people you will be working with will have little or no work experience and therefore will not be aware of the appropriate ways to communicate with different people in the workplace. They may also find it difficult to follow instructions or to ask questions. • Think about and discuss the importance of being able to communicate effectively in the workplace. • How could you help them to improve their skills in addressing and responding to different people in different situations

10. Activity 3 Back to back

11. Personal Qualities Many of the people you will be working with have low self esteem, lack confidence and have a very poor self-image. In order to develop self-confidence and to raise self-esteem they need to discover what they are good at and what their strengths are. Amongst your group discuss which personal qualities you consider to be the most important. Which personal qualities do you think are the most necessary to possess in order to be successful in the work place?

12. Activity 4 Mirror Inside a mirror frame write or draw the things or qualities that best describe yourself, pass the frame around the group and all the members must write down a quality that they see in you.

13. ANY QUESTIONS?