Peer education, sexuality education & young people: an interactive evaluation of a peer sexuality support programme

Abstract

Effective sexuality education is vital if young people are to make safe and informed decisions about their sexuality. Peer education is an innovative approach to sexuality education; it can empower young people with the skills and knowledge to become support people for their peers. This approach enables young people to become involved in the process, making it more effective and relevant. My thesis is an interactive evaluation of a Peer Sexuality Support Programme focusing on empowerment. This is a school-based programme run at Wainuiomata College with the help of the Family Planning Association (FPA). For over four years FPA has trained groups of Wainuiomata College students to become Peer Support People for their fellow students. I chose an interactive evaluation as it has many similarities with the peer education model The focus can be on empowering the programme participants by involving them in the evaluation process. The aim of my evaluation is to look at the programme process and experiences of those involved and identify areas that could be improved. I attempted whenever possible to involve the Peer Support People in the evaluation process. This evaluation found that the Peer Sexuality Support Programme holds many advantages for young people. It acknowledges that young people need the opportunity to take responsibility for their own decisions. It recognises the power of positive peer influence. It has provided another avenue for Wainuiomata College students if they need support. Empowering students to become Peer Support People has had beneficial results for the individual Peer Support Person; it has given all of them a belief in their capabilities. The programme has also achieved the broader goal of changing the way sexuality is dealt with. It has opened up sexuality education into the culture of the school and acknowledges that sexuality education is important and something to talk about.