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What we do
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The peer education model
The heart of the organisation lies in the team's commitment to being positive role models, reflecting a lifestyle of character, strong values, personal vision and a passion for nation building. The theory behind Peer Education is one where individual transformation leads to group transformation which in turn leads to community transformation. The idea is to use adolescents as the catalysts for positive change to take place in their communities.
What is Peer Education
Peer Education is the process whereby skilled facilitators assist a group of suitable young people to:
- Educate their peers
- Role model positive and healthy behaviour
- Recognise youth in need of additional help and refer them for assistance
- Advocate for resources and services for themselves and their peers.
In short, Peer Education is a vehicle for community transformation.
The OIL model, implemented within a community development framework, focuses on the training and development of adolescent peer educators through a four year programme. Peer leaders are selected for OIL training through a combination of self-nomination and referrals from peers, who are asked to identify the friends and acquaintances they would be most likely to ask about issues related to young people. This process yields a diverse group of teens from many different subcultures.
Through sessions with OIL facilitators, adolescent peer educators are trained with the knowledge and skills to make positive personal decisions regarding their values, attitudes and behaviour. As their friends watch how these decisions lead to a healthier lifestyle, they too are challenged to make similar choices. The teenagers are trained in the areas of Self Development, Reproductive Health, Community Development, Communication, Leadership, Presentation and Facilitation, and Media Literacy. Through these life skills, OIL hopes to equip the youth in becoming positive role models and agents of change in their communities
Ghandi once said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."
This is what we hope to see in the Peer Educators. In order to reach our vision it needs to be imparted to each Peer Educator and from there, their friends and eventually the community as a whole.
GOLD
www.goldpe.org.za
GOLD (Generation of Leaders Discovered) is the brand that has been chosen to represent the equipping of African youth with vision and purpose through Peer Education within a community development framework.
OIL is one of 21 other organizations in the Western Cape, Kwa Zulu Natal, Mpumulanga and Botswana that are contracted to implement the GOLD (Generation of Leaders Discovered) peer education model. GOLD is a pioneering intervention strategy that responds to the root causes of the HIV/AIDS crisis amongst young people through an approach that encompasses both a prevention and future leadership strategy.
GOLD Peer Education Development Agency is a non-profit organisation that is equipping youth development organisations to implement the GOLD model. Our core strategy is to develop the GOLD peer education model and facilitate its roll out and quality implementation within selected communities in the sub-Saharan region.
OIL has been endorsed by GOLD and the Western Cape Education Department as a best practice GOLD peer education site. OIL has collaborated with the GOLD Peer Education Development Agency, providing a test and reference site function for on the ground research of the GoLD model to serve in the future roll out of GOLD peer education to communities across South Africa and beyond. By 2009, GOLD aims to have 25 000 peer educators equipped as role models to positively influence their peers in the Sub Saharan region.
The GOLD peer education model is implemented within a developmental framework by skilled peer education facilitators working for implementing organisations, who equip adolescent leaders to influence their peers and younger children. The model is implemented within a cluster of 3-5 schools or micro communities within one geographical area. It is a rigorous, quality-assured approach to youth leadership in HIV prevention, risk behaviour reduction and school-community-based support for vulnerable youth.
At the heart of GOLD is the belief that The message giver is the strongest message.
Information alone does not change people; people change when others around them change.
To hear what the teenagers and communities are saying about
OIL, click
here.
Events
Various activities and events that support the OIL programme take place throughout the year. They provide specific community based channels and opportunities through which the four Peer Education roles can be fulfilled. The events and activities also provide a social context for cross-cultural and socio-economic relationship building and skills sharing. They are also platforms in which youth leadership and advocacy is promoted.
Lube Lounge
Lube Lounges are forums where celebrities are interviewed by teenagers. This has been a popular part of the OIL programme, with attendance generally between 200 and 300 teenagers. This event is aimed at bringing teenagers from across cultures to recognise the common ground which they share - a passion for living life and role modelling that to others. Previous themes have included music, film, comedy, radio and sport. Guests have included comedians, musicians, entrepreneurs, radio DJ's and hip hop stars. With the likes of Gary Kirsten, Ashwell Prince, Freshlyground, Afro Z and General attending this event.
Summer Conference
Summer Conference is the cherry on top of the OIL programme. It is an event for all the peer educators - from all tracks and all schools. This event encourages cross cultural interaction and friendships; builds inter-track and school unity and creates a forum for Peer Education in action. Guests have included hip hop groups, South African sports stars, comedians and the minister of Education for the Western Cape. The three day event has been a resounding success and has included an awards ceremony for peer educators who have performed over and above their required expectations.
Camps
OIL runs two camps over the course of the June/July holidays. The newly elected Grade 10 peer educators are invited for a time of training, team building and further skills development of the OIL programme. The camps are a great success and many teenagers are challenged by the content of the session and the guest speaker's contributions.
Intertrack days
An intertrack day is an event that takes place twice a year per school. This event is a platform for the peer educators from all three tracks (Grade 10 to 12), in a school, to interact with one another and grow their relationship as a team. During this event the teens are challenged in working together to advocate for positive change in their communities.
Community projects
A community project is a platform whereby the Peer Educators can practically put into action the skills they have learned throughout the OIL Programme. Through this they have the opportunity to lead a team in advocating for change. Past projects organised by the teenagers have included World Aids Day and HIV awareness, Youth Day, Celebrating Women and Knowing Your Rights.
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