UNFPA and Kelajak Ovozi Youth Initiatives Centre Conduct Training on Peer Education  

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN – On 20 April – 1 June 2009, UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund  and Kelajak Ovozi Youth Initiatives Centre conduct two 5-day back-to-back trainings for trainers on peer education techniques.

The overall objective of the training is to prepare the pool of peer education trainers from different provinces across the country. 40 young persons who are actively involved in peer education activities are taking part in these educational activities. 

The training participants will learn how to educate their peers on such issues as HIV/AIDS prevention, reproductive health, gender and many other topics critical for adolescents and youth.  

“The ultimate goal of this activity is to continue improving access of youth to information on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and other STIs prevention, gender equality and other important issues, as well as informing them on the services and aid they could benefit from locally when facing various types of problems,” – commented Mr. Ulugbek Zaribbaev, UNFPA Programme Associate on Reproductive Health.    

 Peer-to-peer education implies the information sharing between well-trained and motivated young people and their peers (those similar to them in age and background). This approach helps to ensure, either in an organized or an informal way, that those peers have the optimal knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills to be responsible for and to protect their health and well-being. Peer education can happen in small groups or through individual contact and can take place in a variety of settings.  

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.