Peer Education
When I was in college, I volunteered as a peer sexual health educator. This meant that after completing a semester long training program, I ran workshops for other students on things like safer sex, sexual orientation and HIV /AIDS. And while I wasn’t as polished as a professional, the experience was a really positive one, both for me, and I hope, for my classmates.
So why the need for peer education? The organization Advocates for Youth explains that,
“Research suggests that people are more likely to hear and personalize messages, and thus to change their attitudes and behaviors, if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures. Numerous studies have demonstrated that their peers influence youth's health behaviors—not only in regard to sexuality but also in regard to violence and substance use. Peer education draws on the credibility that young people have with their peers, leverages the power of role modeling, and provides flexibility in meeting the diverse needs of today's youth. Peer education can support young people in developing positive group norms and in making healthy decisions about sex."
So for example, if an adult stands up and begins to lecture a groups of teens on the importance of using a condom, they are more likely to tune out than if another kid tells them the same thing. Similarly, if a 45-year-old gay man comes to talk with teens about his experiences with sexual orientation, the kids are less likely to relate than if they were addressed by someone their own age.
A lot of different organizations run peer education training programs. Two good ones are, Planned Parenthood and Advocates for Youth.from site http://gayteens.about.com/od/school/a/peer_education.htm