UNESCO O3 Plus Project Championing Peer-to-Peer Education in Higher Learning Institutions

UNESCO through SIDA funded project “Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus)” currently being implemented in seven (7) Higher/Tertiary learning institutions (HTI’s) including Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), has conducted a six days training to 60 university students who became peer educators. The training started from 18th to 23rd July 2022.

Peer educators are trained students representing first year to post graduate level who were trained to serve as the first link to available key service units in their universities. Their role will be to provide information and education to their fellow students in the areas of sexuality, HIV and AIDS, Gender-Based Violence, Relationships and Resource Management. They will also serve as referral points between the providers and their fellow students who are in need.

O3 Plus oriented the training facilitators who were lecturers and service providers at the college and provided a teaching guideline manual that provides a step-by-step guide to implement delivery of quality sexuality education with HIV and Gender-Based Violence, Relationships and Resource Management through curriculum and extra-curriculum program.

This initiative was well received by DUCE management, during the opening ceremony of the training, the Deputy Principle (Academic Research and Consultancy) Dr Christina Raphael (PhD) emphasized that the Peer-to-Peer education will help to make safer and better learning environment within the campus.

Coordinator of the training Ms. Catherine Amri from UNESCO’s O3 Plus project mentioned that College student tend to listen more to their peers advise when it comes to the things that relates to them, this is why having peer educators will be an essential thing to have in education setting.

After the 6 days training, students who became peer educators were happy with knowledge acquired and most of them explaining how it will help them in their own and peers’ college life. For example Martha Wailes a second year student, who used to struggle managing her finance (college allowance, famously known as “Boom”) but after receiving the training she has learned on some useful saving tips which will help in planning her budget.

After the training, Peer educators will continue to have periodical mentorship from O3 Plus cluster coordinator to strengthening their capacity in sharing accurate information in the areas of comprehensive sexuality, HIV and AIDS, Gender-Based Violence, Relationships and Resource Management also be part of several activities that contributes to accomplishment project objectives. The peer educators will be a second arm to support the Directorates of Students Services (famously Dean of Students office) and of UNESCO’s O3 Plus project in higher and tertiary Institutions, this program will be implemented to all colleges and universities benefited by the O3 Plus Project within Tanzania.