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 Youth Project - Peer Education Project


Manual Arts
Peer Educators


Peer Education: Definition

Youth educate their peers or younger children on personal/life skills or on pertinent societal issues such as drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, or prejudice. Youth learn important skills related to designing and delivering effective presentations or workshops, ranging from one-time presentations to intensive, semester-long programs.

Rationale: Why Peer Education?

The logic behind peer education makes sense: if peers listen so much to one another, why not make the content of what they hear from each other as accurate and helpful as possible? Ideally, peer education helps the peer leaders themselves. They learn new skills and gain knowledge and confidence. At the same time, it helps those with whom the peer educators interact and for whom they model positive, protective behaviors. These could include not only their immediate peers but also others in the community.

http://www.etr.org/recapp/theories/peereducation/
  • Research finds that people are more likely to learn and personalize a message if it comes from a messenger similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures (Sloane BC, Zimmer CG).

  • Peers benefit from the knowledge and experience of other youth.

  • Young people practice and apply communication and leadership skills.

  • Youth serve as role models for other youth.

The Peer Education Model at Manual Arts High School (MAHS)
  • 15-20 hours of after school training
  • Used lesson plans from the Peer Education and Safe Jobs for Youth Curriculum
  • Some of the topics covered:
  • Youth serve as role models for other youth.
    • 15-20 hours of after school training
    • Brief history of labor laws
    • Hazards and solutions in the workplace
    • Sexual Harassment
    • Work Permits
    • Worker’s Compensation
    • Hours you should and should not work
    • Resources
    • Unions
    • Community Involvement, etc.

Growth of the PE Project at MAHS
  • Trainers recruit new Peer Educators
  • NEW: Trainers present resources to teachers/administrators at Manual Arts
  • Trainers and PE present to peers, middle school students, and immigrant workers in their community
  • NEW: Trainers participate in new LOSH project – Worker Occupational Safety & Health Training and Education Project (WOSHTEP) funded through the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation
  • Trainers and PE plan and promote Safe Jobs for Youth Month activities
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UCLA Labor Occupational Safety & Health Program
Peter Ueberroth Building
10945 Le Conte Ave, Box 951478
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1478
Suite 2107
Contact: Karen Murray
P (310) 794-5964    F (310) 794-6403