Teen Peer Education in Mali

With data gathered from our ongoing “Chez Rosalie” program, GAIA Vaccine Foundation discovered that the highest number of new HIV cases were most prominent among teen girls. Based on these findings, GAIA Vaccine Foundation initiated a partnership with local educator Socrates. This partnership laid the foundation for the Teen Peer Education program. 

The Teen Peer Education Program targets the sector of Bamako, Mali’s population that is most at risk of contracting HIV, and promotes a safe learning environment for young girls and boys. During this free weekly session, teens may learn the risks of sexual behavior, and are free to ask any questions they may have. 

GAIA Vaccine Foundation understands that peer to peer interactions are most effective in relaying important information. Therefore, the Teen Peer Education program employs teen educators that have been educationally equipped by adult HIV educators in order to adequately convey important material. Teen educators also work with local health services to create communication tools for adolescents in Bamako. At every session, free condoms and HIV testing are made available. 

The goal of these weekly discussions is to foster a safe environment for teens to vocalize their questions, as well as become educated about risky sexual behavior and what to avoid. Since 2014, the program has hosted 464 education sessions. On average, the Teen Peer Education Program saw 18 girls and 7 boys each week in the year 2022. 

These sessions are vital in educating Bamako’s youth about preventative measures when it comes to the contraction of HIV. By donating to this ongoing program, you would be supporting GAIA Vaccine Foundation’s effort to minimize the spread of HIV in Mali and protect the youth from immunocompromisation. For a donation of $10, you would be providing two teens with the ability to attend a weekly session. For a donation of $50, you would be paying the salary of one HIV educator. For a donation of $75, you would be providing an entire educational session. We thank you for your ongoing support as we continue with our mission of reducing the incidence of HIV+.

Granting easier access to education through the Teen Peer Education Program helps to reduce the risk of teens contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Adolescent girls in particular are most susceptible to HIV contractions and its social consequences. These include the potential of teen pregnancy, which could lead to lack of financial support from their family, or having to drop out of school. However, these looming consequences can be avoided through access to education, which includes HIV prevention methods. 

It has been proven that teen peer education is most effective in delivering accurate information to youth. Therefore, GAIA Vaccine Foundation has created partnerships in Bamako, Mali who work within the Teen Peer Education Program to help educate the younger population. These peer educators are trained by adult HIV educators, who work with local health services to create communication tools to Malian youth through weekly discussions. 

During each Teen Peer Education Session, free condoms and HIV testing are always available. These sessions are extremely important, as they reach a variety of youth, including those who are no longer enrolled in school. The goal of these weekly discussions is to facilitate a safe environment for adolescents to talk about issues they may face, as well as how to avoid risky sexual encounters. Your donations are always greatly appreciated, and go a long way in developing our long term ongoing programs. For a donation of $10, you would be providing funds for two teens to attend an education session. For a donation of $20, you would be paying for four teens to attend an education session. For a generous donation of $50, you would be paying a salary for one teen peer educator. GAIA Vaccine Foundation thanks you for your donations and ongoing support! 

Teenagers in Mali are one of the most at risk groups for contracting HIV. Therefore, focusing a detailed educational course on infectious disease prevention on this particular group is vital to reducing the number of teens who become HIV positive. Peer education has been a proven method for raising awareness amongst the teenagers, which in turn lessens the amount of teens who may contract HIV.

Among teenagers, young women are the most at risk for becoming HIV positive. Combined with having to live with a debilitating autoimmune disease, these adolescent girls also risk teenage pregnancy, which could potentially pair with a lack of financial support or having to cut their education short. 

The implementation of the Teen Peer Education Program was proven to raise awareness of HIV and how to prevent the spread as well as protect oneself from the virus. This program uses teenage educators hired through local partners in Bamako, Mali to teach at-risk adolescents in an engaging way. These teenage educators have training from HIV educators, and work to create interactive communication tools to reach the youth. 

These discussions occur weekly and also include a sexual education course. At each session, condoms and HIV testing is made readily available. By hosting these teen peer discussions, adolescents both in school and not are able to attend and have an open conversation. Over time, this program aims to drastically reduce the number of teens who become HIV positive in the Sikoro community. For only $10, you would be supporting two teens in attending an education session. For $20, you would be paying for four teens to attend these sessions. For only $50, you would be covering the salary of a peer educator, who works so diligently to help reach the young population and prevent the spread of HIV. Your donations are vital in continuing this program, which has the hopes of minimizing the number of teens from contracting HIV.

The Teen Peer Education Program is an innovative program that seeks to educate adolescent infectious disease prevention. GAIA VF and the Teen Peer Education program seek  to reduce HIV transmission in particular. 

Young women and girls are the most at risk of contracting HIV in Mali. Along with the increased potential of becoming HIV positive, these young women are also at risk of unwanted pregnancy. This in turn can create financial burdens and stigmatization in the community. 

Through the Teen Peer Education Program, those most at risk for contracting HIV learn about prevention measures in a safe and welcoming environment. Teen Educators run the program and teach all the lessons. These Teen Educators work with local clinics in order to create communication tools and provide space for weekly discussions. These programs also supply free condoms. Free HIV testing is available at GAIA VF’s partner clinics. 

The Teen Peer Education Program promotes knowledge and self advocacy. By hosting these sessions, Teen Educators are able to help those most at risk of becoming HIV+ by equipping them with knowledge. For just $10, you would be helping send two teens to an education session. For $50, you would be paying for one teen educator’s salary. Your support helps to reduce HIV in Mali and improve the lives of Malians.

Educating youth on how to prevent HIV is vital in reducing transmission, especially those most at risk.

In Mali, adolescent girls are most at risk for contracting HIV. Through the Teen Peer Education Program, GAIA Vaccine Foundation aims to educate these young women about HIV and other preventive measures to ensure a successful and abundant future for these girls. Not only is HIV a risk that could derail an individual's path, but unplanned pregnancy, the potential to drop out of school, and lack of financial support are all potential consequences to contracting the virus.

The Teen Peer Education Program trains teens to become peet educators themselves. They are trained by adult HIV experts and are encouraged to share the information they learn with their peers. The program hosts weekly discussions, where HIV testing and condoms are free of charge at each session. These gatherings reach teens that are attending school as well as those who are not, with the goal of allowing them a safe place to talk about sexual encounters and other issues they may face.

For just $10, you can help two teens attend an education session. For $20, four teens. For $50, you’d be providing a salary for one teen HIV educator. In time, the Teen Peer Education Program aims to greatly reduce the number of HIV girls in Bamako.