Teen Peer Education in Mali

Among the different methods used to raise awareness about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections amongst youth, teen peer education has proven extremely effective. Within the youth population, adolescent girls are the most at risk sector for new HIV infections in Mali. Not only do these young women potentially face the debilitating symptoms of HIV, but they also risk teen pregnancy and even dropping out of school should they contract HIV. Becoming HIV positive is highly stigmatized in Mali and many lack the support of their families and financial support.

In order to keep these children healthy and give them as many opportunities as possible in the future, GAIA Vaccine Foundation promotes Teen Peer Education in order to equip the next generation of youth with the power of knowledge. GAIA VF recognizes that peer to peer interactions are vital in building trust and understanding, so we have trained and employed teenage educators through our local partners in Bamako, Mali. These teenage educators are taught everything they need to know through adult educators, some of whom are HIV positive themselves, and they work with local health services to create communication tools for adolescents in Bamako by providing weekly discussions. GAIA VF also ensures that there are free condoms and HIV tests available at every session. 

One of our goals of the weekly discussions is to reach children that are in school, as well as those who are not. We also strive to create a safe environment where young people can freely talk about issues they may face as well as how to avoid risky sexual encounters. Our long term plan is to reduce the number of new HIV infections in Bamako.

The Teen Peer Education Program would not be possible without the help of our generous supporters. For a donation of $10, you would be helping two teens attend one of our education sessions. With a donation of $20, you would be helping four teens attend one of our education sessions. For a donation of $75, it will be YOU making it possible to host an entire education session, that could potentially save the life of a child in need of guidance. We thank you for your continued support as we work towards our long term goal of drastically reducing the number of HIV+ infections in Sikoro and Bamako. 

Educating teens and others at high risk for contracting HIV is a vital component in reducing HIV cases. Adolescent girls in particular are most at risk, not only does the immunodeficiency come with debilitating health conditions, but it also affects a young woman’s position in society. Without access to proper sexual education, these young women are at risk of becoming pregnant, having to drop out of school, and losing financial and emotional support from their families. 

The Teen Peer Education program has proven to raise awareness among adolescents about the potential risks that they face. This information is best translated from someone around the same age as those being taught, so the program has employed teenage educators in order to keep students engaged during the sessions. These Peer Educators have been trained by adult HIV educators, and they work with local health services to create communication tools for adolescents in Bamako through these weekly discussions. 

These HIV education sessions are available to adolescents attending school as well as those out of school. The goal of these weekly sessions is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for these young people in order to facilitate educational conversation around the risks of sexual behavior, and how to stay healthy. In time, this program is looking to greatly reduce the number of adolescents who become HIV+. In 2022, 1,060 teens attended the Teen Peer Education program, over half of which were girls. 

With a donation of $10, you would be supporting two teens by paying for their education sessions. With a donation of $20, you would be helping four teens attend one education session. With a donation of $50, you would be providing a salary for one HIV educator. We thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to work towards our goal of minimizing the spread of HIV among youth of Mali through education.