Teen Peer Education in Mali

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.