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College of Micronesia-FSM Federated States of Micronesia
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College of Micronesia-FSM Federated States of Micronesia
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Years of research have shown that the provision of information is not enough to reduce rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among young people. Peer education, based on social learning and health behavior theories, is an effective way to reach young people with information, skills, and motivation teens can use to make healthy decisions for themselves. While it is impossible to generalize to all youth, developmentally, they have a great deal in common.
Research have shown that young people tend to do what they believe their friends and peers are doing. Peer educators help to creat positive peer pressure and nomalize healthy behavior. Since many teenagers report that they receive most of their information about sex from their peers, peer educators are good sources to help correct misinformation and dispel myths.
The Peer Counseling Center currently has three student peer educators providing free, confidential, 8-hour peer education service to COM-FSM students campus-wide. Other workstudy students, peer guides, student leaders and volunteers receive training to broaden outreach efforts.
As peer educators, they are here to help. Their aim is to help students develop their own solutions to problems or uncertainties that they may be dealing with while being a student at COM-FSM.
In addition, we provides meeting space for campus support groups, and opportunities for students to become involved in health outreach and community programs.
The center staff is made entirely of the project coordinator, trained Student Peer Educators and is supported by COM-FSM faculty and administrators.
Student Peer Educators: How can you become one of us?
Students enrolled in SS/ED 285 Family Life/Sexuality Education, SS/PY 101 General Psychology, SS 130 to Sociology, ED 384 Population Education, and have gained valuable concepts of population and development through lectures and group discussions.These students must also attend counseling workshops conducted by the project. Those who do well in evaluations following the classes and workshops may serve as staff at the Peer Counseling Center. The courses are open to all COM-FSM students and being offered each semester.
Copyright ©2001 Peer Counseling Center.
Implemented by COM-FSM
Funded by Title X Family Planning Program and UNFPA 