Peers Teach Others,
‘We Can Become Anything
We Want to Be’
Toyosi Fadahunsi, 16, has just given her classmates
what she describes as "tips on the facts of life". She is one of 600 peer
educators in Osogbo, the capital of Osun state in southwest Nigeria, trained in family
life education (FLE) by Life Vanguards, a non-governmental organization set up to improve
the sexual and reproductive health of young Nigerians.
Life Vanguards provides information and counselling to enable young people to make
informed decisions."There are a lot of things I know now I never knew before,"
says Toyosi. "Life Vanguards teaches us that we can become anything we want to be,
how to take care of ourselves as girls and how to interact with people, including boys. We
watch films and we know all about sex and pregnancy. I know my body very well."
The State of World Population 1998 report by the United Nations Population Fund
points out that many of today’s 530 million 15-19 year-olds are sexually active. They
need to be taught about responsible behaviour and how to protect themselves from unwanted
pregnancy and infection. Parents are often uncomfortable addressing such matters, and
teenagers find it easiest to discuss them with other young people.
"Most young people get their information through their peers at school or at
play," says Segun Igbinlade, Life Vanguards’ senior programme officer. "Our
peer educators provide them with the right information on reproductive health which they
can then pass on to their friends."
Igbinlade says 400 young people visit Life Vanguards’ centre every month, where
they find "undiluted" facts on human sexuality, self-esteem, consequences of
unwanted pregnancy and contraceptive options through workshops, seminars, group
discussions and videos. To become a peer educator, a young person must have gone through
40 hours of family life education.
Life Vanguards is funded by UNFPA through the Osun State Ministry of Health as part of
an effort to strengthen reproductive health service delivery. It also serves as a pilot
project for an initiative of the federal government aimed at establishing sustainable
adolescent health care.
The organization also runs a clinic exclusively for young people, offering reproductive
health counselling and services including diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted
infections, for free or at a subsidized rate. The nurse in charge also visits schools and
out-of-school youth involved in vocational activities.
Project Director Dr. Oluwole Odutolu says that when Life Vanguards started work in
1994, most parents were sceptical and some prevented their children from taking part. This
changed after parents and community leaders attended seminars on its activities and
objectives.
Says Jumoke Shiyanbade, a nurse: "There’s just no interpersonal relationship
in many homes. I used to be very angry each time I saw a pregnant teenager. After the Life
Vanguards workshop I’ve learned to be more patient and I now enjoy a better
relationship with the youths I see everyday in the course of my duty."
Ife Olatunji, a senior secondary student, has become one of the most influential peer
educators in her school. "I no longer mix with friends who are likely to disturb my
studies," she says. "I plan to be an accountant in future, but I know this will
not be possible if I don’t read my books, keep the right friends or if I allow myself
to become pregnant."
Olanike Abubakar, 14, another senior secondary student, admits there are still some
things she finds difficult to discuss with her parents. "You can’t tell your
parents when boys are ‘toasting’ you for instance but we have been able to deal
with that through the Life Vanguards. I know that boys are not enemies. In fact, I can say
I have boy friends just as I have girl friends. But there’s a difference
between a friend and a lover. A friend will not demand for sex because he knows I’m
not ready for it at my age."
"Even boys can now understand better why a girl has to say
‘no’," asserts Folade Oluwasanmi, a 20-year-old peer educator and
engineering student. "At Life Vanguards," he says, "I have learned so many
things I didn’t pay much attention to in my biology class. I know why a girl has to
menstruate, how she can become pregnant and how to avoid such pregnancy when she’s
not ready to start a family. I know what I want."
— Word count: 748
Reporting by Sam Eferaro
Next News Feature 
Top of Page
|
