CWS News

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. This transition involves biological, social, and psychological changes. During this period, normally within the age range of 13 - 19, curiosity is high which sometimes leads adolescents to reproductive health and drug abuse concerns.

Peer Educator Training in Nagan Raya
(CWS Indonesia)

The high curiosity of adolescents should be channeled into supportive activities, equipped with good knowledge on reproductive health, including puberty, and drug abuse; otherwise their vulnerability exposure to STI, including HIV and also drug abuse can be high.

According to AIDS Commission for Aceh province /KPAP Aceh, the number of people with HIV and AIDS as well as other STI in Aceh province is increasing and it has raised concerns of many parties. Recent data shows that 47 people in Aceh have been infected by HIV. There are several conditions that have contributed to the situation such as limited sources of information and education on the mentioned issues.

In response to the situation above, CWS Indonesia Banda Aceh office in collaboration with Harapan Permata Hati Kita (YAKITA) foundation, an NGO working in addressing alcohol and drugs addiction as well as issues around adolescent reproductive health, provided peer educator training for high school students. The training aimed to provide education and information on Reproductive Health and HIV and AIDS as well as to equip the students with skills to facilitate knowledge transfer to their peers.

Peer Educator Training in Calang
(CWS Indonesia)

Hindra Sulaksono, Program Manager for CWS Aceh office, shared "I think it is necessary to educate adolescents on these subjects and it would be better if it is on continuous basis. It is expected that they will be more aware and care about themselves and others and feel encouraged to spread the knowledge to their peers."

Fifty high school students and four teachers attended this three-day training, 28 participants from SMAN 3 Darul Makmur, Nagan Raya District and 27 participants from SMAN 1 Krueng Sabee, Aceh Jaya District. The topics delivered were verbal and non verbal communication, Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS, STI, follow-up planning as well as Facilitation Techniques and Simulation/ Practices on facilitation. All participants were enthused over the training and one of them commented, "This Peer Educator training is fun and exciting. Now I know more about HIV and AIDS and I would like to share information to those who still do not have the knowledge on this."

Through the training YAKITA and CWS expect that the students can act as information agents that help spread the right information to their peers. Hindra Sulaksono further added, "CWS will also provide info sessions at high schools assisted by peer educators that have received the training in order to raise more awareness on HIV and AIDS as well as reproductive health in Aceh".