Youth peer network

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Y-PEER is an international network of organizations working in peer education to promote healthy behavior among young people. It uses interactive methodologies and theater to raise awareness, change unhealthy attitudes and promote behavioral change. While UNFPA Egypt has been supporting the Y-PEER network in Egypt since 2005, the official launch was in July 2007 with the first national Training of Trainers on Y-PEER Methodology.

Over the last three years, Y-PEER Egypt has conducted and participated in various national and international activities Y-PEER Egypt now encompasses 32 NGOs, from twelve governorates, working in peer education. The network has trained over 500 peer educators, 24 trainers of trainers in peer educators and 50 youth in theater skills.

The core team of young people coordinating Y-PEER was trained in various regional and international workshops to build their capacity in peer education. This core team continually passes its knowledge and tools to young people working in local NGOs in Egypt.

In addition, Y-PEER coordinates with other youth initiatives in Egypt to work on national events. In 2006 and 2007, Y-PEER worked on the World AIDS Campaign (WAC), in conjunction with other youth, as well as UNAIDS and the National AIDS Programme. Y-PEER also successfully advocated and raised funds in the University of Mansoura to organize a campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention and drug abuse.

Internationally, Y-PEER Egypt translated MTV's staying alive.org-website into Arabic to ensure that it is accessible to the youth of the Arab world. The site will be uploaded in June 2008.

For more information on Y-PEER please check out youthpeer.net

Source: UNFPA