There are not many teens who can say their marks have drastically improved since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that’s exactly what’s happened for 17 year-old, Thembelihle who attributes her academic success solely to the support and encouragement she’s received through HACT’s Peer Education Programme. “Becoming a peer educator has really changed my life” says the bubbly Grade 10 learner who lives in the Valley of a 1000 Hills community of Embo, “I have learnt discipline and to value my rights and responsibilities as a person. I have put much more effort into my school work and this has really paid off – my parents are very proud of me and I’m quite proud of myself too!”
As a friendly and outgoing young woman, Thembelihle was an obvious choice for HACT’s Peer Education programme which seeks to develop a new generation of leaders capable of being proactive agents for change within their schools and communities by harnessing the positive influence young people can have amongst their peers.
Currently in her second year of the three year programme, Thembelihle says her journey as a peer educator has thus far been an eye-opening one. “I have grown and discovered so much about myself as a person,” explains Thembelihle “I now have a clear vision for my future and nothing is going to stop me achieving my goals, not even COVID-19!”
However, the reality is there are many obstacles and challenges that Thembelihle and her fellow learners are faced with on a daily basis, any one of which has the potential to seriously derail their hopes and dreams for their future. Teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, gender-based violence and HIV are just a few of the many issues which so many of those living in the local communities HACT works in continue to grapple with on a daily basis.
Thembelihle believes that when it comes to tackling these issues, “knowledge is power” as so many of her peers’ attitudes and perceptions are being shaped by misleading information they are receiving from unreliable sources such as social media. “As peer educators we have a responsibility to share what we have learnt during our coaching sessions with others, like how you can and can’t be infected with HIV and how if you do have the virus, you can still live a long and healthy life by taking ARV treatment.”
At the same time, Thembelihle stresses that being an effective peer educator or leader requires good listening and diplomacy skills. “Good leaders are not the ones who shout the loudest, it’s the ones who respect other people’s rights, ideas and opinions and that’s not always easy to do…but I’m trying!”
To help HACT support more young people like Thembelihle through our Peer Education programme, make a donation today or sign-up for a free MySchool Card and select the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust as your chosen beneficiary!