Young people lead the way in tackling AIDS

© Eric-Christian Ahounou

Young people tackle serious issues in Benin

Teenagers in Benin are promoting better sexual health, because they decided it was a priority issue for youth in their area. And they are coming up with ways to address the issue.

Knowledge transmitted by peers is more likey to be listened to, and behavious supported by peer pressure are more likely to be sustained.

Young people have a right to:

• formulate their own opinions, attitudes and behaviours
• make their own decisions

In Benin, Plan worked with a group of 30 adolecents elected by youth clubs from the local area. They were trained in situational analysis and program development techniques.

What 30 children and their friends achieved in Benin: 

• knowledge of the local situation: via their own research and community consultations
• proposals for solutions: they produced a proposal to address priorities in sexual health

All the young people involved are promoting action from their peers, to achieve better sexual health.

Children are not just passive observers and potential 'victims' of problems. They can play a primary role in the response.

As we have seen in Benin, this approach not only reduces vulnerability for the individual children involved, it can make a real difference in their whole community.