The Early Warning System (EWS) Peer Educators' Tool Kit

Abstract

The Strengthening School Community Accountability for Girls Education (SAGE) project funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in partnership with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Janssen), one of the Janssen pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson; and ViV Healthcare - is an ambitious project aimed at reducing new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15-24. The existing negative socio-cultural norms and gender-based violence especially violence against children in schools including corporal punishment, sexual abuse, child sacrifice, child marriages, and early pregnancies expose adolescent girls to HIV infection that contributes to dropping out of school. However, if the capacity of these adolescent girls is enhanced to overcome the various challenges they face, their potential to foster an AIDS-free future will be improved. The project is expected to contribute to: Improved adolescent girls' health seeking behaviors and delayed sexual debut; → Reduced new HIV infection amongst adolescent girls; → Prevention of school dropout; Reduced violence against children; Improved attitudes towards girls' education and Improved parental/care givers, teachers and peer support to keep girls in school