Child peer to peer HIV education assists children aged between 10 -16 years to form ‘Red Ribbon Clubs’ in 5 locations which are considered to be high risk settlements within Port Vila. A Red Ribbon Club comprises of at least 10 children, both male and female, who are trained as Peer Educators. The purpose of the Peer Educators is to conduct community awareness amongst their own peer groups on the topics of reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. Another component of the project entails working closely with the Ministry of Education to conduct an assessment of the curriculum and assess whether information on reproductive health, STIs and HIV/AIDS can be integrated into the curriculum.

Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Vanuatu is low, the latest Ministry of Health reports reflect high levels of STIs present within the community. Numerous behavioural studies of young people in Vanuatu have highlighted low levels of knowledge concerning STI and HIV/AIDS, low levels of consistent condom use, sexual risk taking associated with increasing drug abuse, kava and alcohol use amongst young men and women. Further research completed in Port Vila suggests that girls as young as 14 years of age are involved in selling sex in exchange for transport, food and money in and around Vila where cost of living and services is increasing. Therefore, it is believed that girls living in Port Vila are more vulnerable to infection and are exposed to risk more so than boys.

A total of 40 children from four settlements will be supported and monitored in their roles as Peer Educators. To ensure that both girls and boys are reached through the peer to peer awareness raising activities, 25 girls and 15 boys will be supported and monitored to provide information within the community on sexual health and STIs. There is great stigma within the community surrounding sexual health and STIs meaning that a support network for the Peer Educators will be established through a partnership with the local NGO, Wan Smol Bag. Through the partnership with Wan Smol Bag, the Red Ribbon Clubs will gain access to the information and resources already available to youth at the Wan Smol Bag Resource Centre. In addition, linkages to older youth groups engaged in the Save the Children Australia Youth Outreach Project will be utilised to build support for the Red Ribbon Clubs.

Project Location: Port Vila

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