PERSPECTIVE: Peer Education Routes for School Pupils to Enhance Conciousness of Tackling and Impeding women Violence in Europe

Experiential workshops were implemented with High School students in Greece (20.5 hrs), where boys and girls studying at the 2nd grade of two Lyceums were trained as "Peer Educators" (50 trained Peer Educators). The trained peer educators created groups of 2-3 individuals and implemented peer education activities (6 hrs) to the students of the other classes of their school (112 students). Boys and girls were motivated to explore gender stereotypes, recognize the way in which these stereotypes negatively affect the “health” of their intimate relationships but also their relationships in general, encouraging the building of healthier and more equal relationships. The project was based on experiential learning methods and on the active participation of adolescents, via the use of the peer education method.

In addition, a school exhibition took place at the end of the program, where was presented to the school community the work of the peer educators and their peers (about 150 attendes). On the walls of the exhibition room were mounted posters with the messages written by the students for the implementation of the campaign against gender based violence, as well as posters and flipcharts created by the students. During the exhibition was also realized a video projection with excerpts from movies and series from the Greek television, mirroring gender inequality, stereotypes and the problems they cause in relationships. A 6 minute theater play was also performed by a group of peer educators; through this play, the students presented the daily life of a couple by reversing the stereotypic social gender roles of men and women. The man, for example, is the one who stays at home and is cooking, while the woman is the one who works for living.

Last but not least, educational guidelines were produced for teachers: [Output n°4: Thematic Modules for Teachers and Peer Educators based on “Peer Education” Methodology (available at: www.antiviolence-net.eu/EAVN_Output%20No4_EN.pdf) & Output n°5: Methodological Recommendations for Peer Education Activities (available at: http://www.antiviolence-net.eu/EAVN_Output%20No5_EN.pdf)]