Peer-based youth programs are diverse and include peer education, peer mentoring and peer support. Their common feature is the active participation and involvement of peers to enhance well-being and influence positive development among young people.
Before implementing a peer-based program it is important to reflect on your organisational culture and experience, your target group, how you will define a ‘peer’ and whether you’ve got the resources to effectively run a peer-based program.
There is a lot to think about when running peer-based programs including maintaining a safe space for young people, recruiting, training and supporting the peer supporters, ensuring meaningful youth participation and ethical practice.
Though evaluation is important it can be difficult to implement effectively with limited resources and with at risk populations. The My-Peer Toolkit contains an evaluation framework and tools designed specifically for peer-based youth programs.