June 2008

Important help in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Madagascar

Who are some of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar’s (FJKM’s) secret but strong weapons in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Madagascar? Middle school and high school students! These remarkable young people are daily living out Micah 6:8—to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.

FJKM is PC(USA)’s partner church in Madagascar and has a wonderful peer education program in 14 locations around the country. At each location, 10 youth are chosen from FJKM schools and churches for training. They are committed Christians who are trained in positive life skills (saying “no” to drugs, drinking, pre-marital sex; choosing good friends; staying away from dangerous situations; etc.) and about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases and how these can be prevented.This training helps decrease and neutralize the rumors that abound among young people about HIV/AIDS. The whole training is taught from a Christian perspective and encourages and equips youth to follow Biblical standards. The peer educators then share with their peers at school and church. The project also involves equipping each school with a learning center that includes a television, games, books, and good videos to promote positive recreation outlets for youth. Most of these communities have very few positive recreational outlets for their young people, and this puts the youth at higher risk for engaging in risky behaviors.

Elizabeth Turk (third from right) with five peer educators.

The young ladies in this photograph are very special to me. They are peer educators at FJKM’s largest secondary school at Moramanga in eastern Madagascar.  Several of us have enjoyed training and getting to know them. We have visited them on numerous occasions and brought several groups from PC(USA), The Outreach Foundation and FJKM to meet them. The youngest girl is 14 and in the 7th grade; the oldest is 19 and in the 11th grade. They are all such a delight to work with! When asked what they enjoyed about the program, every girl mentioned learning more about their bodies and learning positive life skills. They relish being able to help their fellow students and share the love of Jesus Christ. They talk with about six or seven students a week, sharing in small groups, pairs, or one-on-one. Often, the peer educators are sought out by youth whom they don’t even know.

One young high school peer educator helped a fellow student decide not to smoke. Another girl helped convince a student not to have an abortion. When the student was afraid to tell her parents that she was pregnant, the peer educator went with her to tell her parents and provided support during the pregnancy. Another peer educator had ongoing discussions with a high school boy who was involved in relationships with several girls. Over time, he gained a new understanding of what relationships could be like and said that he wanted to stop having so many relationships and to think hard about what kind of life he really wanted. The oldest peer educator (19 year old) talked to students who were hanging out in bars rather than studying.  She talked with them about the importance of doing homework and finishing school as well as the dangers of going to bars and losing control, which could lead to fighting, getting sexually transmitted diseases such as  HIV, or getting pregnant.  The peer educator said that several students had changed their behavior and were no longer hanging out at bars.

In May, 2008, my parents brought an Outreach Foundation/PC(USA) group Madagascar. We drove to Moramanga and met with these peer educators again. This time, however, we were also introduced to about 20 youth who were learning from the peer educators. Their school and faculty felt that this program was such an important one that they didn’t want to lose it when the first peer educators graduated. This is perhaps the best testimony of how vital and successful the peer educator program is—the school itself is seeking ways to continue it!

We pray for the country of Madagascar and the FJKM’s fight against HIV/AIDS.  We would remember in prayer all of the peer educators who are doing such an amazing work for the Kingdom of God and to help their fellow students. To God be the glory! 

In Christ’s service,

Elizabeth Turk

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 31