World AIDS Day: respect and protect

'Respect and Protect' on World AIDS Day 2009, marked on December 1. A peer education project in Peru is training young people to spread the word on staying safe from HIV/AIDS.

Jonatan, an 18-year-old from Lima, Peru, is a committed member of his local peer education network, called 'Young People in Action'.

He says, "When they first invited me to participate in the network, I was not very interested. I thought that the speeches were boring but my friends insisted I went.

"I soon realised that the things they were teaching us were interesting and that they were really useful for life.

"We receive training on sexual and reproductive health, and in turn we give the information to other young people. Before the training, I did not understand what HIV was.

"Now, I have clear information and I can even explain to my friends how to prevent HIV and how to take care of their girlfriends.

"We put on parades, fairs, dances and other events so that young people come and learn from us. We also speak about self-esteem.

"We tell them about sexual and reproductive health. We are a very fun group. We work with dance and drama, explaining what happens when you don't use a condom.

"For my own future, I see myself as a quiet person, part of a couple. I want to analyse everything I have learnt and put it into practice.

"I will take care of myself and my partner and advise my children properly when they are growing up. I want to provide them with the information I've received and also advise my friends so that they can get ahead too."