Teens open up to peer counselors

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Unie, a senior at SMK 3 vocational high school in East Jakarta, carries out her task as a counselor on HIV/AIDS, reproduction health and sexually transmitted diseases, by involving her school mates in "girl talk".

She said even girls she had never spoken to before responded to her openly.

"They already know so much about kissing and sexual behavior," she told The Jakarta Post recently.

Unie, who was head of the school's student body, was sent to participate in the "peer educator" program held by the Pelita Ilmu Foundation last year.

Although she learned a lot from the youth center's counselor training program, she feels she has gained even more knowledge from counseling.

She added that most of the young people she counsels have never had intercourse, although some have come close.

"Some of the girls I talk to are afraid they will lose their boyfriends if they don't give in to them, while others are curious about how it will feel," she said. "I just explain that they have nothing to lose from waiting, and there are more risks in having sex than in abstaining."

Another peer counselor, Alex, is a student at Bina Sarana Informatika University in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta.

He has been a "peer educator" at the foundation's drop-in center for almost two years, all the while distributing the condoms that he always carries in his backpack and wallet.

Alex has met and talked with many teenagers who are encountering problems in their lives, including with social interaction, unemployment, reproductive health, drug abuse and family issues.

"They are all unique. I rarely have problems interacting with them. When I pass out condoms to the ones I presume, from their behavior, are already sexually active with their dates or with sex workers, they respond positively, and some have even asked for more free condoms," he added.

One encounter stands out in his mind, however, as the time he did not do enough.

"I lost a very close friend who was a drug addict. I did everything I could to convince him that he might lose his life ... He never listened," Alex said. "He died months ago."

Alex explained that he would often face a dilemma when he had to encourage his peers to use condoms.

"Some people might say that I am implying to my friends that it's OK to have sex before marriage, but I don't care, because I know I am doing it for a good cause."

Alex and Unie are two of several peer educators who offer friendship and dedicate their spare time to helping young people, without being paid.

"None of us want anything bad to happen to people we know," Alex said. (001)