Students asked to teach peers

The Peer Health Exchange, a national nonprofit program to trains college students to teach at Boston public high schools that cannot afford health curriculums, held an informational meeting in the College of Arts and Sciences Thursday night. Volunteers Allie O'Donnell and Shaynna Herrera gave presentations to about 20 students regarding the benefits of getting involved.

"I taught contraception, and things that seemed obvious to me, these kids were still struggling with," O'Donnell, CAS senior, said. "They were hungry for information and able to gain something from it."

PHE is a national organization whose third largest site is in Boston, O'Donnell said. Although it is only the program's fifth year in Boston, the group's goal is to educate 6,000 high school freshmen about everything from contraceptives and sexual decision-making to tobacco and nutrition, O'Donnell said.

On average, high school students demonstrate a 20 percent increase in their health knowledge over six months, she said.

Volunteers become experts in their respective subjects and go to public schools with their partners to teach weekly classes, O'Donnell said.

An informational video told potential volunteers that 88 percent of high school students who participated in PHE would use their newfound knowledge in the future, and 53 percent have already put it into effect.

"Knowledge is power," a voiceover on the video said, echoing the PHS slogan.

"Everything starts with education," Herrera, a CAS junior, said.

PHE is holding open applications until Sept. 12 at 5 p.m., O'Donnell and Herrera said. The applications are screened and the new batch of volunteers is chosen based on individual interviews.

PHE volunteers also hone their public speaking and leadership skills, O'Donnell and Herrera said.

Some students said they attended the meeting to learn more about addressing health concerns around the nation.

CAS freshman Erica D'Amato said she thinks drugs are the most pressing health issue in America, and peer pressure education is a necessary component of health education.

"Especially if you're covering topics like alcohol, drugs and sex, which are things that people do in groups . . . individuals can be convinced by their friends," she said.

CAS student Phillip Kim called the lack of funding for STD treatment the biggest health problem among youth today.

"I think this might help more teenagers get information about contraceptives," he said.

Kim added he wished to be part of the solution.

"I just need to volunteer," he said.