Project Launch:

The “Power of Peers” health education project provided a motivated group of 25 middle-school children from an under-served rural community in southern Morocco with an opportunity to shine as beacons of health, empowerment, leadership, and creativity in their local community, encouraging their fellow community members and peers to lead healthier, more inspired lives.

The students met regularly with a cadre of local instructors and Peace Corps Volunteers who led them through a series of fun activities and games designed to encourage leadership, creativity, teamwork and healthy lifestyles. Students were gradually exposed to important facts on pressing health topics related to their community. As they gained creativity and confidence, they were asked to develop effective, creative, and artistic methods for presenting health information. In teams, the students developed presentations using the artistic method they found most appropriate (acting, drawing/painting, music, jokes). Project leaders witnessed significant development in the kids’ artistic, creative, and problem-solving skills, especially in their ability to write fresh and funny theatrical plays and respond and adapt to criticism and suggestions. And the kids’ commitment served to inspire the community at large -- many other students requested to be part of the program in 2012.