Peer education as an enabling factor to increase social capital amongst marginalized young people in the Bahamas

The Bahamas Red Cross HIV Prevention Project is operating in the inner city communities of Nassau on New Providence. These urban communities are characterized by high rates of unemployment in particular youth unemployment, single headed households, poverty, violence and gang related activity. Early unplanned pregnancies, high rates of HIV and STI and lower levels of school attendance and literacy are common in these locations. Communication between adults and youth rarely occurs. Thirty six Peer Educators have been working with the project for over 2 years and it is clear the program has contributed to increased knowledge around safer sex and HIV prevention amongst young people in these inner city communities and contributed to changes in behavior and attitude shifts amongst the targeted populations. Personal growth and increased self-confidence has been demonstrated by most of the PE and many report the same levels of personal growth and increased sense of responsibility amongst their peers. Key results of this increased confidence and self-esteem have translated into the PE having a sense of recognition and value in their communities. This increased social capital lowers at-risk youth's vulnerability to HIV and other maladaptive outcomes.