THE PROGRAMME

The Strategic Response

GOLD’s core strategy is to continually refine the GOLD peer education model and facilitate its multiplication and quality implementation within selected communities in the sub-Saharan region.

The GOLD Peer Education Model is implemented within a developmental framework by quality-assured peer education facilitators working for GOLD implementing organizations. Facilitators equip adolescent leaders to influence their peers and younger children, making use of “positive peer pressure”. The GOLD Model is a rigorous, quality-assured approach to youth leadership in HIV prevention, risk behaviour reduction and school/community-based support for vulnerable youth.

Strategic Goals
1. To reduce the number of new HIV infections among youth through the promotion of safe and health enhancing behaviour in both HIV infected and uninfected youth.
2. To mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on youth, orphans and vulnerable children, families and communities.
3. To develop capacity and leadership within selected community organisations that target youth from communities with: a) high incidence and prevalence of HIV and AIDS b) high numbers of orphans and vulnerable children; and c) high incidence of youth risk behaviour.

Target Group and Beneficiaries

Target Groups: Adult and out of school youth leaders from community organisations in Sub Saharan Africa that work with both school going and non school going adolescents in areas with high incidence of HIV; high prevalence of HIV and AIDS; high numbers of orphans and vulnerable children; lack of adult role models; and high incidence of youth risk behaviour.

Beneficiaries: Adolescent leaders and their peers between the ages of 8 and 21 as well as members of their communities.