The Peer Ed Program Model

Illusion's Peer Education method has been honed over twenty years. Illusion?s uniqueness lies in combining strong research and understanding of the issues with youth empowerment and professionally taught theater skills. We select new sites based upon community interest. We spend two to three months working with the site to identify the issue to be addressed and developing lists of area resources and avenues of help regarding the issue. Site partners select qualified adults from the community to serve as prevention specialists/moderators. We work with high school age youth who are suggested by teachers and community representatives and who volunteer to participate. In putting teams together, we strive to create diversity in terms of cultures represented and socio-economic backgrounds. We look for a balance of youth who are considered ?at-risk? and those who are not.

Trainers from Illusion conduct twenty hours of intensive training at the site on weekends or after school. The training team is always composed of a Prevention Specialist and a Theater Specialist who has additional training in the issues. The youth and adults explore their values and beliefs and get the most current information about the issues involved and their prevention. They also learn about diversity issues. Confidentiality, respect, action, and humor are emphasized. We describe key elements to understanding healing, including talking to someone you can trust, and discuss the seven points of response: listen, believe, affirm, support, talk, empathize, refer (Anderson & Kenwood). We conduct theater exercises designed to open up the participants and create an atmosphere of trust and collaboration. In the process, they are introduced to important theater concepts including writing, structure, teamwork, character, and performing skills. The youth involved write and share their own stories and, when appropriate, these are incorporated into the final performance. Communities select the schools and organizations to receive the performances. Once training has been completed, the peer educators rehearse the play with Illusion artists, and then perform it an average of 6-10 times over the course of two to three months.