Educators argue that “early adolescence is a turbulent period since an adolescent is besieged with multifarious challenges and if these challenges are not resolved, he/ she may become a social misfit.” The Centre for Character and Leadership (CCL) through it’s close work with schools have observed that numerous learners are silently experiencing several psychological counseling needs including but not limited to; academic stress, negative peer pressure, relationship problems, stealing, cheating in exams, drug and substance abuse and low self-esteem leading to poor social behaviors both in school and communities. Schools ought to embrace strategies that support learners to cope up with personal development needs and career counseling needs in order to promote holistic growth of students.
Peer counselors is a group of young trained learners appointed by guidance and counselling department to specifically provide an ear to their fellow peers in school. These are students who interacts on a day-to-day basis with their fellow students at a very open and understanding manner. School peer counselors are advocates, leaders, collaborators and go between students who create systemic change by providing counselling services to their fellow peers. As students, peer counsellors understand each other better because of their similar mindset and exposures. Peer counselling in schools is very vital as it gives students an opportunity to freely express their emotions confidently.
CCL has been working with several schools with the goal of building the capacity of students’ peer counsellors. This includes Hospital Hill High School and Uhuru Secondary School. In our training sessions, students are led through an interactive forum on the meaning of peer counselling; purpose of counselling; goals and principles of counselling; stages in the counselling process; counselling strategies, and basic techniques in counselling among others. In addition, students are taught on how to conduct one-on-one and group counselling sessions by use of group discussion activities, video clips and practical demonstrations. The trainings are usually conducted either through a one-day intensive training or a weekly one-hour training session.
As a result of the training, the peer counsellors are becoming more proactive and supportive while carrying out their roles –bringing counselling services closer to their peers. “I feel so empowered through the training. I am now able to counsel my peers including my close friends in the community,” said a peer counsellor. Another student said, “since we started these weekly trainings, my behavior has changed tremendously. I have to lead by example.”
The department of guidance and counselling is entrusted with the responsibility of providing counseling services, guidance and teaching life skills to the students as well as building capacity of the peer counselors.