PISTOIA – This year too, students in the third and fourth classes of secondary schools in the Pistoia district were offered the opportunity to become protagonists of health promotion with the Peer education project, a structured and valid in promoting the fight against risky behavior in adolescence.
The initiative, promoted by the Health Promotion service of the Central Tuscany ASL, directed by doctor Gianna Ciampi and in close collaboration with the other services of the Central Tuscany ASL such as the SerD. (Addiction service of Pistoia and Montecatini Terme), the Youth and Mental Health Counselors, which provided the “Peer educator” students with the knowledge, methodology and tools necessary to bring health issues into the other classes of their institute, favors the Peer education is based on the sharing of information, values or experiences between people of the same age through an attitude facilitated by the specific communication skills of their time, mostly in knowing how to get involved and motivate others.
During the course, the topics of prevention of addictions were addressed (effects of psychoactive substances, tobacco smoke, cannabis, alcohol, new drugs), affectivity and conscious sexuality, with in-depth education on the correct use of social media and digital tools . Transversal to all the proposals was also the promotion of socio-affective life skills (life skills) and in particular critical and decision-making thinking with respect to behavioral choices.
There were 200 “Peer” students who took part in the training course and subsequently conducted various meetings with the first and second classes of their institutes, involving more than 2,000 classmates. 10 schools participating in the project in the Pistoia and Valdinievole area:: Ist. Prof. “Einaudi”; ITCS “F. Pacini”; Institute Prof. “B. De Franceschi-Pacinotti”; “Petrocchi” Art School; “Savoia” Scientific High School; Forteguerri High School in Pistoia; Technical Institute “A. Capitini” of Agliana; “Salutati” high school in Montecatini Terme; ISI Sismondi-Pacinotti of Pescia; ITS “F.Marchi” of Pescia.
Special thanks go to: Paolo Trinci President of the POMA Foundation Free everyone of Pescia; to Mario Girardi President of Avis of Montecatini Terme; to Alessandro Soldi President of the Cooperative Intertwining of Pistoia, for having demonstrated special attention, sensitivity and availability in guaranteeing important logistical support, without which the realization of the project would not have been possible.
