Peer educator profile 2017-2018

dance4life The Netherlands is looking for 2- 4 peer educators

dance4life peer educators are a vibrant, youth empowerment and awareness team that
will travel on a schools tour throughout The Netherlands for almost 3 months as part of
the dance4life schools program in the Netherlands.

Its important to involve peer educators as part of the Dutch schools program.
They have experience with working as a peer educator in their own country.
They are used to talking with youngsters and crowds. They have great
knowledge about sexual and gender based violence related issues and how it
affects their country. They feel comfortable talking about these issues and their
personal experiences. They play a big role in building the awareness of
youngsters in the Netherlands around the problems and solutions of these
issues. They bring the problem closer to home and inspire and motivate Dutch
youngsters to take action.

TOUR TEAM
Multiple tour teams will be formed, and each tour team consists of 2 people:
1. a facilitator from the Netherlands
2. a foreign peer educator (coming from a country where there is a high prevalence of
sexual and gender based violence)

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME/TOUR
The 2-4 peer educators will visit (with the Dutch facilitators) approximately 50 schools in
total (school year 2017-2018). They will give 6 sessions a day of approximately 50 min
each for 5 days a week.

WHEN
The 2 periods of stay in The Netherlands will be from:
Approximately (depending on visa criteria):
- Beginning of September until end of November 2017
- Beginning of February until end of April 2018

The 2-4 peer educators will take part in a training of 6-8 days which will take place prior
to the start of the schools tour.
Peer educator profile 2017-2018

WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU WANT TO BE A PEER EDUCATOR IN A DUTCH

TOUR TEAM?

- Your age
The Dutch students (age 12-18) have to be able to identify with the peer educator (so
age preferably between 18-25).

- Your language
Your English should be fluent and your voice strong.

- Your performance/presentation skills.

You should like to dance (the dance4life drill) and feel confident and strong to speak
up before (small) crowds of youngsters (25-75 students at once).

- Talents and Skills

You are energetic and have a positive energy. You are able to inspire and move
youngsters to take action. You are respectful. You are open minded. You learn easily.
You have to work as a team and be willing to invest in the team (and vice versa of
course!).You have rhythm and verve and are not afraid to use it

- Your mental power

You will have one of the key roles i at schools in getting the message across. At times
this can be demanding so you should be prepared for some intense weeks (up to 6
sessions a day of approximately 50 min each and 5 days a week and meetings at the
office etc). The cultural differences can also play a big role during your stay in The
Netherlands. For example, the Dutch youngsters behave (they are a bit tougher) and
the way the Dutch people communicate (open and direct).

- Experience, knowledge and support for dance4life.

You have to share the goals, vision and approach of dance4life. You have preferably
worked as peer educator within your own country (for dance4life) and are well known
with the context of your country regarding sexual and gender based violence related
issues.

- Your story
Its important that every peer educators personal story relates to sexual and gender
based violence. It must be a story from the heart, something that touches you and
will also touch the hearts of others. A story from the heart will make the addressed
issues tangible and personal and will help motivate involvement and action by the
youngsters. For example this can be an experience that has made a deep impact on
your life.
Peer educator profile 2017-2018

- Your independence
Its important that every peer educator is independent and not afraid to stay alone,
sleep alone and find his/her way into the city Amsterdam. They will also be expected
to travel through the Netherlands by train and bus independently. They will be
staying for about 3 months and a guide will not be present all the time (of course
they will be trained and guided on arrival).

- A passport
You must have a passport that will allow you to travel to The Netherlands, or be
willing to get one (in case of financial restrictions we might be able to help).

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM DANCE4LIFE?

- Tickets, accommodation and daily expenses will be taken care of by dance4life, as

well as costs for purchasing visa (if necessary).

- An extensive training within your own country before departure and also on arrival
before the schools program starts. The training will cover subjects like: teamwork,
teaching methods, cultural differences, teaching the dance4life drill, knowledge on
sexual and gender based violence related issues, global citizenship aim, presenting a
personal story, It will also cover all the practical matters like planning and travel etc.

- If a peer educator has to take time off from work for this period and therefore miss
out on a salary, a financial compensation for this needs to be discussed with
dance4life at the time of the selection procedure. We will then discuss if and how
dance4life can (partly) provide for this income.

- An amazing time that you will never ever forget!!

Although the time in The Netherlands will be intense and quite heavy (long days,
early mornings, sharing your personal story over and over again with groups of
youngsters) the experience is great. Its a life-affirming kick working with
youngsters and bonding with the tour team mates. You will be part of a wonderful
movement of international connection and solidarity. We all have one purpose:
Fighting to decrease the prevalence of one of the biggest sexual health threats that
young people face these days: sexual and gender based violence.