Salemi, the agent of change to prevent HIV and AIDS

Salemi, 17, is a teenage boy from Lanny Jaya, Papua, Indonesia. He's in second year of senior high school. Though he is still young, he cares about what happens to his friends. He sees that many of his friends are trapped in teenage delinquency for example they like to fight, smoke, and take part in risky behaviors that could lead to HIV and AIDS.

Salemi joined in peer educator activities held by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI)  Eruwok, in Wamena. Here, they study many things including HIV and AIDS.

"I want to educate my friends because not all of them know about the danger of HIV and AIDS," Salemi explains.

Salemi and his 20 other children were then chosen as peer educators for HIV and AIDS in a group called Sahabat Sumber Informasi (SSI). The members of SSI aim to spread the information to other youngsters in many places including school, church, and radio broadcasting.

I want to educate my friends because not all of them know about the danger of HIV and AIDS.

Salemi and his friends then have a chance to broadcast their show every Friday on VBC Radio 88.8 based in Wamena to tell the listeners about health, reproduction, and HIV and AIDS. He hopes many people listened to their radio show so they would know get more information about HIV and AIDS.

"I want my group to commit in keeping the program so we can be independent and many people join with us," Salemi said optimistically.

In Lanny Jaya, peer educators are effective in bringing change for children and spreading information about HIV and AIDS. By joining SSI, Salemi and his friends have learned much about the dangerous of risky behaviors that lead to HIV and AIDS. Through their action in SSI, Salemi and his friends hope that they could be the agents of change for the neighborhoods.

*Written by Eko Cipako Sinamo, Community Development Coordinator, Wahana Visi Indonesia at Eruwok operational office