Peer-helping programs can make a big impression and a big impact on young people. Peer helpers are trained to listen to each other, give perspective, and influence each other in positive ways. They equip young people with life skills to succeed in relationships, at school, and in life in general. In short, they equip young people to be asset builders for themselves and for each other.
Use these ideas to build assets through peer helping:
- Emphasize the heart of peer helping and asset building: relationships. Deepen each relationship you have so young people feel cared for and connected to each other.
- Spread the word about how peer helping empowers young people. In peer helping, young people lead all aspects of the program without depending on paid professionals.
- Show a genuine interest in all young people, not only your friends but also people you don’t know well and those who you may not like.
- Recognize young people who build assets.
- Connect with other organizations and youth-serving sectors to get them on board with peer helping. If your program is based in a school, work with youth organizations (such as YMCAs, 4-H, and Scouts) or religious congregations to start peer-helping programs.
- Know your limits. If you feel someone needs a professional counselor, connect the person to a counselor. Don’t take on situations that you’re not equipped to handle.
- Highlight how peer helping promotes positive actions and builds assets rather than just prevents and deals with problems.
- To get to know someone (or know someone even better), ask open-ended questions instead of closed questions. Closed questions can be answered with one or two words. For example, if you asked: Do you like winter? The person may say no and then stop talking. If you asked an open-ended question, such as: If you were in charge of winter, how would you run the season? You would get a lengthier, more revealing answer.
- If you know of other schools, organizations, or nearby communities with peer-helping programs, consider visiting one. Getting together with other young people who enjoy peer helping can often energize you and give you new ideas.
- Periodically get together to have an asset idea swap. Bring your asset-building ideas and share them with each other.
For more information, see Barbara Varenhorst, An Asset Builder’s Guide to Training Peer Helpers, which includes 15 skills-building sessions on communication, assertiveness, and decision making.
