We recruit local young people (ages 16-24) who already have trust and standing in their communities. They receive comprehensive training in sexual and reproductive health, including:
- Contraception and pregnancy prevention
- STI prevention and treatment
- Healthy relationships and consent
- Communication and facilitation skills
Trained leaders facilitate weekly charlas—structured peer-led conversations about sex, relationships, and reproductive health. They’re designed to be accessible, non-judgmental, and grounded in the realities young people face.
In exchange for serving as La Charla peer leaders, youth leaders receive 5-year university scholarships, removing financial barriers and creating a clear, tangible pathway towards economic prosperity.
Programs are designed, implemented, and evolved by young people from Troiloe, thereby ensuring solutions are grounded in lived experience, not imposed from the outside. Alumni youth leaders are invited back to mentor new cohorts. This creates a self-sustaining cycle where experienced leaders guide new leaders, deepening impact and building institutional knowledge within the community.
Tested and Proven: Why This Model Is Effective:
- Peer Credibility: Information delivered by someone from your community is more likely to be trusted and acted upon.
- Cultural Relevance: Youth leaders understand local context, language, and concerns—allowing them to tailor education to what’s actually relevant.
- Sustainability: By investing in leaders’ education and creating mentorship pathways, we build capacity that lasts. Leaders don’t leave; they deepen their commitment.
- Cost-Effective: Peer-led models require fewer external resources than clinician-delivered services, making them scalable in resource-limited settings.