The Peer Education program started in 2008 under the Roots & Shoots Program of Uganda, with the aim of training girls as peer educators; and addressing the problem of the rate of school drop-outs in girls within primary schools. This update is a review of the activities that were planned and achieved.

Summary of Results from January 2009 to June 30, 2010

• A total of 66 participants that included 22 female teachers and 44 pupils were trained on peer to peer counseling skills through two Peer Education Workshops held in Masindi and Bulisa districts, from 28^th.February to 6^th. March 2010.
• An average of 104 girls (who had previously dropped out of school) have returned to 22 of the schools we are operating in; this is mostly associated with the availability and accessibility of sanitary and scholastic materials in their schools
• We have reinforced the schools with 2 extra peer educators and one other trained staff, all of which have doubled the number of girls benefitting from this service. The peer educators were receiving about 5 girls a week that requested their services talking about their bodies and sexuality
• All the twenty four were replenished with 10 dozen books,10 boxes of pens, 5 dozen pencils and 10 packets of sanitary towels per school
• A Peer Education Coordinator was hired – Rachel Bitarabeho to join the JGI-Uganda Education team that implements the Roots & Shoots Program and the Peer Education Program. Rachel had been working with JGI-Uganda as an Administration Assistant, but had been extensively involved in HIV/AIDS and Peer Education Programming. Rachel brings to the team her high level of integrity and immeasurable knowledge on issues on Sexual Reproductive health, HIV/AIDs and Counseling.