'Living the example' peer-to-peer program
Our ‘Living the Example’ (LTE) peer-to-peer program empowers youth to speak up and out against drugs and provides them a platform to be heard. Through interactive outreach campaigns and listening to our youth, we provide the tools for them to become their own advocates for staying drug-free. The program has shown promising results in terms of shifts in attitudes towards drugs and intent to use drugs. Overall, findings from the first LTE pilot project conducted together with the George Washington University suggested that peer-to-peer substance use prevention via social media is a very promising strategy.
Youth Ambassadors
The program targets Juniors & Seniors within selected high schools to become LTE Youth Ambassadors. Youth Ambassadors are trained in Leadership, Advocacy and augmenting existing Social Media skills to become agents of change within their school communities. During the Fall and Spring Semesters, the’ Youth Ambassadors are expected to implement a series of peer-driven schoolwide “change projects” at each school to spread facts about drugs and promote healthy life choices. The change projects are stipend-supported by Mentor Foundation USA.
The Youth Ambassadors are trained in a 6-week prevention curriculum developed together with George Washington University. During these sessions, the Youth Ambassadors work to improve their skills in advocacy, leadership, and social media to help positively influence their peers and promote healthy living within their schools. The Youth Ambassadors are tasked to help translate prevention, education, and health promotion messages into language they felt would most resonate with their peers.
Change Projects
During the Spring and Fall Semester the Youth Ambassadors are expected to implement a series of peer-driven schoolwide “change projects” at each school to spread facts about drugs and promote healthy life choices. The change projects are stipend-supported by Mentor Foundation USA. The projects aim to engage and educate the entire school community and positively alter the attitudes around drugs and alcohol and other risky behaviors.
Scholarships
All participating students in our program will have the opportunity to apply for scholarships of up to $40,000 per student from an exclusive scholarship fund allocated to this program by the SFIG Foundation.
Since 2017, the Structured Finance Foundation has awarded 33 students over $900,000 in scholarships.
