SPW is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that recruits and trains young adults (aged 18-28) as volunteer Peer Educators, to lead programs that address urgent health and environmental issues in Africa and Asia.

SPW currently has more than 800 volunteer Peer Educators in the field reaching 400,000 young people each year at an annual cost of just $9 per child.

Our Vision:

Our Mission:

The Issues:

• Young people make up 30 per cent of the world’s population; 85% of whom live in developing countries. 59 million young people in the developing world are unemployed. Opportunities for a good education and career are extremely limited, exacerbating the health and environmental risks that young people face daily.
• 11.1 million young people in developing countries between the ages of 15-24 are currently living with HIV and AIDS. It is estimated that 60% of all new HIV infections occur in this age group.
• Preventable illnesses, like HIV, malaria and diarrheal diseases, cause millions of deaths each year, and millions of families lack information about how to protect themselves.
• Rural communities throughout the developing world suffer from environmental degradation and poor use of community resources. Deforestation, lack of access to safe water and inadequate sanitation cause ill health and exacerbate poverty for millions in the developing world.
• Successful HIV prevention, health promotion and sustainable resource usage can only be accomplished by addressing issues holistically with sustained long-term efforts.

Our Response:

• Lower HIV infection rates
• Better health outcomes
• Improved use of community resources
• Increased school attendance