EDEN In Schools :
The Peer Educator Programme (BILs)
The Body Image Leaders Programme (BILs) is aimed at changing culture within schools particularly regarding how we view and talk about bodies. The role that the BILs play within the school is multifaceted and includes being health promoters, educators, activists and referrers. EDEN provides full training to between 8 to 12 students, which includes three out-of-school trainings per year. This also includes fortnightly lunchtime visits to the school from an EDEN youth or education worker for ongoing support. EDEN runs this programme in conjunction with a coordinator based in the school (usually a school counsellor) and we work with this liaison to provide a very personalised and targeted programme based on the needs of each particular school.
The programme is structured in this way because we believe that Peer Educators have opportunities to provide education to other students through the production of information resources and through presentations and workshops. Peer educators also act as critical observers of their environments and provide feedback on any changes that they would like to see within their school that would potentially promote body satisfaction. If you would like to find out more information about the BILs programme read on or please contact EDEN’s youth services coordinator at: youth@eden.org.nz or call (09) 631-7570 ext: 2
The Body Image Leader Program BILs detail
Training and support programme for students interested in becoming Body Image Leader. The goals involved in being a Body Image Leader are to examine and transform their own body dissatisfaction and unhealthy weight management through education and reflection, and role-model critical thinking to their peers regarding the conflicting messages they receive about their bodies and appetites. Body Image Leaders have opportunities to provide education to other students through the production of information resources and through presentations/workshops in class and assemblies. Body Image Leaders act as critical observers of their environments and provide feedback on any changes that they would like to see within their school that would potentially promote body satisfaction.
Huon et al, 1996 suggest that the goal of school prevention programmes “ought to be to facilitate the skill development of young people to respond positively to the challenges of their environment, including but not exclusively those that persuade young women [and men] to alter their body by dieting. By acquiring competencies for critically appraising all aspects of the diet culture, they could be encouraged to recognize that a competence-enhancing environment offers choices or options about whether to diet or not”. This is supported by Evans et al, 2008 which indicates that an approach focused on social factors is fundamental to the development of healthy body image in young people. Other researchers suggest that interventions aimed at reducing dieting among young people and therefore potentially, eating disorders, recommend the inclusion of techniques used in substance abuse programs such as the use of peer-group leaders in discussion groups as well as interventions at the community and family levels (Shisslack et al, 1987).
EDEN currently offers 8-12 students within each contracted school the opportunity to train as Body Image Leaders. This training currently involves attendance at 3 workshops (off site). Students receive a resource book at the first workshop. Following attendance at these workshops EDEN maintains fortnightly meeting contact with peer educators (at the school), and is available at other times through telephone and email contact.
EDEN’s expectation of the school is that there is a school coordinator appointed to liaise with EDEN and to act as a referral person where Body Image Leaders can suggest students go for ‘help’ with more serious issues. EDEN supports the school to facilitate the selection process for students and gain parental consent for these students to be trained as Body Image Leaders.
Program includes:
Training
- School day introductory training (off-site with other schools’ students in program)
- Term two training (off-site weekend with other schools’ students in program)
- Term three training (off-site weekend with other schools’ students in program)
- End of Year Evaluation and help with recruitment for following year
Fortnightly Meetings
- Youth Coordinator from EDEN comes to school fortnightly to deliver additional training and skill development, assist with project planning and provide resources.
Individual Resource and Work Folder
- Resources
- Information
- Activities
- Training
Resources (Access to EDEN’s Resources)
- DVD’s, pictures and educational resources
- Stickers, postcards, images and promotional material
- Referral and support information
Support for Contact Person at School (usually teacher or guidance counsellor)
- Helping to facilitate and support Body Image Leaders
- Assisting with school wide issues as they arise (e.g. weight-related bullying, weighing in school etc)
- Helping with interviewing and selection process
Networking with Body Image Leaders at Other Schools
- During off-site trainings
- At any additional events during the year, like Love Your Body Day
- Mediated through EDEN’s Youth Worker (through sharing of ideas and resources)
Students Gain Training and Development in Areas of:
Body Image
- Influences on body image
- Critical Media Literacy
- Dealing with difficulties around body image
- Promoting body satisfaction
Body Trust
- Dangers of dieting
- Eating difficulties
- Body Trust and intuitive eating
Working with Students
- Active listening
- Leadership skills
- Project planning and management
- Assertiveness
- Supporting and empowering
- Leading by personal example
Creating Change
- Social change
- Leading from the bottom
- Little acts of leadership
- Appropriate avenues for giving feedback
- Promotion
Presentation
- Teaching and facilitation skills
- Public speaking
- Creating presentations
- Self promotion
- Running workshops
The cost for the BILs programme is per Body Image Leader (student) and based on the schools decile rating. Please contact EDEN to find out what this programme would cost for your school.
Here is what some students have said after being a Body Image Leader:
After running a workshop on Body Image that looked a weight-related teasing
“I had a guy come up to me after [I taught] my first class and said that the class really changed his way of thinking and he wouldn’t call people names again”
On being a Body Image Leader
“It helped me make new friends, meet new people, learn about so many things surrounding body image and build my own confidence”
“You can learn about society and get a different, more realistic, healthy perspective”
“You can learn so much and be able to help others”
“…[we] share our ideas to the school and friends in fun, interesting and clever ways – we care of the community and want them to feel good about themselves”
The best part of being a Body Image Leader
“…[the best part is] getting the message out there to our school. Beginning the change…”
“You’re involved and you can make a difference”
“[the best part is] helping others to help themselves”
“…it is an awesome reward to be able to help others see clearly – see the good in themselves and realise what it is that really matters in life”
Some of the skills Body Image Leaders said they had developed through their roles
- “social awareness, confidence, analysing skills”
- “listening skills, patience, seeing more than the ‘outer-shell’…”
- “becoming more confident”
- “adopting a new mindset and accepting new opinions”
“leadership” - “critical thinking, open-mindedness and organisational skills”
