Arnold is 16 years old and devotes two days of his vacation to a training course that's important to him."We're going to have to warn young people who go to parties to, I'll say the words, get drunk. We're going to warn them that yes you get drunk, but watch out for what happens afterwards."

To do this, they take a hands-on training course organized by Educasanté, and as if they were in the field, they test the tools they'll be using this summer. Among them, a stand dedicated to alcohol consumption. Equipped with goggles that simulate drunkenness, the youngsters have to follow a course marked out on the ground. The aim is to raise awareness of the effects of alcohol on perception and reflexes. " I didn't understand what was going on," laughs Arnold.

They also attend a theoretical training session given by several experts. On the program are theoretical courses, linked to STI transmission for example, which are also attended by young workers. "I'm a social worker and there are new tools," explains one participant. "It's interesting to continue learning, particularly about the risks of HIV transmission or questions of consent. These are subjects that come up a lot in the evenings."

The project is based on the idea that the message gets across better between peers. "If someone in their thirties talks to them, young people drop out more quickly," points out Emmanuelle, coordinator for the ÉducaSanté asbl. "Between young people, they have the same jokes, the same jargon, so it carries more weight."

Once trained, they will be remunerated for their participation in the evenings. The training itself remains free of charge, as long as they subscribe to the association's values.

Source: www.rtbf.be/