They need to know that there is hope. When at-risk youths become empowered that's when they move into the role of a peer educator. They will walk away from a training or panel discussion feeling good about themselves and the work they have helped to create. This will enable them to take the information back into their own neighborhoods. These newly empowered youth will go back and share what they know with their peers and the circles they move within.
Young people can have their behavior changed.
They are still young enough to change for the better. This is where outreach becomes invaluable because the youth is helping to educate their peers using their own style. Normally, their peers wouldn't have access to such resources and information. The realness and honesty that is expressed from the peer educators is what makes the messages successful. The teaching styles are effective because it is youth teaching their peers.