Youths learn more on dangers of drugs and alcohol |17 April 2015

In an effort to further educate and empower teenagers and strengthen their resilience in the face of increasing dangers of alcohol and drugs, several faith-based associations have teamed up to organise outreach programmes to help young people in secondary schools.

The faith-based commission of CEPS (Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles)  has partnered with various stakeholders for this activity namely the Drug and Alcohol Council (Dac), the Wellness Centre  and the Seychelles Inter-Faith Council (Sifco)  to organise the first outreach activity for Plaisance secondary school students earlier this week.

Under the guidance of commissioner Christianne Vidot the faith-based commission of CEPS aims to reach out to youths in different secondary schools.

The first such activity on Wednesday at Plaisance secondary school was attended by pupils in the presence of head teacher Ghislaine Monthy as well as other teachers.

“Today our society, especially our teenagers, are facing a major scourge. We want to educate our young teenagers on the dangers of alcohol and drugs,” Mrs Vidot said.

During the ceremony, there was also a presentation by Dr Lindsey de Groene-Ossewaarde who works with recovering substance abuse addicts at the  Wellness Centre and Benjamin Vel, a consultant with a lot of experience on the issue of substance abuse.

Everyone present also heard the testimony of a recovered addict who followed  treatment at the Wellness Centre.

The outreach programme will target vulnerable students, who may have some difficulties adapting in school.  It will also have a spiritual aspect. The outreach programme will teach those students how to better appreciate life and also that life cannot be taken for granted.

Faith-based commission throughout the year aims to bring the programme to  all secondary schools around Mahé and even to Praslin and La Digue.