Alcohol Awareness Month 2019 launched |14 September 2019

The Alcohol Awareness Month for the year 2019 was launched yesterday at the Takamaka primary school.

All schools around Seychelles are also participating in this activity being organised by Care in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development. The aim is to empower children, youth and families against illegal drug use and alcohol abuse.

Among those present at the launch ceremony yesterday activity at Takamaka were Sarah René, chairperson of Care; government officials; parents; teachers; students and local partners who are involved in the fight against drugs.

The students of Takamaka actively participated in the activity by reading messages and also performed some physical exercises. The teachers were also part of the activities.

Unfortunately in our small islands, problems relating to drugs and alcohol are a daily concern. Care started to raise awareness in 1994 to highlight the need for something to be done, at a time when there was vehement denial to the possibility of drugs getting into schools. The campaign was to call for action (‘Saying no to drugs’) and to also raise awareness among children and parents on the dangers of drugs. Since then Care has played an instrumental role in awareness campaigns.

All year round awareness and education campaigns are organised in schools by Care. Children identified by the school as showing early signs of risks are channelled through the Rainbow Project and individual referrals from schools. Children showing higher risks are channelled through the sports and art project and individual referrals in respect of children on suspension. Care also caters for members of the public, mainly parents through the walk-in service and the parent’s education and support initiative.

To date Care has a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education & Human Resource Development to deliver substance use prevention programmes, early intervention and outreach in schools. Care Clubs in primary schools still exist with 240 active members as at August 2019 and since last year Casam - (CARE Student Action Movement) has replaced Care Clubs in secondary schools with 86 active members as at August 2019.

The following photos show some highlights of the launch ceremony.