First drug awareness month launched at La Rosière school |19 June 2015

In an effort to educate and empower the people of Seychelles with regard to the dangers of drug abuse, a ‘Drugs Awareness Month’ has been launched under the theme Mon rezilyan, drog pa pou fer mon maler.

The launch ceremony took place on Tuesday at the La Rosière school in the presence of the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, the chairperson of Care (Committee for awareness, resilience and education against substance abuse) Sarah Rene, La Rosière school head teacher Beryl Botsoie, consultant Benjamin Vel, teachers, parents and students.

The drug awareness month is an annual event on Care’s calendar of activities in schools. The main objective of the event is for Care to intensify its awareness and education work in schools and get the whole school to be involved in the prevention campaign.

The event is a joint initiative between Care and the Ministry of Education through schools and Care clubs.

In her speech, head teacher Botsoie spoke of key concerns about drug abuse. “Let’s all take time and reflect about why this campaign is important. We need to fight the problem of drugs in Seychelles. Young children are vulnerable people, we need to teach them about the problem of drugs. Parents, teachers, we all need to work together for a better world, a world without drugs.”

During the awareness month, Care clubs in schools will lead an interactive series of activities, and will also include researching and preparing the schools’ visual aid materials for the forthcoming inter-school resilience relay against drugs.

The drugs awareness month also coincides with Care’s 20th anniversary celebrated on June 16.

Those present at the ceremony received the blessing of Father David Alcindor, while La Rosière students read out poems and sang some beautiful songs.

This drug awareness month is getting the support of partners such as Dac (Drugs and Alcohol Council), Care, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the National Drugs Enforcement Agency, the police and parents. 

Activities for this month include information kiosks in different areas, activities in schools, character-building sessions and also mini workshops.

The accompanying photos were taken during the launch ceremony at La Rosière school.