Pubdate: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 Source: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) Copyright: 2005 Gulf Daily News. Contact: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2979 Author: Abdulrahman Fakhri, MANAMA Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ANTI-DRUGS PUSH TO TARGET BAHRAIN'S YOUNGSTERS MANAMA - A CAMPAIGN will be launched next week to spread the word against drugs among Bahrain's young people. The long-term aim is to train one group of young people to educate others about the dangers of drug abuse. They in turn will train others and so on, in a snowball effect that will reach nearly 90 per cent of the nation's youth over five years, say organisers. It will kick off with a BD40,000, 10-day campaign which will be launched on Tuesday by the General Organisation for Youth and Sports (Goys). It will feature seminars, exhibitions, surveys, sports tournaments and media campaigns. The initial campaign will include a UN-accredited training workshop for 70 youngsters, who will then train others. The national anti-drugs campaign, under the theme It's Your Decision, is the first of its kind targeting young people in Bahrain, Goys youth affairs director Hisham Al Jowder, said at a Press conference at the Bahrain National Stadium. "The campaign is being carried out by the youth for the youth, from all sectors in the country," he said. He said that around 60 youngsters from Goys, schools, universities as well as members of youth clubs and centres, were responsible for organising the event. "One of the campaign's goals is to invest in the energies of the youth, who are keen to develop and grow in various fields and sectors by spearheading the campaign," said Mr Al Jowder. "The main objective of the campaign is to upgrade the knowledge among the youth on the psychological, health and social risks caused by drug abuse." He said the aim was also to promote the importance of the family and schools in teaching young people about the dangers of drug addiction. "In the campaign, they will also learn about the various methods through which drugs are promoted, so that they don't fall in the traps of dealers," said Mr Al Jowder. Guest speakers will take part in a series of seminars and workshops. They include Egyptian actor Hussain Fahmi, former Saudi drug addiction treatment specialist Yousef Al Saleh, who is a former addict, UN Fight Against Drug Crimes director Faisal Al Hijazi, Bahraini singer Adel Mahmood and Dubai police Commander Dhahi bin Khalfan Bin Tameem. The campaign will be launched in a ceremony on Tuesday at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will feature the launch of a national survey on young people's knowledge about drug abuse. Survey supervisor Dana Al Zayani said that 500 Bahrainis, aged 15 to 30, had been given a series of questions. "We asked them about what they knew about various drugs and whether they were users or had friends who were users, which revealed shocking results," she said. Ms Al Zayani said that she was in the process of completing the survey, which included young workers and university students. One of the campaign's initiatives is a training programme held in co-operation with the Dubai police. "The programme is accredited by the UN, targeting the youth sector to combat drug abuse," said workshops team head Reem Al Hayki. The programme aimed at preparing a group of trainers in campaigning against drugs, so they can teach others to do the same. "The programme is modelled by the UN to enable the trainers to train others and in five years teams will have been able to spread awareness among the majority of the youth in the country." Ms Al Hayki said it was hoped to reach about 89pc of the country's young people, over five years. "We have chosen 70 participants out of around 200 who will take part in the workshop, representing various youth centres, schools, universities and ministries," she said. Other activities include an exhibition at Seef Mall next Wednesday, being held in co-operation with the Interior Ministry and Bahrain International Hospital. It will feature free medical tests, awareness campaign posters and photographs, screening of documentaries, explanations by police on drug dealing methods and various materials targeting parents. The campaign will also feature a sports tournament to attract the participation of the youth, said Mr Al Jowder. "Male members of youth clubs, societies and centres will be taking part in a beach volleyball tournament, while a sports festival will be held for girls, including basketball, handball and volleyball." He said that a series of lectures by the campaign's guest speakers would be held at universities as well as public and private schools. "We are also planning to hold open discussions at coffee shops that are frequented mostly by young Bahrainis, covering various issues related to drug abuse," said Mr Al Jowder. The campaign will be extensively promoted in the media. Mr Al Jowder said that 10,000 copies of each of six types of poster will be printed and distributed to schools, universities, clubs and youth centres. "Bahrain TV will also broadcast a daily report and hold a number of interviews as part of its Bab Al Bahrain programme," he said. A website will also be launched aimed at reaching the highest number of youths. A workshop will be held at the end of the campaign, to discuss the success and shortfalls, as well as come up with recommendations for similar future events. Mr Al Jowder praised the support of the private sector in sponsoring many of the campaign events, which he said would be instrumental in its success. Platinum sponsor is CrediMax, which was represented at the Press conference by customer relations and sales manager Isa Ibrahim. He said that the company was keen to take part in various projects and programmes aimed at achieving further social development. Other sponsors of the campaign include Seef Mall, National Bank of Bahrain, Bahrain Credit, Bahraini Kuwaiti Insurance Company and Banagas. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Tuesday Opening ceremony at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 8.30pm. Lectures by guest speakers Egyptian actor Hussain Fahmi, former Saudi drug addict and drug addiction treatment specialist Yousef Al Saleh, UN Fight Against Drug Crimes director Faisal Al Hijazi, at Al Naseem School, 10am. Wednesday Public discussion forum conducted by Mr Fahmi, Mr Al Saleh and Mr Al Hijazi, at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 8pm. Lecture at Al Hekma International School by the above guest speakers, 10am. Anti-drugs exhibition, Seef Mall, 12.30pm. Thursday Coffee shop discussion forum, Dana Mall, 10am. Beach volleyball tournament for youth clubs and centres, Al Fateh Mosque corniche, 3pm. FRIDAY (April 29) Workshop on Kuwait's experience in launching anti-drugs campaign at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 8am-3pm. SATURDAY (April 30) Five-day workshop to train anti-drugs campaigners, in co-operation with Dubai police (8am-3pm). MONDAY (May 2) Three-day female sports tournament in basketball, handball and volleyball, Juffair Dome, 4pm. May 5 Mini cars and motorbikes procession, Seef district, 4pm. May 6 Workshop to prepare recommendations for future campaigns at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 4pm to 8pm. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom