Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia) Copyright: Arab News 2006 Contact: http://www.arabnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3617 Author: P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News DRUG COMBATING PROGRAM TARGETS WOMEN AND YOUTH JEDDAH, 18 October 2006 -- Prince Turki ibn Talal, chairman of the board of trustees of Mentor Arabia, has emphasized the role of his organization in protecting young men and women from drug abuse and promoting their health and well-being. Mentor, a non-profit and non-government organization, has positively affected the lives of more than a million children in 40 countries over the last 10 years. It seeks to undertake, identify, support and share information on proven and promising practices that effectively prevent or protect children and young people from drugs. Speaking about Mentor's vision, Prince Turki said it aimed at creating a world that provides opportunities for the healthy development of children and youth, free from the harm caused by drug abuse. Mentor was established in 1994 in Geneva with the queen of Sweden as president. Prince Talal, president of the Arab Gulf Program for UN Development Organizations (AGFUND), is one of its founders. Mentor aims to create and undertake youth-oriented drug prevention programs that are scientifically sound and can be implemented on a national or international basis. With its primary target group of young people, it undertakes projects and identifies promising and best practices. Mentor's projects can be grouped into five key areas: information and policy development, schools, families, vulnerable groups and mentoring. It also acts as a consultant by providing advice, training, evaluation and project management for international agencies and governments wishing to develop or improve their prevention policy and practice. Mentor has an international remit for drug prevention and is developing national organizations that operate as part of the Mentor Family. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine