Africa-Press – Seychelles. ‘Resilience and Hope’ march denounces drug abuse and trafficking
To commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking yesterday (26.6.2023) Care, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through the Plaisance primary and secondary school including the School for the Exceptional Child, organised a ‘Resilience and Hope’ march against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the district of Roche Caiman.
The main aim of the march, which also marked the end of the organisation’s ‘Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Week’, was to denounce drug abuse and trafficking, promote resilience and ignite hope for our children against drug abuse.
Taking the message of resilience and hope to the community, in this case Roche Caiman as a representation of all communities, also aims to send a strong and clear message that together we have to reclaim our communities from drug abuse and trafficking.
In the afternoon heat, the march by a large group of students and teachers from the three schools started at the Plaisance primary school going round Roche Caiman up to Eden Village, commonly known as Kosovo, before ending with praises, worship and entertainment at the Plaisance secondary school.
Escorted by the police, the chanting children carrying banners with various slogans and messages against drug abuse and illicit trafficking were supported in their march to the various hot spots in the district by representatives from Care, the management of the three schools, the division for Drug Abuse, Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation, the district authorities in the region – Mont Fleuri, Les Mamelles, Plaisance and Roche Caiman.
In view of the imminent threats that drugs pose to the well-being of children, the march was a great opportunity for the children to publicly denounce drug abuse and trafficking and to engage themselves to stay resilient against drugs and other dangerous substances. The march was similar to the one held on June 14, 2023, at the Beau Vallon primary school.
Upon reaching Eden Village, the students were addressed with words of praise and advice to stay away from drugs and alcohol by the elected members of the National Assembly – Hon. Bernard Georges for Les Mamelles, Hon. Clive Roucou for Mont Fleuri, Hon. Richard Labrosse for Plaisance and Hon. Audrey Vidot for Roche Caiman.
Chloe Arnephy, an 11-year-old P6 pupil from Plaisance primary school said, “I want to tell people doing drugs and alcohol to stop because we want to live in a peaceful and non-violent environment. I want to tell them to stop doing drugs and alcohol which will allow them to live a healthy life”.
Lorenzo Hoareau, a 15-year-old S4 student from Plaisance secondary school said, “I decided to join in the march to show my support against drug and alcohol abuse because they are affecting many youths in the country. The drug and alcohol situation is not only a big problem in my school but in many schools and in the communities as well and we have to join hands together to fight against them especially drugs which is now present everywhere across the country.”
Mariella Bareau, a 15-year-old S4 student from Plaisance secondary school said, “Given the hot spots we have marched in, I hope that the people have taken notice of our voices and concerns and not that we were having fun, as we really want our communities to be free from drugs and alcohol because they are very dangerous to our lives.”
The chairperson of Care, Noella Gontier, said that taking the message of resilience and hope around Roche Caiman as a representation of all other communities, also aims to send a strong and clear message that together “we have to reclaim our communities from drug abuse and trafficking and abuses from alcohol. Given the threats posed by drug and alcohol, if they are given the support, children in the communities will stay resilient against those dangerous substances which also include cigarettes.
“The message of resilience and hope is a crucial step to safeguarding our children from falling into the pitfalls of this destructive scourge,” she said.
Mrs Gontier said that they chose to hold the march in the district of Roche Caiman to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking given that the three schools are situated right in the middle of the district.
She noted that Care will continue with its prevention campaign and programmes in schools to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs and alcohol to children.
She added that Care is working on a sensitisation activity which will be held on Praslin and on La Digue.
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