Thirty-seven youths have recently benefited from training under the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programme, which is continuing to target young people in the police’s ‘D’ Division.
Commander of ‘D’ Division, Stephen Mansell, expressed optimism at the successful completion of the training programme for first form students at the Vreed en Hoop Secondary School, who graduated on September 25. Other secondary schools on the West Demerara set to benefit shortly include Stewartville, Uitvlugt and Zeeburg, Mansell said.
According to the commander, the programme, which is a collaborative effort between the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Education, was introduced to secondary schools in 1994.
He added that a workbook which guides students on how to stay away from hostile behaviours, which includes the use of illegal drugs was presented to students by the instructor. The programme runs for 17 weeks.
In February, 34 four youths from Patentia Secondary School graduated from the programme.
Meanwhile, on September 15, six young women graduated from a six weeks cookery programme which was organized by the commander and held at the Madina Restaurant at De Willem, West Coast Demerara.
Mansell told Stabroek News that the initiative is aimed at equipping youths with life skills.
The six graduates, on September 28, started higher education at the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
