Taking Small Steps Towards a Drug-Free Community

[Sandhya Bhandari]

Dreaming is not only about improving our personal or family life, it is also about creating positive change within our community. During the Dream Building process, Youth and Children from Upallo Amintara envisioned a future where they could build a safe, healthy and drug-free community. They recognized that achieving this collective dream requires everyone to take small but meaningful actions.  

As the first step towards turning this vision into reality, youths and children from the community organized an awareness program on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Youth and children themselves led the program by delivering presentations on the harmful effects of drug abuse, its impact on individuals, families, and society and the importance of prevention, they present themselves through the slide to build up their public speaking skill. This program also included interactive discussions, allowing participants to share their experiences, ask questions and exchange ideas. The active participation made the session engaging and impactful.

During the program, ARC Documentation Officer provided a brief overview of the local context of drug abuse and facilitated a discussion on practical ways the community can contribute to reducing drug-related problems. Participants reflected on their roles and shared ideas on how they could support a safer and healthier environment that prevention requires more than individual decisions and explained that lasting change begins with the personal realization of the harmful consequences of drug abuse.

At the end of the program, participants expressed that they found the session informative, meaningful and well organized. They appreciated the support provided by the facilitators of CWSN and encouraged the continuation of similar activities in the future. Participants also suggested using more visual materials, including videos, in future sessions to make the awareness program even more engaging and effective.

This program demonstrated the meaningful change begins with small initiatives. It not only raised awareness about drug abuse but also strengthened the community’s commitment to working together towards their shaped dream of building a drug-free, safe and supportive society. Their initiative, self-reliance, and positive mindset are truly inspiring. This program also demonstrates that with the right guidance and mutual cooperation, young people can become one of the greatest driving forces for positive change within their community.

[santosh bishowkarma]

I believe that,this is the first step towards their community commitment against drug abuse.they will continuely conduct initiative towards their commitment for their community.