Fighting drugs in Toekies
'The main reason why pupils get involved in drugs is because of curiosity and peer pressure.'
Rashida Abrahams, 27, and her dedicated team at Westview Clinic in Toekomsrus who runs the Kemajo Project in local schools vow to put a stop to alcohol and substance abuse.
Kemajo means ‘I am fine without drugs’ and Abrahams are known at local schools as the Kemajo coach.
Abrahams and the team approaches schools to educate them on different types of drugs, the dangers thereof, self esteem and goal setting and planning if you have a drug related problem. Sometimes schools will refer their pupils to them, where they will be enrolled in a six week outpatient programme.
The clinic also has a therapist, Olga Machaka, that has several counseling sessions with these school kids. After the six weeks programme, the pupils will then get tested, and reports will then be sent back to school.
This clinic is open to all members of the community, not just to school pupils. If a person fails the drug test, they will then be placed on a waiting list to be able to attend a state rehabilitation centre,” Abrahams said.
They also offer an after care service, where if, the person fall back into old habits, they will always have somebody to talk to.
When the Kemajo Project gets introduced to schools, the pupils complete a pre test, to see how much they know about drugs. Abrahams and the team then goes through the Kemajo Project’s manual, where after the pupils do a post test.
Each pupil then receives a certificate. Abrahams says that Marijuana (dagga), Crystal meth (tik), Cat and Mandrax are the most used and popular drugs at local schools.
Abrahams added, “The main reason why pupils get involved in drugs is because of curiosity and peer pressure.”
Abrahams is very passionate about helping people overcome drug addiction and she commits herself to the Toekomsrus community by offering her services to anybody with a drug related problem, that feels that there is no hope for them.
• Details: Rashida Abrahams on 079 411 6422.
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