Operation #DrugsMustFall a priority for Protea and Naledi youth
Health educators at the campaign were overwhelmed by the huge turnout and the many requests for more information
Protea Glen SAPS’ Youth Crime Prevention Desk hosted a youth against drugs awareness campaign last week at the Naledi Sports Complex themed ‘#DrugsMustFall’.
The awareness campaign, which is held quarterly, saw COPESSA (Community-based Prevention and Empowerment Strategies in South Africa), Old Mutual, the t department of social developmen and SANCA (South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) and health educators from the COJ (City of Johannesburg) health department in attendance. SANCA aimed to assist more youth to get professional help with their drug habit by offering their services throughout the day.
The day mainly comprised of sporting codes such as soccer and indigenous games which were played in an effort to combat drug abuse. “As Protea Glen’s Youth Crime Prevention Desk, we know that we have a huge crime problem in our community so we thought the best way to address this would be by bringing sporting codes back to the youth,” said Moses Seaga, public relations officer for the youth crime prevention desk.
Protea and Naledi youth enjoyed the day as they got the opportunity to engage in their favourite sports and get important, possibly life-saving information from all the organisations who were there to assist. “This was very important for the youth of Naledi, some of them smoke, so this helps them to unleash all of that. It might help some of them stop smoking because it encourages us to find something to do every day,” said a youth from Naledi, Karabo Tshabalala.
Tshabalala is a success story from the crime awareness campaign as he noted that after spending some time with the COPESSA volunteers he was inspired to become an activist. “I think we can help push COPESSA to do what they are doing in our community by helping drug users. I am a fan of their work, I want to check how they work and possibly join in future,” he said.
The Jozi Ihlomile health educators were also kept busy as residents and youth were keen to access health information. “This was the most hectic campaign we’ve had, people wanted to get information about chronic diseases and substance abuse. We helped more people than we ever have on these campaigns,” said health educator, Nomathamsanqa Witbooi.
Residents are urged to look out for the next crime awareness campaign which will take place in September. “We hope to grow with each awareness campaign and to expand our reach across our community,” Seaga said.
