THIRTY-six children graduated last Friday from a 17-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education Programme ((DARE) held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, West Coast Demerara.The Form One children received certificates of completion during a graduation exercise attended by ‘D’ Division Commander Stephen Mansell, faith-based leaders including Pastor Derek Anderson and Regional Education Officer Penelope Mackintosh, among others.

The DARE programme was initiated in schools through partnership with the ‘D’ Division Police, faith-based leaders and the Ministry of Education. The DARE programme will soon be introduced at Stewartville, Uitvlugt and Zeeburg Secondary Schools.

Mansell, in his remarks, told the students to continue to resist the use of illicit drugs since too many youths are engaged in the smoking of marijuana and other drugs and he urged them to spread the message.

He said that if students educate others about the dangers of using drugs it can be far-reaching, adding that the message needs to get out because the youths of today must be educated since they have a lot of potential to become leaders of tomorrow.
COOKERY TRAINING

Meanwhile, six unemployed females drawn from the villages of Den Amstel, Hague and Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, who underwent a six-week training in cookery at Madina’s Restaurant at De Willem, graduated last Friday.

At a ceremony held at Madina’s Restaurant at Public Road, De Willem, West Coast Demerara, the upcoming cooks prepared sumptuous meals and snacks for the gathering.

They were also presented with certificates to mark their successful completion of the cookery programme.

During the six weeks of training in cookery, the youths were exposed to various methods of creole cuisine and the owner of Madina’ s Restaurant facilitated the classes at his halall eating house.

The project was funded by Mansell and Khan as a base for the six females to enter Carnegie School of Home Economics to pursue full-time classes.

Mansell said it is all part of their social intervention projects in that division where they are doing what they can to get unemployed youths off the streets and equip them with a life skill so they can be gainfully employed. (Michel Outridge)