Queen Silvia of Sweden lauds Kuwait’s anti-drug efforts
Queen Silvia of Sweden, who is also chairperson of Mentor Foundation International, has commended efforts by the Kuwaiti official and private bodies for the prevention of drugs, and awareness on their dangers.
Drugs are no local or even regional problem, but an international one that worries the entire world, Queen Silvia said yesterday, during her current visit to Kuwait. She said that the world has been suffering from the spread of narcotics and drug-taking at early age, as they have become easy to buy under various names and at low prices. It is a global worry.
The Queen voiced pride of the hard efforts and achievements of Mentor Arabia in Kuwait and the entire Arab region. Mentor Arabia is a regional non-governmental foundation which advocates for drug prevention among Arab children and youth. It is an affiliate of Mentor International, operating under the mission of “A world where children and young people are empowered to make healthy decisions and avoid drug use.” Kuwait has fruitful cooperation with Mentor Arabia, through the Ministries of Education, and Information, and the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs.
Queen Silvia highly appreciated Kuwait’s support to the foundation, referring to the leading national program for drug awareness, known as Gheras, that has been a major partner in Mentor’s efforts and goals. The Queen stressed the prior importance of targeting people at early age with anti-drug campaigns, as parents are too busy at work to provide dignified living conditions for their children.
Members of Mentor International, 22 countries around the globe, have been working together in harmony and integration to bring about the aspired effective and positive effects, and to achieve the noble aim of the foundation, namely protecting children and youth against drugs.
Queen Silvia established Mentor International in 1994 in collaboration with the World Health Organization, as the leading international federation of not-for-profit organizations working to develop evidence-based youth development programs that focus on preventing drug abuse.
Queen Silvia arrived in Kuwait on Friday to attend a ceremony honoring trainers and educators of the global program, peer education, to protect youth against drugs, organized by Gheras in cooperation with Mentor Arabia. Students taking part in a drawing contest to promote the anti-drug campaign will also be honored.