LOYAC, Mentor Arabia ink deal against illegal drugs
Prevention first line of defence: Queen Silvia
KUWAIT CITY, April 13: Substance abuse among the young is worrying phenomenon in the global world today, noted HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, founder of the Mentor Foundation, an international non-government organization working globally to prevent drug usage.
She stated that the attitude among young people had changed considerably over the years; today a youngster may not admonish his peer on substance abuse perceiving it to be a wilful choice that must be respected. Speaking as a mother, grandmother and Queen of Sweden, she urged that prevention is the first line of defence, “We have to prevent the misery and hurt that drug abuse can cause both to the user and to their friends, families and communities.”
She also highlighted that policing was no longer enough and cooperation must come from all frontiers including governmental, non-governmental, institutions, experts, educators, parents, civil leaders, business community, media etc. to best tackle this issue.
Speaking at a press conference held at LOYAC headquarters in Al Qibliya School, HM Queen Silvia was joined by HRH Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin AbdulAziz Al Saud who serves as Honorary Trustee at Mentor along with Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Minister of Education, Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, Minister of information and Youth Affairs, Mohammed Abdelaziz Al Shaya, Executive Chairman of MH Al Shaya and Dr Ahmad Al Shatti of Ghiras.
Prince Turki Bin Talal conveyed the importance of prevention in combating substance abuse. He relayed that the Arab World was eager to tackle the issue as the region now faced a lot of obstacles in that it was no longer just a corridor but has now become a destination for illegal drugs.
A memorandum of Understanding was signed between Mentor Arabia, the Regional chapter of the foundation and LOYAC and Ghiras. LOYAC will implement a Y Peers programme that will focus on training youth to encourage their peers to stay away from drugs and instead spend time more productively.
“Mentor Arabia and LOYAC are perfectly matched partners as our values are clearly in line with each other. LOYAC centres its values on love, awareness, empowerment and integrity and Mentor Arabia similarly centres its programs around love, giving back, and understanding. This indicates to us that we are likely to achieve a high rate of success in this collaboration and will be able together to make as effective positive change to the future of our country.”
AGala dinner hosted by Mohammad Al Shaya, Mentor Arabia Board Member and Mentor International Trustee was held later in the evening at the Grand Avenues to raise awareness on the dangers of drug use and to widen the strategic partnership in Kuwait in order to implement the numerous projects and programs that Mentor Arabia is currently engaged in.
The Gala evening was graced by Queen Silvia, Prince Turki Bin Talal with attendance from a number of royalties, board members from Mentor Arabia and Mentor International, business elite, NGOs, parents, experts, youth and media representatives in attendance.
Mentor International was founded in 1994 and presided over by Queen Silvia; Mentor Arabia was established with recommendations from the Arab and International Scientific Forum that took place in Dubai in 2004. Poverty, unemployment, war, domestic violence and migration are all essential justifications behind the establishment of the Arabian chapter.
The Board of Trustees have adopted a three year strategy that hopes to build capacity and skills of the target groups, support and contribute to the preparation of national and regional policies in the area of prevention, promote youth participation, strengthen awareness through media, closer coordination between inter-regional and international parties and to develop, publish and disseminate studies and information specialised in areas of prevention.
The League of Arab States, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Health Organisation make up Mentor’s network of partners along with research centres, universities and training institutes, media organisations and NGOs.
Early Childhood Education for Drug Prevention, Unplugged, Y Peer, Together, MOCEP, Arab Strategy to Protect Youth from Drugs, Monthly Youth gathering on Drug Prevention Issues and a Regional Information Resource Centre are among Mentor Arabia’s projects and programmes.
Mentor Arabia does not act as funding institution but one that builds partnerships with various organisations focused on drug prevention, supporting them with material things as training kits, information and resources. It is funded by a variety of sources including but not limited to annual contribution from its Trustees, donations, private sector sponsorships, grants, and proceeds from fund raising events.