THE EDITOR, Sir:
The Addiction Alert's Adolescent Drug Prevention Programme, which has been funded by the European Commission for the last three years, comes to an end in December 2002.
I have had the privilege of experiencing the amazing growth and self-empowerment that has taken place in the lives of the 30 adolescent facilitators who work with the Agency full-time and have had comprehensive training in six life skills areas over a three- to five-year period. They have impacted in a positive way on the lives of over 40,000 young people, teachers, guidance counsellors and parents during this time. Their target group has been mainly high- risk inner-city children, many of whom now regard the Addiction Alert Facilitators as their role models rather than their former ones, the drug dealers.
As of January 2003, 15 of these bright, disciplined, honest and talented young people will be looking for work, due to the completion of the grant funding. This letter serves as an appeal for assistance with securing jobs or sponsorships, so that they can continue to work or study with Addiction Alert. They are all computer literate with good administrative skills, and two have driver's licences.
We also need sponsors who are willing to assist with college fees and computers, as they all want to further their education. This is a critical time in Jamaica's history when so many of our young people live a life of despair and hopelessness.
At Addiction Alert we have demonstrated that it is possible to take a group of school-leavers from inner-city communities, provide them with a safe and nurturing environment to learn and grow, and they will become competent workers with integrity, who will benefit any workplace.
This was recently demonstrated when two of our young trainers, Husayne Whyte and Shawn McGreggor, were recently appointed Youth Empowerment and Participation Ambassador, and Youth Ambassador to Caricom respectively, under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture.
Please contact our offices at Addiction Alert, 57 East Street, Kingston or call 876-967-3777. Thank you for publishing this appeal for assistance.
I am, etc.,
SONITA MORIN ABRAHAMS
Executive Director
Addiction Alert Organisation
addictionalert.org
