Belarus Public Association Awakening Belorussian Association of UNESCO Clubs Brest Health Centre City Health Centre Gomel Health Centre Gomel Medicine Institute Gomel Narcological Dispensary Centre Hope and Recovery Centre Of Social Assistance - To Creative Youth Intellekt League of Youth Voluntary Service Education Centre Post Republican Health Centre Youth Association The Real World Public Organisation Trust Civic Union of Women Uliana Public Association Awakening What does Awakening do? The organisation provides and organises drug abuse prevention programs in schools and institutes; training on drug prevention for teachers and social workers; programs for groups at risk; and, a rehabilitation program for drug addicts. The organisation works in Vitebsk and the selected target groups of this project are 900 youth offenders of two detention centres and 112 youth registered with the Inspection for Juvenile Delinquency. The assessment revealed that 95% of this target group smokes, 69% use alcohol, 25% use drugs (mainly heroin and depressants). The main risk factors identified are: poor coping skills, lack of perspective for the future, early exposure to substance use, and positive perceptions of substance use behaviours. The activities of Awakening under the Global Initiative The project will provide support through regular individual and group consultations by different kind of psychological and social specialists. Consultations will also be held with parents, and twice a month family activities will be organised by parents and children. Moreover, the project includes vocational skills workshops (wood and metal production) and peerto peer activities held by a selected group of youths. Belorussian Association of UNESCO Clubs What does the Association do? The organisation provides and organises information on HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and drug abuse; promotion of safe sex behaviours among young people; socio-psychological support; and, free counselling. The organisation works in Minsk and undertook the local situation assessment among 14-17 year old students of 4 schools in Minsk. 71% of respondents smoke, 63% use alcohol, and 12% have had some experience of
drug use (cannabis, inhalants, ecstasy). Tobacco and alcohol are considered acceptable, since they are used by parents, older brothers and sisters, and, friends. The activities of the Association under the Global Initiative The project will involve young people and adults in the implementation of prevention programs in 4 schools. In each school, a group will be formed, consisting of 1 teacher, 1 student of the pedagogical university, 1 parent and 2 students (15-16 year old). Each group will participate in a two-day training on methods of prevention work among young people and will plan a series of activities to be conducted in the schools. Brest Health Centre The organisation provides and organises programs on primary prevention of substance abuse among young people; a network of drug educators and health centres in the country; and, training for medical specialist and teachers on substance abuse prevention methods The organisation works in Brest, which is in south-western Belarus, at the border with Poland. Brest is a drug transit route between Eastern and Western countries. In recent years, drug abuse has increased of 10 times, with heroin, LSD and marijuana as the most popular drugs among young people. The average age of initiation is 13-14 for drugs, and 10 for alcohol and tobacco. The project will be implemented in one school of an underprivileged district of Brest and will cover all classes, from 6 to 15 years old. The oldest students (13-15 year old) will be trained in social and communication skills and will conduct peer-to-peer programs among 10-12 years children. Teachers of the first classes will be trained in interactive teaching methods and will work with youngest children (6-10 year old). Extra-curriculum activities will be organised in the school by students and teachers. Moreover, parenting skills training will be conducted by the NGO, in cooperation with teachers. City Health Centre Where does the Centre work? The organisation works in a specific community of Minsk. Substance abuse is particularly spread among students of secondary technical institutes, 41% of which smoke, 62% use alcohol (girls more than boys), and 50% use other kind of drugs. The project will be implemented among the 15-18 year old students of one technical institute of Minsk. The activities will include social skills training, information sharing meetings, and the organisation of alternative entertaining activities.
Gomel Health Centre The organisation provides and organises programs on primary prevention of substance abuse among young people; a network of drug educators and health centres in the country; and, training for medical specialist and teachers on substance abuse prevention methods. The organisation works in Gomel and in particular with the students (11-13 and 14-18 years old respectively) of 3 schools of the central district of Gomel. Along with tobacco and alcohol, the most common substances are cannabis, ecstasy, heroin, and amphetamines. The starting age for smoking and drinking alcohol is 10-12, but the majority of youth who use regularly are 13-16 years old. The main risk factors identified are: family conflict, and lack of recreational activities and interests. The students will participate in life and social skills training (differentiated by age), which will be held by the centre in cooperation with teachers trained in a two-day seminar. To provide young people with alternative recreational activities, a youth club will be established, where young people will meet, develop and plan peer-to-peer prevention activities. Gomel Medicine Institute What does the Institute do? The organisation provides and organises educational programs among students on health promotion. Among the Medicine Institute, the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs is very popular among students, 65-70% of which smoke. 70% of girls and 97% of boys drink alcohol, and 15% use different kind of stimulants and depressants. The main risk factors identified are: social norms (substance use behaviours are acceptable), peers using substances, and poor social skills. The activities of the Institute under the Global Initiative The project will enhance anti-drug norms and pro-social behaviours through the reinforcement of social skills and promotion of healthy lifestyles. Students of first three courses will be involved in the organisation of healthy activities, such as sport, music, theatre, excursions, volunteerism and will be provided with individual psychological consultations and training in life and social skills. Gomel Narcological Dispensary What does the Dispensary do? The organisation provides and organises medical consultations on substance abuse consequences and effects; prevention programs for young people; and, treatment of alcohol and drugs addiction. The dispensary of Gomel has the mandate to maintain drug abuse related
statistics, which show an increase in the number of heroin injecting abusers in recent years. This is due to the fact the city has been using as transit point to move drugs from Central Asia to Europe. Moreover, young people revealed a lack of knowledge on the effects of different kind of drugs, as well as on existing health and social services for youth. The activities of the Dispensary under the Global Initiative The project will be implemented in one unprivileged district of Gomel and will target the 13-15 year old students of one school, their parents and the specialists working with youth in this community. A five days seminar on methods of prevention work among young people will be held for social workers, teachers and psychologists. Parenting skills training will be held for around 35 parents, who will then involve other parents with regular meetings (formal and informal). Young people will participate in life and social skills training and will be involved in the organisation of alternative activities in the school and among the community (competitions, art performances, sport) and in computer classes as vocational skills development. Centre Hope and Recovery The organisation provides and organises prevention programs in schools and self-support groups for alcoholics and their families. The organisation works in a district of Minsk. In this district, the most popular drugs among young people are marijuana (48%), heroin (37%) and ecstasy (9%). The majority of youth who use regularly are 15-18 years old. The main risk factors identified are: peer pressure, positive perceptions of substance use behaviours, and poor coping skills. The project will organise a cycle of life and social skills training for around 100 teens (15-17 year old) that will include development of resistance skills, improvement of communication, development of positive peer relationships, and strengthening of personal commitments against drug use. Moreover, the project will involve young people in the organisation of entertaining activities (theatre, music, and sport) among children of orphanages. Centre Of Social Assistance - To Creative Youth Intellekt What does Intellekt do? The organisation provides and organises educational programs for young people to develop good interpersonal and social skills and promotes the development of voluntary movement among youth. The organisation works in a community of Brest. The assessment undertaken in this community revealed that the most popular substance is alcohol, followed by heroin, cannabis, and stimulants. Starting age for substance abuse is 13-14, the majority of youth using regularly being 16-20 years old. The main risk factors identified are: social norms and traditions, family members using substances (mainly alcohol), and positive perceptions of
substance abuse among young people. The activities of Intellekt under the Global Initiative The project will involve all community members in prevention work. A social service centre will be established, where round tables, seminars, conferences will be held on drug-related problems, and life and social skills training conducted for young people. Moreover, awareness raising campaigns will be organised by the centre, through the publication of articles on two city s newspapers, radio programs, and the organisation of alternative activities among the community. Young people, who will participate in the training held by the centre will be involved in the development and implementation of all the above mentioned activities. League of Youth Voluntary Service What does the League do? The organisation promotes the development of a voluntary movement among young people through training, seminars, educational programs, sport and entertainment activities. The organisation works in Minsk and undertook an assessment among students of secondary and high schools. The use of drugs is particularly spread among 13-15 years old, even if most of them do not make a regular use of drugs. As for alcohol, 97% indicated that they use it and 16% started drinking alcohol at the age of 10. The majority drinks alcohol 2-3 times for week or more. The activities of the League under the Global Initiative The project will target students and teachers in schools. Teachers will be trained in school-based prevention methods and will develop programs for their students and parents. 16-17 year old youth will be introduced to peer education techniques and will conduct training in life and social skills among younger children (10-13 year old). Education Centre Post The centre provides and organises educational programs for teenagers on topics they are interested in; interactive youth programs on interpersonal relations; and seminars for teachers on different aspect of the pedagogical process. The organisation works in Minsk and undertook a local situation assessment in 8 secondary schools in Minsk. 85% of 13-17 years old smoke, 77% drink alcohol, 11,5% use drugs. Approximately 35% indicated that they started smoking and using alcohol at the age of 10. The main risk factors identified are sensation seeking, interest, and poor coping skills. The project will establish a club for 13-16 year old youth, which will serve as a tool to involve them in the implementation of prevention activities. The members of the club (recruited through an information campaign in schools)
will be trained in communication and social skills and will organise peer education activities in the schools of a city s district. Moreover, a theatre studio will be organised in the club and street performances on substance abuse will be developed and represented by the club members. Republican Health Centre The organisation coordinates regional health centres and provides and organises methodological material for substance abuse prevention programs at regional and local level; and, seminars and round-tables for medical professionals and social workers. The project will be implemented in one of the most unprivileged district of Minsk. In this community, 53% of 12-16 year old youth smoke, 65% use alcohol, in particular beer, 40% use sporadically or regularly drugs, such as inhalants, ecstasy, LSD, cannabis, heroin. The majority of youth using regularly are 13-15 years old. The project will organise social skills training with 20 14-15 year old youth and peer education programs conducted among other students by the trained youth; seminars for 40 teachers and subsequent implementation of schoolbased activities; and, parenting skills training with the involvement of youth and teachers. Youth Association The Real World What does the Association do? The organisation provides and organises social, psychological and educational programs for young people; peer education programs on substance abuse prevention among young people; and, promotion of healthy life style through the organisation of leisure activities for young people. The organisation works in Svetlogorsk, which despite having a population of only 73.000 inhabitants has the second highest (after Minsk) number of HIV/AIDS cases and injecting drug users. 32% of the total young population are drug users. Along with this, 60% of young people drink alcohol. The main risk factors identified are: the poor socio-economic situation that leads to unemployment, family absenteeism, and lack of recreational activities. The activities of the Association under the Global Initiative The project will involve young people in peer-to-peer prevention programs, which could enhance anti-drug behaviours, develop good social and coping skills, being a meaningful alternative for young people to drug use. A group of 20/30 15-18 year old youth leaders will be trained in communication skills and peer education techniques. Divided in two groups of 10/15 persons each, they will conduct peer education training in 11 schools among children aged 10-11. In cooperation with the teachers, meetings will be organised with the parents of this group, aimed at developing good parenting skills and family attachments.
Public Organisation Trust What does Trust do? The organisation provides and organises programs for young people on conflict resolution and decision making/ coping skills; alternative activities for young people (theatre performances); and, healthy life styles promotion. The organisation works in Kobrin, a small town not far from Brest. Here, the most popular substances among young people are tobacco, alcohol (beer, vodka, wine) and cannabis. 26% of smoking teens started at 8-10, 37% at 10-12. Alcohol and cannabis are more popular among 15-16 year old youth. The activities of Trust under the Global Initiative The project will develop the personal and communication skills of young people, through their involvement in peer-to-peer prevention programs. Nine groups of 15 13-15 year old youth will be trained in peer education and will conduct prevention activities (training, recreational activities, competitions) among students of nine secondary schools. Moreover, the youth volunteers together with the other students will be in charge of involving teachers, parents and community members in the implementation of prevention activities aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and anti-drug behaviours. Civic Union of Women Uliana What does Uliana do? The organisation provides and organises educational programs, alternative activities, and behavioural workshops for young girls at risk. It also organises seminars for mothers to strengthen the effectiveness of family s influence on teenagers at risk. The organisation works in Vitebsk, where, according to the local situation assessment, the main substance used among young people is alcohol. 82% of 13-17 year old youth use regularly or sporadically alcohol. In recent years, the number of 12-13 year old youth using alcohol has also increased. The main risk factors identified are: family absenteeism, lack of strong family attachments or use of alcohol by family members. The activities of Uliana under the Global Initiative The project will target 9-12 year old youth, their parents and teachers. For parents, a cycle of parenting skills training will be held by the NGO and a group of previously trained teachers. For children, a cycle of training in personal and social skills development will be held during the year. Moreover, school-based alternative activities, such as competitions, theatre, and music will be organised.