It is only in solving the core issues that lead to drug and substance abuse that we can hope to alleviate social issues like the massive youth unemployment problem, the ongoing teenage pregnancy, high school dropout rates and ever escalating HIV/AIDS stats amongst the youth. We have devised programs that seek to do more than put a plaster on a festering wound. Your help in our The Champions Walk-In will serve to create the first "safe space" in a community where even schools are unsafe.
There is a despondency amongst the young and vulnerable in our communities and they all suffer an entrenched inferiority complex. Doing talks at schools where kids do not believe "good or nice' things in life are not for them because of their disadvantaged backgrounds is heartbreaking and dealing with children in whom there should lie all manner of hope and optimism but instead resides a deep pragmatic cynicism. The solution is not actually costly. It`s love, nurturing and support what they need
At this walk in centre we will continue to offer the tutoring classes we already do but be able to grow the number of children we can cater for. We will have our therapist and social worker giving both individual and group counselling sessions and we will more over be running an engagement centre. Structured and themed dialogues, debates and facilitations will be held grooming and nurturing minds and enabling them to become a discerning and wise decision-making generation.
The potential long-term impact is eradication of drug demand in youth from our poorer communities. We will create the type of climate that leaves drug dealers with no one to peddle their wares to. Children who have constructive coping mechanisms and discerning decision making skills will want to invest in their future and not willingly engage in harmful behavior. Our high HIV/AIDS stats, high school drop out rates and youth unemployment issues will all be radically reduced.
