NASSAU, The Bahamas — Thirty-five students from across The Bahamas have been selected as finalists in the Bahamian Youth Expression Against Drugs Competition.
The Bahamas National Drug Council, the National Anti-Drug Secretariat and the U.S. Embassy partnered to organise the competition to encourage students throughout The Bahamas to consider the harmful impact of illegal drugs and to reflect on how they can resist negative peer pressure and act as leaders against drugs in their community.
Students submitted original essays, rap or spoken word performances that demonstrated their commitment to fostering drug-free communities throughout the country.
Most of the entries came from Grand Bahama, and included amongst the 35 finalists are young people from Acklins, Andros, Exuma, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence.
Gayle Hamilton, Prevention Educator at the National Drug Council said the finalists will come to New Providence to participate in an all expense paid Summer Youth Leadership Camp from June 25 – 29.
During the camp, the 20 students displaying the most leadership potential and discipline will be selected to attend the National Geographic Photo Camp at the Island School in Cape Eleuthera in the fall.
Ms Hamilton explained that the all of the activities planned by the National Drug Council and its partners serve as positive activities that will help keep young persons occupied. “We want to give them skills and create positive activities as an alternative to using drugs.”
She added that all of the finalists would be utilised to spread the message on the danger of doing illegal drugs.
“We will use them in our prevention and demand reduction efforts, because young people relate to young people,” Ms Hamilton said. “Those not chosen for the photo camp will also be used to spread the message as well.”
The students will also be evaluated on how well they organise their action plans to spread the word on the dangers of illegal drugs to the other youths in their communities. That will also act as a criterion for getting into the photo camp.
Marian Pinder, who is also at the National Drug Council, said that during the summer camp, presenters will speak on various topics including: the perception of the drug problem, the abuse of prescription drugs, self-esteem/decision making/goal setting and dealing with peer pressure.
“All of these things will help the participants to grow and with their plan of action on how they will help educate their peers,” Ms Pinder said.
“There will also be role-plays to demonstrate the right and wrong ways to handle various situations.”
The students will go on field trips, perform in skits and talent shows as well as have fun doing water sports.
By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
