John Keells Foundation pilots substance abuse prevention awareness in Hikkaduwa

It is believed that by equipping teachers and parents with a proper understanding of the risks and dangers of drugs and a physical environment to support drug prevention, the probability of children engaging in drug-user behaviours can be minimised. This is the context in which John Keells Foundation, the CSR entity of the John Keells Group, piloted its Substance Abuse Prevention Awareness Programme on July 31 at the Auditorium of the Divisional Secretariat in Hikkaduwa.

The inaugural session was conducted for 39 targetted participants comprising Pre-school teachers from five Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions of Hikkaduwa and Government Officials from the Divisional Secretariat, Hikkaduwa, Grama Niladhari of the respective GN Divisions, representatives from Southern Province Education Department and Police Officers from Hikkaduwa Police Station.

The initiative was conducted as part of John Keells Praja Shakthi initiative in Hikkaduwa in partnership with Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon and technical partner, Humedica Lanka. Speaking at the inauguration, Ms. Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of Operations, John Keells Foundation stated “Out of the six focus areas of John Keells Foundation, this programme falls within the Health focus area through which we seek to foster healthy communities towards enhancing their holistic well-being and productivity.

Considering that substance abuse has become a growing menace is Sri Lanka and the positive impact that early childhood interventions can have in preventing causes that lead to drug use and other addictions later in life, this session, which is one of the many, will support in understanding how you, as a teacher, parent or caregiver could intervene very early in an child’s life and thereby prevent substance use and a range of other related behavioural problems.