INSEE Cement in community initiative on negatives of drug use
View(s):Cement manufacturer, INSEE Cement recently joined hands with National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) and Sri Lanka Police to conduct a drug awareness campaign that reached over 1,700 school children aged from 14 to 18 in 23 schools in Aruakkalu, Puttalam and Galle.
INSEE Cement, Sustainable Development and Communications Director Farzana Khan addressing the students.
Officials from the Sri Lanka Police, District Secretariat and Municipal Council from the respective areas participated in the one-day programme designed to educate and enrich the lives of young people in and around the communities, particularly in areas where we do business, the company said in a media release.
A Forum Theatre methodology was used to stimulate high engagement among the audience, by using an innovative method of embedding communications through performing arts, in order to bring a refreshing change for the students from the conventional lecturing style. While making the topic more interesting and meaningful, the programme educated the students on the dangers of drug use, while re-enforcing the perks of not using drugs, alcohol and tobacco, in adopting a healthy lifestyle.
“INSEE Cement was motivated to launch the programme as a part of the company’s corporate responsibility endeavours and mission to build brighter futures, as it became evident that drug addiction in the country was increasing and it was necessary to educate vulnerable school children and alert the general public about the danger,” the release said.
CEO of INSEE Cement, Nandana Ekanayake said, “As a socially conscious company we strive to contribute to uplifting and enriching our community by educating and motivating the youth in particular, to lead a healthy and meaningful life. We will continue to empower the Sri Lankan youth in building their brighter futures through such community engagements”.
Resource persons contributing to the program included K. D. Indika Nalin Prasad from NDDCB who warned that the ignorance of mothers and absence of role models for the children is escalating the drug menace. Ms. D. Algewatte, OIC of the Women’s & Child Bureau unit in Galle which comes under the Sri Lanka Police, exposed the issue’s steady progress where, new drugs are being introduced to school children by the local drug sellers. “We have even taken Grade 5 students into custody for being in possession of alcohol,” she said.