KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23, (KUNA): Kuwait has left no stone unturned in its drive to protect its people, especially youth, from the scourge of drug abuse. In the latest initiative in this regard Kuwait has tapped peers education to help promote change for better health, social norms and lifestyle to prevent drug abuse.

On Saturday, Kuwait graduated dozens of young educators to effect change at the individual level by attempting to modify a person’s knowledge, attitudes, beliefs or behaviors, capitalizing on the fact that people belonging to the same peer group communicate best with each other.

Fifty-five youth have partaken in the first phase of the training program, carried out in collaboration between Mentor International, Mentor Arabia and the Kuwaiti National Anti-Drugs Media Project (Ghiras).

Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony of the young trainers and educator of the international “Peer Educators” for drug prevention, held in the presence of the Monitor International Foundation Queen of Sweden Silvia, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah called for adopting an integrated strategy to protect youth from the drug addiction. She emphasized that Kuwait is greatly interested in cooperation with all international organizations for drug prevention through a series of educational, scientific and professional tools.

For his part, Chairman of Mentor Arabia Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz pointed out that Kuwait has been pioneering in countering drug proliferation. He expressed Mentor Arabia’s readiness to cooperate with Kuwaiti government and civil society to educate Kuwaiti youth and protect the society against the spread of drugs. With this initiative, Mentor Arabia hopes to reach thousands of youth in Kuwait to improve their attitudes, skills and knowledge on drug prevention in favor of more positive health developments, he said.

LaudedMeanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ghiras Dr Khaled Al-Shatti lauded the efforts exerted by the Ministry of Education to monitor the phenomenon of drug abuse and prepare a pool of highlytrained educators to educate students about the dangers of drugs. Honorary Chairperson of Kuwait Disabled Sport Club Kuwait Sheikha Sheikha Al-Abdullah Al-Khalifa Al- Sabah has affirmed the supreme leadership’s special concern and care for the youth.

The State of Kuwait is keenly seeking to guide the youth, as a prime objective, in line with instructions by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said Sheikha Al-Abdullah in a statement at the inauguration of the 8th forum for GCC female youth, themed “Young Women of the Gulf .. Energy, Giving and Empowerment).

She urged “everybody” in the country to shoulder the responsibilities at this level to boost Kuwait’s development. Hind Al-Houli, chair of the GCC women guides, said the forum is aimed at exchanging information and expertise and promoting women role in promoting peace and security. Participants in the first session of the forum examined a paper presented by Kuwaiti young women on the role of the media and communication for service of the national heritage.