Minister: Teen Peace Programme For Students
The Teen Peace Bermuda programme — which will focus on the benefits for youth to reduce alcohol and drug using and risk-taking behaviors — will operate twice a week at five middle schools, Minister of Public Safety Michael Dunkley said this morning [Sept 13] in the House of Assembly.
“As we prepare our student population to become change agents against anti-social behaviours such as violent crimes, delinquency, drug misuse and drug trafficking, the DNDC with the assistance of student participants, have changed the official name of the programme from the DNDC’s Afterschool Substance Abuse Programme to Teen Peace Bermuda,” said the Minister
“Teen Peace Bermuda will focus exclusively on the benefits for youth to reduce alcohol and drug using and risk-taking behaviors through the development of social emotional learning skill sets, resiliency skills, and conflict resolution, all facilitated by positive adult role models.”
Minister Dunkley’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to update this Honourable House on a Cross- Ministry initiative between the Department for National Drug Control (DNDC) and the Department of Education. This initiative supports the DNDC’s drug prevention efforts and will assist the DNDC to achieve their mission of preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs by middle and high school age students through after-school programming as highlighted in the National Drug Control Master Plan and Action Plan.
Mr. Speaker, the DNDC’s afterschool programme was implemented during the 2011-2012 school year after being piloted during the 2010-2011 school year. The programme for the past three years has been referred to as the DNDC’s Substance Abuse Prevention Afterschool Programme for Middle School Students.
The programme utilizes tested and effective methods for drug prevention and incorporates the theory of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for students at the middle school age level. SEL gives students the essential knowledge and skills needed to make significant community-level change whilst developing to their fullest potential.
Mr. Speaker, as we prepare our student population to become change agents against anti-social behaviours such as violent crimes, delinquency, drug misuse and drug trafficking, the DNDC with the assistance of student participants, have changed the official name of the programme from the DNDC’s Afterschool Substance Abuse Programme to Teen Peace Bermuda.
Teen Peace Bermuda will focus exclusively on the benefits for youth to reduce alcohol and drug using and risk-taking behaviors through the development of social emotional learning skill sets, resiliency skills, and conflict resolution, all facilitated by positive adult role models.
Mr. Speaker, participants in the Teen Peace Bermuda programme will be prepared to represent their local community on the issues facing youth regarding drugs and alcohol and other anti-social behaviors in the international arena through social media and youth-led face to face forums.
Teen Peace Bermuda’s aim will increase academic and social competence through the development of the following skills:
- strengthening of personal commitments against drug abuse
- drug resistance skills
- communication
- study habits and academic support
- peer relationships
- self-efficacy and assertiveness
- ongoing reinforcement
Mr. Speaker, the Teen Peace Bermuda programme will operate two days weekly Wednesday and Thursday) from 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm at:
- Clear Water Middle School
- Dellwood Middle School
- Sandys Middle School
- T. N. Tatem Middle School
- Whitney Institute Middle School
Mr. Speaker, the Department for National Drug Control and the Ministry of Public Safety understands that providing young people with supportive, pro-social role models, opportunities and recognition, and the tools to make positive choices is an essential step in ensuring the well being of our youth and securing Bermuda’s future.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
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Alcohol and tobacco ARE drugs and are more destructive than most,if not all illegal drugs just check the mortality stats.
Sounds like you need to spend a bit more time around people with crack , heroin or cocaine problems.
F**k whether it kills them or not. I’ll take the Marlboro smoker and the drinker anytime.
Lets not forget the new age “legal” drugs like Oxy & Lorazapan aka legal Herion.
Tune out and drop in!
i think this is a good thing, but it still doesn’t address the root cause of the problem.. The children are suffering from a society that puts too much reliance on financial gain, material position and the breakdown in the family structure in many homes.
Readily agree with you.
Next step is to educate the youth in technical alternative courses so that we’re not meeting only the needs of those academic students. This has been a great factor in our youth problems.. those non academic students aren’t finding success in school so they quit for greener pastures…the streets. Lets meet their needs in the classroom and educate them within the Dept of Ed. If we can do that there’d be no need for a Peace Group. Save the peace Group for their parents.. They’re the ones that need it!!!