Lions in another round in the drug fight

Friday,  December 23, 2005  

DRUG prevention on the Cayman Islands is receiving renewed commitment and action from the Education Department and the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.

At a fundraising concert at the Lions Centre on Sunday 17 December, both organisations pledged their allegiance to the Lions Quest programme, which is entering its 21st year.

Speaking on behalf of the Education Department, James Watler said the programme helps develop skills and set up career options for thousands of primary and high school students here.

“The Lions Quest programme enables students to benefit academically, socially and emotionally, develop skills and explore numerous career options.

“This enables them to better appreciate the value of civic responsibility and prepares them to actively participate in their community,” he said.

The Education Officer with responsibility for health and drug education said the partnership is crucial in “these troubled times”.

“It is with a great sense of pride that we continue to maintain the relationship especially in these troubled times.

Mr Watler added: “The Lions Quest provides students with a philosophy and a set of ideas that is workable and feasible in being able to resist the temptation of delving in risky behaviour.”

Lioness and teacher of the Lions Quest programme at George Hicks High School, Susan Tresidder, said the programme was conceived out of a desire to stem the drug problem in the Cayman Islands.

“In 1985, we realised we had an emerging drug problem on the Island and the Lions Club wanted to help and the Education Department thought they had found the right programme,” she explained.

According to her 57 teachers, social workers, police officers, church officials and anyone associated with youth met at Education Department 20 years ago to examine a variety of drug prevention programmes.

“The Lions Quest programme came up tops because it spoke to all of the values and the criteria we had established and we wanted.

“We then approached the Lions Club for funding and they funded us with so much generosity they paid for all of the training and they continue to pay for all the training,” she said.

Ms Tresidder noted that the programme, which is taught for about an hour a week at her school, is making a difference in the lives of the students.

“What we are after is developing competencies in children and we are after developing children’s resilience.

“This is a values education programme, this is a social education programme, it’s a skills based programme and it also teaches drug prevention strategies to children,” she said.

Ms Tresidder stressed that one very important aspect of the programme is that it caters to all age groups in the school system.

“It starts in kindergarten and goes up to grade 12, so the child has an age appropriate version of this programme every single stage of their school career.  It never leaves them,” she noted.

The Lions official added that children are expected to at some point during their school year do service to others, saying it shows them the value and benefit of becoming a good citizen.

The Lions Quest programme forms part of the weekly Life Skills syllabus of several schools on the Islands.

On Sunday, the Lions staged a one-night Stars and Promises concert to generate funds for the programme with American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Peter Mayers and his band performing here.

The large audience at the Lions Centre appeared impressed with the musicians who are well-known for their music genres that include jazz, country, rock and classic.

The First Baptist Church choir, under the direction of Pastor Dave George, was the opening act on a night that focused mainly on Christmas.  

paul@caymannetnews.com

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