Peacemakers have in the last 9 months been very productive in their work within the area of drugs education and support. The Support Team consists of a Drugs Educator, a Youth Court Magistrate, mother of a former user and a recovered former user.

This Team has used its knowledge and experience to act in a liaison and support role with families whose children had become involved with drugs. One case in particular related to a 14 year old boy smoking cannabis on school premises in a group of eight. The Peacemakers Team was contacted after his suspension from school, the school discipline procedures invoked and the local Police being called in. The Team subsequently worked in the liaison role with agencies and supported the family through the process. In addition they are able to work with other drug agencies should there be a need for a long term strategy for the individual. Presentations are also given to youth and parent groups which involve open and frank discussions and the opportunity for the audience to examine and ask questions relating to the pseudo drugs kit which forms part of the presentation. The presentations are titled ‘What do you really know about drugs?’.

The Team have also developed their input into schools. Most recently they have been involved as a drugs education resource in Primary Schools, age group 7-11 years (Key Stage 2). The work is entitled ‘Not all drugs are medicines’ and they work alongside the group’s teacher. The most recent input was for three visits each of two hours duration involving six hours total involvement on the subject of drugs. The teachers are then continuing with the subject using their own material. Due to the enthusiasm of the school on one project the Team have been booked by two further Primary Schools who wish to use them as a resource!

AWAY – Rural Kenya – Runyenjes

At present the Team are focusing the drugs awareness and education programme for overseas use, specifically in Kenya. Due to the Charitable Trust working for sixteen years in the Embu area of Kenya, Peacemakers has built up good local liaison and contacts in the area. In April 2005 one of the Peacemakers Team made contact with two local Kenyans working with the Trust. Patrick Nyaga (local Pastor) and Grace Kuama (Principal Local High School). They jointly raised their concerns over the effect of the leaf know as Khat (Mirra in Swahili) which is the highest earning cash crop that daily is flown from Nairobi to Ethiopia and Somalia where this stimulant leaf is chewed by some of the Muslin Arab people.

Sadly the young Kenyan men have diverted from picking the leaf to earn a living, to chewing it and becoming dependant on its effects. Together with making home-brew alcohol these two practices are fragmenting the traditional family groups and the youth are becoming feckless and dishonest.

With the assistance of the Peacemakers, Patrick and Grace have set up a diversionary programme known as (DACA) Drugs Abusers Campaign Group.

This group of 10 young men now have their own micro-agriculture project growing crops and also keeping sheep to produce lambs for sale at various local markets. Peacemakers are very pleased with the excellent progress and rehabilitation work this group has produced with limited finances and a limited timescale.

In April 2006 four of our Trust members visited the DACA Football Tournament 2006 to watch the semis and final of the soccer Youth Knockout Cup. Peacemakers members presented a large cup to the winners, prizes for the runners-up and medals to all those who participated, including the officials, in front of a huge crowd of spectators. The message and objective of the tournament was ‘Play soccer in your recreation don’t make your recreation drug taking’.

Further visits and seminars are planned for the future to help combat this serious social problem.