CONTACT PERSONS:

Alla Kovalenko - Chairperson

Vladimir Yakubovich - Executive Director


Telephone: +375 (2233) 25586, +375-29-670-20-28 (mobile)

Address: Sovetskaya St., 16-44, 213410 Gorky, Belarus

E-mail: breski@tut.by, breski@mail.ru

Internet: www.narkotiki.by/mad/gorky.php


MISSION:

To mobilize parents (and especially mothers), educators, and community leaders to prevent their children from getting into the terrible tragedy of drug addiction, which today affects one fifth of all Belarusian families.


GOALS:

To unite parents to prevent the spread of drug abuse and HIV

To establish and maintain prevention and healthy living educational programs

To assist in developing drug addiction rehabilitation centers

To provide counseling to drug users and their families

To conduct charitable events and programs


MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

First time in the CIS, drug abuse prevention programs are accompanied by instrumental music (saxophone) conducted by Vladimir Yakubovich, Executive Director, thus increasing the interest of the audience in the presented message and making their hearts and minds open to the information about the dangers of drugs;

Showing the video Masquerade. Unveiling Myths about Drugs and Alcohol;

AIDS/HIV preventive programs;

Helping families of drug users and people living with HIV ;

Organizing charitable activities:


Concerts "From Heart to Heart" in public schools, public clubs, open-air concert facilities;

Visiting orphanages in the towns of Belaya, Ryasno, Staroselie, and Gorky;




Visiting rest homes for elderly people (Houses of Veterans) in Ryasno and Koptevka;



Conducting concerts in the Cadet School in the city of Mogilev ;




Drug abuse prevention campaign in the vocational training school #1 in the town of Petrikov;

Concerts in Youth Recreation Center in Gorky;



Drug abuse prevention campaign in Hope Social Center in the town of Drybin.



TARGET AUDIENCE:

- Teenagers (age 14-18);
- Young people (age 15-30);
- Educators;
- Local municipal authorities and community leaders;
- National and local mass media;
- Christian organizations;
- Local NGOs;
- People living with HIV and their families.


WHAT WE HAVE DONE:

We have conducted drug abuse prevention programs and showings of a documentary in 15 public schools. We are also continuing to conduct these programs in 10 public schools of Dribin District.

We have held drug abuse prevention/healthy living promotion programs in 4 dormitories of Belarusian State Agricultural Academy.

We have started such programs in Pedagogical College in Gorky.

The total number of students, teachers and parents who have been reached by these programs is now over 3,000.


PROBLEMS:

We believe that the main problem is that most people are indifferent to the growing tragedy of drug addiction in Belarus;

Our NGO exists on donations of private individuals, and has a great need in equipment and financial aid.

WE CAN HELP YOU BY:

- Organizing solo concerts of Vladimir Yakubovich (saxophone)

- Sharing with you our experience and resources

YOU CAN HELP US BY:

- Advertising our web site www.narkotiki.by

- Connecting us with potential donor-organizations and partners

- Inviting us to attend conferences and seminars


OUR PLANS:

Starting "peer to peer" education programs;

Conducting video-seminars and trainings, trainings of volunteers;

Setting up drug abuse prevention campaigns;

Establishing self-help groups of drug users' parents.


FEEDBACK: Students' Comments

- I really enjoyed your program, I want to quit smoking…

- Please come to our school again and tell us more…

- What you have told us we will need for our future life …

- I will now tell my friends not to use drugs and alcohol …

- Most of all I was impressed with your video. I think it is a very effective tool…

- It is not first time you come to our school, and since your first visit we have seen positive changes…

- I am in the 11th grade now. Soon I will go to a big city and will face many choices. I want to thank you for you programs, because they helped me to reconsider a lot in my life.


FEEDBACK: Teachers' Comments

- I teach Healthy Living, and I am very grateful to you, Vladimir, for your very comprehensive presentation. In our school we don't have such visual aids which are so very convincing. The way you talk to students is very pedagogical.

- The Cadet School of Mogilev extends its thanks to Mr. Yakubovich for the concert and the lecture he delivered before our cadets. The music of Vladimir Yakubovich makes people love and care for each other.

- The speaker did a great job! The kids were listening with interest and excitement. They asked so many questions after the program. It's not first time Vladimir comes to us with his program, but it is so effective each time because the topics are very poignant, they deal with the current common problems of teenagers, their future life, their relationships with parents. Thank you so much, Vladimir! We will be happy to see you in our school again.