Funded by the European Union and managed by the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) the AFKAR program aims to strengthen the Lebanese civil society through awarding grants to a number of NGOs following a call for proposals that was launched in three specific sectors (consolidation of State of Law and promotion of citizenship, national reconciliation and inter-communal dialogue, support and integration actions addressed to the rights of specific vulnerable groups).

Thanks to the Afkar grant, Skoun, Lebanese Center for Addictions, the first outpatient clinic in Lebanon, launched the project “Know More, Risk Less” in 30 public secondary schools across Lebanon. The objective of this initiative is to educate and raise awareness amongst students (in grades 8 and 10), parents, and teachers on issues relatedpertaining to drugs and drug abuse.

In each school, grade 8 and 10 classes are educated on drug risks and hazards and taught the skills that help prevent drug abuse. Parents and teachers are given a drug education and prevention seminar which initiates them to methods of protecting their children and students from substance abuse. This seminar also provides them with information on the different drugs that the Lebanese youth are currently being exposed to.

Each participant in the seminars -student, parent, or teacher- receives a copy of the handbook “Drugs: Know More, Risk Less” (“Drogues: Savoir Plus Risquer Moins”). This book was translated and adapted into Arabic from its original version in French that was published and compiled by the French government and the Mission Interministérielle de Lutte contre la Drogue et la Toxicomanie (MILDT). “Know More, Risk Less” is an educational tool that gives Lebanese youth, parents, and educators access to sound and scientifically correct information on drugs, their effects and dangers, as well as drug laws in Lebanon.

Skoun will launch Phase 2 of the project in June 2005. Social workers from various regions across Lebanon as well as from Palestinian camps will receive training on ways to deal with substance abuse in their community, in addition to methods of prevention, and drug education.