IBC Secretary General, Anne Babb and IBC Programme Officer, Flavia Ganarin, recently visited our project partner Génération 5S (CTPAD) in Congo Brazzaville. Together, IBC and CTPAD have been implementing a comprehensive substance use prevention project for the last 10 years and have committed to collaborating for the next years as well. Anne and Flavia visited multiple schools in vulnerable neighbourhoods in Brazzaville, where Génération 5S staff is facilitating Life Skills Sessions for youth at risk of addiction. The numerous testimonies of positive change by students, peer educators, parents, teachers and school principals have been very empowering, showcasing the strong positive impact the project has on the lives of thousands of youth who have in the past been exposed to addiction, violence or other forms of discrimination (see below). Anne and Flavia also met with the Congolese Minister of Health, Mr. Gilbert Mokoki, to talk about prevention through alcohol policy. Topics of common interest were the dissociation of alcohol sponsorship during sports events in Congo and the ban of alcohol marketing. During a subsequent visit to the WHO Afro and Congo offices, it was decided to create a joint working group, including the Congolese government (different concerned ministries), WHO and civil society (amongst others CTPAD and Blue Cross Congo), to bring the alcohol policy agenda forward. On the whole, the appreciated work with the local team was very enriching. In addition, the multiple testimonials illustrate the powerful impact of our projects:
« I used to have a hard time dealing with my own emotions and when I was angry I became violent. I would often start fights at school and was at risk of being expelled. It was difficult for me and my whole family. The life skills club really helped my self-esteem and I learned how to share my feelings and my problems with others. »
« I had to repeat my final exams three times. With each failure I felt more and more pressure from myself, my family, and my community. Everyone thought I was not intelligent enough to finish school and go to university, except my peer educator at the life skills club. She told me that it was all up to me and that if I truly tried I would be capable of reaching my goals. She helped me find confidence in my skills and take charge of my life. With each success I learned to believe in myself again. Today, I am at university and in my free time I will also become a peer educator to motivate other girls not to abandon their studies. »
« I was trained as a peer educator by the project Génération 5S. One day I went to a private school in my neighbourhood to facilitate a Life Skills session on alcohol and other drug use. The headmaster was so impressed with both the message and my skills that he created the new position of a life skills teacher and offered it to me. »
