Republic of the Congo

Like other African states, the Republic of the Congo is experiencing very strong population growth. Children and young people under 25 years make up the majority of the total population and are especially vulnerable where alcohol and drug abuse is concerned. In addition to poverty and unemployment, family problems, difficulties in the social environment, peer pressure, lack of awareness of the dangers of alcohol, easy access to alcohol and insufficient law enforcement are all reasons to reach for the bottle. Since 2013, IBC has been implementing its Life Skills and Peer Education programme in middle schools in the capital Brazzaville. Together with national ministers and stakeholders from local organisations, Blue Cross members are present in a political forum to promote the inclusion of the programme into the national school curriculum of Congo.