Citizens’ Association for prevention of addiction NARKO-NE

Citizens' Association NARKO-NE Action Plan 2010.

The work of the Association for prevention of addiction NARKO-NE focuses on the issues relating to early developments of addictive behaviour with an aim to reduce demand for psychoactive substances and to promote health amongst young people in the whole of Bosnian and Herzegovinian society.
The emphasis is on causes of addiction. NARKO-NE educates, supports and monitors peer leaders, high school and university students, who carry out activities in the area of practical primary prevention of addiction.
NARKO-NE gives young people opportunities to gain knowledge and skills so that they through their voluntary engagement reduce the risk of developing addictions and promoting healthy life style in their local community.
Through professional development programme, we train staff from our partner governmental and non-governmental organisations that support and monitor work of our volunteers.
In accordance with our strategic goal for the period from 2010- 2012, the NARKO-NE will be working on systemising and disseminating gained knowledge, experience and expertise in the field of prevention of addiction with other actors engaged in the work with young people.
The Citizen’s Association NARKO-NE is a registered organization since 16.09.2002 at the Ministry of Justice, BH. We work under the patronage of “St Anthony’s Bread” , Franciscian Province’s”Bosna Srebrna” charity organisation.
In 2010 we will carry out five primary-selective and general prevention of addiction projects, which in total include 140 volunteers - high school and university students, young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I.    “Universal” prevention projects…
...focus on all of the children and young people and their social environment, with an aim to prevent or postpone the abuse of substances. It provides all the participants with information and skills necessary for problem solving.
    Intercity theatre project - (not to be implemented in 2010)
    Preventative magazine Preventeen - 34 young volunteers from 11 different towns in Bosnia will 4 times a year work on creating Preventeen, a free magazine for high school students that for a theme has prevention of addiction. The magazine is unique and not stereotypical as it is written in the language that is familiar to young people. Preventeen is concerned with youth issues. It gathers and helps young people from all different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina socialise putting emphasis on smaller and less developed communities. Edition: 2000 copies.
    Intercultural Creative Weeks (IKS) – The aim of the project is to provide young people who live in two towns to spend quality spare time during their summer holidays. The project has been running since 2002 and this year it will include 67 volunteers, 50 high school students from Vitez, Vitez-Sofa and Vareš and 17 students from higher education art colleges, social work and social education students from Switzerland. Volunteers develop their creative, organisational, communication and negotiation skills. This project is supported by the local government.
II.    “Selective” prevention projects…
… are dedicated to children who live in children’s homes or come from socially deprived families and neglected communities, so their upbringing in to healthy, socially integrated, socially useful and competent adults is somewhat difficult. The purpose of the project is to alleviate and compensate the consequences of different developmental deficiencies and difficulties with children, to prevent social marginalisation, developmental disorders and getting involved in the world of addiction, crime and addiction.
    Older brother, older sister – In this project we match primary school children, age 8 to 12 with an “older brother” or an “older sister”, a volunteer student. During their weekly meetings children gain confidence in reliable role model and friendly support so it can develop socially acceptable behaviours, human and cultural values and also independent life skills. Volunteers’ work is monitored and supported by professional workers at Canton Sarajevo Social Services, whose clients are the families of children involved in the project.
    Network Older Brother, Older Sister BH – Forming of the National Network in order to develop and expand the Older Borther, Older Sister project in other communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, other than Banja Luka and Sarajevo where these projects existed until now. This is to contribute to the process of reform of the social security in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The network members are 6 NGO organisations based in 6 different towns and cities of the country: Banjaluka, Foča, Mostar, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Zenica.
    Educating and training mentors for work with Older Brother, Older Sister volunteers – With this project we responded to the needs of the less developed communities and specific institutions for children, so through the training of 7 young professionals as mentors we realise a group version of The Older Brother, Older Sister. Since September 2009, we have been implementing 4 pilot projects: In each there are two mentors that train and monitor volunteers’ group work with children at risk.
1.    Life skills training for the girls in the Boarding School “Al Walidein, Gazzaz”, Sarajevo (since 01.10.2009)
2.    Radionice za učenje, za djecu u 6. razredu, Vareš i Vareš-Majdan (od 15.11.2009.)
3.    “From play to friendship”, creative workshops for children in remote communities, first cycle completed  in Vareš
4.    Creative workshops in the Day centre live and work on the streets (since 10.12.2009)                            

22.04.10.