AID cooperative agreement no. 519-0377-A-00-0399-00, drug awareness and abuse prevention project with Anti-Drug Foundation of El Salvador (FUNDASALVA)

An action program for public and private schools will begin as a pilot effort in 8 schools and expand to 48 schools by project end. Activities will include developing educational materials for use by physical education teachers and sports coaches in developing anti-drug programs and providing related training to teaching and administrative staff. FUNDASALVA will also recruit, train, and provide TA and support to committees of teachers, parents, and students to plan and implement prevention activities; a similar strategy will be adopted in the anti-drug efforts noted below. A community-level program will aim at mobilizing youth, especially in marginal areas of major cities, to combat drug abuse among their peers. The program, which will begin in 4 communities and increase to 50 over the life of the project, will offer training for "program monitors" (youth and church leaders, boy/girl scouts, etc.) in the causes and effects of drug and alcohol use and help them form youth organizations to engage in community development and recreational activities promoting self-worth and usefulness. FUNDASALVA will also help community organizations devise prevention and education strategies and implement community drug prevention programs for youth; the sustainability of such programs will be emphasized. FUNDASALVA will also develop and test a preventive education program for use by private businesses, which will be charged a fee for services provided by FUNDASALVA. Adoption of drug-free workplace policies and programs by at least four businesses is targeted. Finally, FUNDASALVA will develop a mass media IEC program targeted to youth and young adults. The program will aim at increasing popular support for legislative/policy changes and a national prevention/education program. The grant will also strengthen FUNDASALVA"s institutional capacity by helping FUNDASALVA: (1) develop the trained personnel and institutional infrastructure needed to implement a national-level program; (2) establish a system to manage and account for A.I.D. and other donor funds; and (3) carry out income-generating activities and charge appropriate fees for providing assistance and services to other drug abuse prevention organizations.