AID grant no. 525-0320-G-00-1358-00 to Cruz Blanca Panamena to support a program for the prevention of illegal drug use in Panama

The project will fund TA to upgrade staff skills (especially training skills), training of 1,440 volunteers in modern drug awareness and prevention techniques, a mass media campaign, and upgrading of existing and establishment of new local chapters. To improve their planning and training capabilities, Cruz Blanca personnel will participate in: 2 meetings with consultants on planning, program assessment, operations research, and fund raising; 11 working periods or seminars with foreign trainers on prevention and treatment; and 6 training courses for technical personnel. The 1,440 volunteers trained will work as multiplying agents, actively participating in the prevention of illegal drug use at the primary, secondary, and tertiary education levels. This will include working with groups of young people and parents to help them carry out their respective prevention programs. The media campaign will include an on-going, constant prevention campaign through television ads, twenty public awareness meetings, and a yearly Red Ribbon campaign to reinforce the on- going campaign through educational items in national newspapers. In addition to the improving the capability and geographical coverage of the Cruz Blanca chapters through TA and training, the project will provide technical equipment (e.g., printing, audio- visual, and office equipment) and support facilities expansion, including the creation of two new chapters in rural Panama.