New Light 2 Northern Shan Drug Prevention Program Quarterly Progress Report July 1 to September 30, 2016

The program is implemented by World Concern Development Organization (WCDO) and is funded by the Department of State through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) grant S-INLEC-15-GR-1005. The program focuses on three objectives: increasing the resistance of individual youth to the first use of drugs, equipping families to increase child and youth resistance to illegal drugs, and mobilizing villages to decrease their illegal drug use. To achieve these objectives, WCDO staff implemented multiple workshops and supported social and recreational activities in the project areas. During the period of July to September 2016, WCDO staff conducted life skills training for 20 youth in Nawng Chyum village in the Theinni area. The training covered critical thinking, vision, communication, duty and responsibility, feeling and emotion, empathy, self-value, and the side effects of drug abuse. Additionally, multiple recreational events were held in the Lashio, NSSBC, Theinni, and LCC areas, with over 332 individuals participating in sports events. WCDO staff also followed up with 70 Peer Educators (PEs) from Mai Jai village in the Lashio area, who have provided life skills training to their communities. These individual visits were tailored to support PEs in their efforts to provide education to their peers on self-awareness, critical thinking, decision making, and the negative consequences and effects of drug abuse. In terms of family-based activities, WCDO staff held two awareness training sessions in July across two villages in the NSSBC area, with a total of 60 participants attending. Parents gained knowledge on drug abuse-related topics, including how to provide parental guidance to children on drug prevention strategies, strengthening parent-child communication, and creating a drug-free environment within their families. The program has received informal feedback from community members that as knowledge and awareness about drug abuse increases, matched by a decrease in drug demand, there have been active efforts by drug dealers trying to solicit new customers and/or keep old buyers. As a result, WCDO has discussed key issues with staff and volunteers and incorporated these lessons learned by building additional harm reduction and security trainings into future program designs. The New Light 2 Northern Shan Drug Prevention program has made significant progress in implementing its objectives and activities, with a focus on increasing the resistance of individual youth to the first use of drugs, equipping families to increase child and youth resistance to illegal drugs, and mobilizing villages to decrease their illegal drug use. The program's efforts have been recognized by community members, who have reported a decrease in drug demand and an increase in awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. The program's success can be attributed to the effective implementation of its objectives and activities, as well as the strong partnerships with local communities and stakeholders. The program's continued focus on harm reduction and security trainings will be crucial in addressing the challenges posed by drug dealers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program. The program's geographic focus is on Northern Shan State, Myanmar, with a specific emphasis on the Lashio, NSSBC, Theinni, and LCC areas. The program's timeframes are quarterly, with the current report covering the period of July to September 2016. The program's recommendations for future implementation include continued support for life skills training, recreational activities, and family-based awareness training, as well as the incorporation of additional harm reduction and security trainings into future program designs.