An Awareness Campaign on the Dangers of Drugs and the Launch of the “No to Drugs” Marathon

To mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse, the Palestinian Child Welfare Association launches an awareness initiative on the dangers of drugs in Askar Refugee Camp As part of the “Tamayuz” program initiatives of the Sharek Partners Alliance, the Palestinian Child Welfare Association—with support from the Sharek Youth Forum and in collaboration with organizations in the Old Askar Refugee Camp—carried out an awareness initiative on the dangers of drugs and launched the “No to Drugs” marathon, coinciding with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event targeted approximately 70 participants in Askar Camp. Ibrahim Haboush, the association’s director of public relations, welcomed all attendees, conveyed greetings from the association’s management, and emphasized that such gatherings contribute to raising community awareness and that community safety is everyone’s responsibility. vMr. Khaled Masimi, President of the Association for the Happiness of Palestinian Children, addressed the gathering, welcoming all attendees and thanking them, as well as all partner organizations and the Sharek Alliance partners, for their support and for making the initiative a success. Mr. Abdulraouf Abu Huweila, representative of the Popular Committee for Services in the Old Askar Refugee Camp, thanked the organizers of this meaningful initiative and called on everyone to contribute to ending the drug and substance abuse epidemic that has recently been plaguing the local community. Mr. Ahmed Abu Sa’ada, President of the Association of Parents of Children with Special Needs “Our Children” and Deputy Secretary-General of the Fatah Movement, spoke about the types of narcotic substances and their health, psychological, and social harms on camp residents, as well as the dangers of addiction to the individual, the family, and society; ways to prevent it; and the role of the family and society in protecting youth from this scourge. The participants emphasized the importance of raising community awareness and expanding partnerships between government and civil society organizations, thereby helping to promote a culture of prevention and curb the spread of drugs, with the ultimate goal of strengthening security and stability in society. At the conclusion of the initiative, the Palestinian Child Welfare Association honored all partner organizations and the winners of the “No to Drugs” marathon.The participants emphasized the importance of raising community awareness and expanding partnerships between government and civil society organizations, thereby helping to promote a culture of prevention and curb the spread of drugs, with the ultimate goal of strengthening security and stability in society. At the conclusion of the initiative, the Palestinian Child Welfare Association honored all partner organizations and the winners of the “No to Drugs” marathon.