Irena Molnar, Serbia
NGO Re Generation organized two multiplier events to present the results of the project “LEt’s Talk about drugs – new MEthods of communication with youth“ – one formal event with decision makers, colleagues, teachers, and civil society organizations representatives, and another one more focused on youth, organized in a less formal environment so we can actually talk to the community and practice what we preach.
The first event was organized in a formal manner in the Palace of Serbia on May 26. The Palace of Serbia building is used by the government of Serbia, which currently houses several cabinet level ministries and agencies. The first event was attended by the representatives of the Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of Republic of Serbia, the representatives of ministries, civil society organizations, young people who are directly affected by drug education and policy, but also teachers in high schools.
Re Generation team presented project results and activities: the results of the research and the assessment report, the manual on how to communicate with young people about drugs and of course, a video produced during the LET ME project. The presentations of Re Generation team members who participated in the project encouraged an interesting discussion. The main topic of the discussion was the approach to drug education. The discussion included the similarities and differences between prevention and harm reduction, the challenges organizations face in terms of drug education, parents’ role in drug education, the role of schools in formal education etc. The participants agreed that drug education should be improved in Serbia.
The second multiplier event aimed to create non-formal atmosphere and host youth, organizations’ closest friends, interested parents, youth and colleagues. It was organized in the Cultural center Dorćol on June 14. It is a recently opened cultural center, which contains a cafe and an event room, located in the heart of the lower Dorćol neighborhood in a big park where parents, kids, and local youth hang out, so that was one of the reasons we chose that venue.
At the very beginning of the event, the representatives of media were present and the interview with the director of Re Generation was broadcasted live on TV. Re Generation’s team set up a stand with promotional materials – flyers with QR codes leading people to research, manual and video, as well as stickers, pins, and harm reduction flyers, party packs, condoms, lubricants, ear plugs – pretty much everything we can give out and not break any laws in Serbia. It was a hot summer day, so the participants could enjoy the sun in the garden of the cafe, talk to Re Generation’s peer workers and talk about things they always wanted to know, but didn’t have anyone to ask.
Re Generation’s team briefly presented the most important project results, followed by the discussion which opened up great questions about not only risks about drug use, but also the pleasure behind it – and how to communicate that without glorifying the drug use. After the discussion, video “Teach, don’t preach” was played.
After the formal part of the event was done, the DJ set started and the visitors continued to socialize and discuss.
