Drug Education Assessment Report
In the beginning of the project, the assessment of the situation on drug education in the project countries will be conducted. The existing data on national and European level provides how many young people use drugs, what kind of drugs do they use, as well some information on prevention programmes at schools, but there is no information on European level on the effectiveness of drug education (including harm reduction and prevention) programmes both, at schools and in the youth organizations. That’s why it is necessary to start the project with the assessment on the situation in the countries – what information on drug education is accessible if it exists at all and to what kind of extent.
The questionnaire and methodology for the regional assessment will be prepared by the researcher. Partners in 5 countries will conduct interviews and focus groups with youth workers, social workers, educators, specialists working in the harm reduction field, as well with young people. Online survey to collect feedback on drug education will be shared with young people in partner countries. After all these activities, drug education assessment report will be prepared with conclusions and recommendations.
The report will be used to design and create the manual, but also for the advocacy activities related to the promotion of prevention and harm reduction services in the youth work.
Manual on Drug Education
Manual will be created for the youth workers and educators, peers and harm reduction specialists, and address issues related to drug policy, prevention actions and harm reduction (both, theoretical and practical information with case studies, suggested methods of work with young people, reaching out and including young people into the social life). Manual will also focus on the most efficient tools, methods, approaches used by organizations in their education work. The manual is divided into three parts that will be developed by the regional leading organizations and national partners participating in the trainings:
1) First part of the manual will cover the topic of drug policy, prevention, and harm reduction;
2) Second part will be about young people education on harm reduction, prevention, and peer education;
3) The third part of the manual will focus on innovative communication technologies and methods in drug education.
Educational Videos
With the technical assistance of Rights Reporter Foundation (RRF), youth organizations participants will use their acquired skills to produce online videos on selected drug-related issues to educate young people, peers and the public about drug-related risks and harms and effective ways to reduce them. The videos can also raise awareness on barriers to accessing services, such as social exclusion, stigma and discrimination against vulnerable groups of young people. The format and message of the movies will be carefully selected and adjusted to the local patterns/risks of drug use (eg. overdose, infections, abuse) and the needs of the targeted audience. Videos are not only educational tools but contribute to the empowerment of those young people whose voice is not heard by the authorities or the mainstream media.
5 partners organizations will prepare 5 educational videos, based on local realities.