DREAM Launch in Thiruvananthapuram

The Drug Rehabilitation Education And Mentoring (DREAM) programme was officially launched in Thiruvananthapuram by Smt. Veena George (Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala) on 7 January 2022 at SMV School. The programme was initiated with a bike rally, flagged off by Shri. Rakesh (CI, Fort police station, TVM). The rally aimed at creating awareness among the public on drug abuse. Staff from CHILDLINE, and Don Bosco Veedu Society were part of the awareness rally, which had about 20 participants.

The formal programme was presided over by Sri. V K Prasanth (MLA, Vattiyoorkavu). Shri. Gopakumar R (Joint Excise Commissioner, Kerala), Shri. Balachandran (Deputy Excise Commissioner, TVM), Fr. Binu Scaria SDB (State Director, DREAM), Fr. Saji SDB (Thiruvananthapuram District Director, DREAM) were also part of the programme. An official theme song for DREAM Thiruvananthapuram was launched on the occasion. The event was made much more delightful with diverse cultural performances by the students of Government Boys’ School, Venjarammoodu, and Mahatma Gandhi College.

Through DREAM, prevention programmes in schools and colleges have been initiated based on the understanding that children and youth spend much of their time in a school/college environment, and therefore, these are appropriate environments in which to provide knowledge and tools, to prevent and reduce youth involvement in drugs and potential delinquency.