The Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society (BREADS) organised a meeting on 25 April 2023 for its programme directors and staff from ten districts of Kerala to review the progress made by the Drug Rehabilitation Education and Mentoring (DREAM) programme from November 2021 to March 2023.
Fr. Rubin Mathew SDB (Executive Director, BREADS) welcomed the gathering and appreciated the participants for their contributions towards the DREAM programme. He emphasised the importance of the programme in empowering children and youth to dream beyond drugs.
Mr. Benny Augustine (Manager-Projects) presented an update on the DREAM programmes, highlighting the achievements and challenges faced during the period from November 2021 to March 2023. He emphasised the need to enhance the programme’s reach and effectiveness in the target areas.
Ms. Susanne Arzt (Project Manager, DB Mondo, Germany) was also present at the meeting. She discussed the success and impact of the DREAM programme over the past 1.5 years in the lives of children and youth. Ms. Susanne appreciated the efforts of the BREADS team and the effectiveness of the programme in addressing the issue of drug abuse among young people.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the programme directors and staff to discuss the challenges faced while implementing the programme and share best practices to overcome these challenges. The participants also discussed ways to enhance the programme’s effectiveness, such as increasing community engagement, strengthening partnerships with local stakeholders, and leveraging technology for programme delivery. Inputs from the various stakeholders of DREAM, including parents, teachers, trained ambassadors and local corporate partners, were also shared during the meeting.
