love56k
Expert Member
a perfect example of what one can achieve by writing a letter to the right people 
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Drugs are not ok, thank you!
May 26 2006 at 08:55AM
By Barry Bateman
When a Garsfontein teenager sent a letter to the police expressing her concerns about the drug problem in her community, little did she know it would spark an important national campaign.
Lizanie Els, 18, headgirl of Hoërskool Garsfontein, wrote a letter to the National Crime Prevention Unit detailing her concern - and asking help from the officers.
Now the police have started a programme to stop drug-related crime in schools, educate pupils through entertainment... and improve their own relationship with the youth of South Africa.
'I can hardly believe this has happened'
Lizanie said at the launch of the Drug Reduction in Schools campaign on Thursday: "I can hardly believe this has happened. I didn't expect my letter to have such an effect."
Hundreds of pupils from 11 city schools attended the launch at Hoërskool Garsfontein.
Lizanie and Mamelodi High School headboy Patrick Mathye were flown in to the school grounds by police helicopter, and alighted to much applause from the crowd.
Lizanie said: "This programme will help people take responsibility for themselves and help rid the city of drugs. Many teenagers use drugs, especially dagga, at parties, and don't think of the consequences."
She wrote the letter two months ago. "I was concerned about drug abuse in the community and schools.
'Help rid the city of drugs'
In her letter, Lizanie said she wanted to start a project at her school to highlight the issue of drug abuse and she asked police to arrange a "high-impact programme".
That programme included a helicopter, sniffer dogs "to add excitement", an expo on the various kinds of drugs and the consequences of abuse, a lecture presented by a drug expert, media coverage and a prominent guest speaker.
"I was stunned - everything I asked for in my letter was at the launch," said the excited teenager.
"In the weeks running up to the launch, I had meetings with the police and they made me part of the planning process. They consulted me about ideas and whether they would appeal to teenagers," she said.
Apart from Thursday's interactive drug exhibit, the National Prosecuting Service staged a mock trial to illustrate the court proceedings following a drug-related "charge", while the Pretoria Area Dog Unit officers demonstrated how they crack down on drug crime.
Police spokesperson Francois Bekker said when Lizanie's letter arrived in senior officers' post boxes, they decided the idea was of national importance.
Bekker said: "Soon it will be rolled out nationwide to reach as many school pupils as possible.
"The ultimate goal is to strengthen the relationship between schools and police in order to effectively prevent drug abuse among the youth in the country," he said.
Before a presentation, police identify schools where drugs are a problem and invite pupils from those schools to attend. Bekker said those pupils were the information carriers who took the message back to their schools and spread it.
Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Susan Shabangu, who was also at the launch, assured the pupils of police commitment to ensuring an environment where pupils could learn and play and grow to become respected citizens in society.
This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on May 26, 2006 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20060526035607640C951284
__________________________
Drugs are not ok, thank you!
May 26 2006 at 08:55AM
By Barry Bateman
When a Garsfontein teenager sent a letter to the police expressing her concerns about the drug problem in her community, little did she know it would spark an important national campaign.
Lizanie Els, 18, headgirl of Hoërskool Garsfontein, wrote a letter to the National Crime Prevention Unit detailing her concern - and asking help from the officers.
Now the police have started a programme to stop drug-related crime in schools, educate pupils through entertainment... and improve their own relationship with the youth of South Africa.
'I can hardly believe this has happened'
Lizanie said at the launch of the Drug Reduction in Schools campaign on Thursday: "I can hardly believe this has happened. I didn't expect my letter to have such an effect."
Hundreds of pupils from 11 city schools attended the launch at Hoërskool Garsfontein.
Lizanie and Mamelodi High School headboy Patrick Mathye were flown in to the school grounds by police helicopter, and alighted to much applause from the crowd.
Lizanie said: "This programme will help people take responsibility for themselves and help rid the city of drugs. Many teenagers use drugs, especially dagga, at parties, and don't think of the consequences."
She wrote the letter two months ago. "I was concerned about drug abuse in the community and schools.
'Help rid the city of drugs'
In her letter, Lizanie said she wanted to start a project at her school to highlight the issue of drug abuse and she asked police to arrange a "high-impact programme".
That programme included a helicopter, sniffer dogs "to add excitement", an expo on the various kinds of drugs and the consequences of abuse, a lecture presented by a drug expert, media coverage and a prominent guest speaker.
"I was stunned - everything I asked for in my letter was at the launch," said the excited teenager.
"In the weeks running up to the launch, I had meetings with the police and they made me part of the planning process. They consulted me about ideas and whether they would appeal to teenagers," she said.
Apart from Thursday's interactive drug exhibit, the National Prosecuting Service staged a mock trial to illustrate the court proceedings following a drug-related "charge", while the Pretoria Area Dog Unit officers demonstrated how they crack down on drug crime.
Police spokesperson Francois Bekker said when Lizanie's letter arrived in senior officers' post boxes, they decided the idea was of national importance.
Bekker said: "Soon it will be rolled out nationwide to reach as many school pupils as possible.
"The ultimate goal is to strengthen the relationship between schools and police in order to effectively prevent drug abuse among the youth in the country," he said.
Before a presentation, police identify schools where drugs are a problem and invite pupils from those schools to attend. Bekker said those pupils were the information carriers who took the message back to their schools and spread it.
Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Susan Shabangu, who was also at the launch, assured the pupils of police commitment to ensuring an environment where pupils could learn and play and grow to become respected citizens in society.
This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on May 26, 2006 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20060526035607640C951284
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