INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PREVENTION OF ADDICTION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING - 26^th JUNE 2016

This was the day in our plan to create awareness among our people in and around Colachel especially, the Youth of the danger of addiction to alcohol and other substances.

We organized the women to come in a rally from Nagle Health Centre to St. Mary’s Primary School stage up roaring slogans against alcohol addiction.

The youth prepared to carry flaming torches, were asked by the Police to go in open vehicles and not run as we had planned. The youth from different villages like Periyavilai, Kurumbanai, Ritapuram came to the venue with their slogans to the venue as we played the awareness songs.

At the open air stage – we had the IPS – to preside over, while there were other dignitaries such as Municipal Chairman, our Vicar Forane, Parish Priest, Municipal Councilors etc. They felicitated us.

The highlight of the program in awareness creation was the sing song with action of the New Life Centre women who enacted in “Villupattu”, the harmful effects of alcohol and how to be free from alcohol addiction through treatment.

Of course we had other cultural program also of quality – from ‘Kalari’ (Folk Art), Nagercoil – a drama and an awareness dance. Besides all these there were other items performed.

The President, the Vicar Forane and other felicitated us spoke on ways those addicted can free themselves. A recovered alcoholic, a wife of a recovered alcoholic and a child affected by alcoholism shared about the effects of alcoholism and the treatment at New Life Centre helped them.

The program for the public was organized by Presentation Sisters, Colachel supported by Friends of Nano. We hope this will bear fruit in prevention of alcoholism to some extent in our area.