Annual Report 2019

“Get Connected” Drug Use Prevention Programme “…We must also reckon that the fight against drug use cannot be effective if it is not anchored by a national effort. Which is why it is my belief that every component of our society, from corporates to individuals and NGOs, needs to be actively involved in the fight against drug use…” (Extract from speech of Mr Colin Taylor, Chairman, at the launch of the Get Connected Programme). One of the CSR programmes which has been at the heart of our commitment to better the lives of our fellow citizens is the Drug Prevention Use programme (‘Get Connected’) launched by the Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research (MoEHRTESR) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). “Get Connected” is a skills-based programme targeting 12-14 year old school children in Mauritius inspired and adapted from the European Union Unplugged Programme. It is in line with the United UNODC’s International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. The kick-off of the programme in January 2019 was preceded by the sensitisation of the top leadership of the Ministry of Education, Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research (MoEHRTESR) and Rectors and Managers of Secondary Schools on the programme. Input from the sensitisation programme was used to further customise the programme for the Mauritian setting and 40 Educational Psychologists, Ministry of Health personnel and the staff of two NGOs were trained through a ‘Train the Trainers’ initiative. The programme was officially launched by the PrimeMinister in the presence of four other Ministers. In Phase 1, the programme was implemented in 24 colleges, with another 23 colleges used as control schools for evaluation purposes. Pre-tests were conducted in all 47 schools and post- tests were done at the end of the 12-week implementation period. Some anecdotal impacts have already been noted by those implementing the programme. The full evaluation of Phase 1 will be conducted in January 2020 to allow for a 12-month post-programme impact maturation. Following the successful implementation of the programme, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in his Budget Speech 2019-2020 mentioned that “The drug use prevention programme which is currently in place in 48 schools will be extended to all secondary schools”. This meant national coverage for a school drug use prevention programme. Phase 2 of the programme will be implemented in all 148 secondary schools in Mauritius, both private and public, and is planned to start in January 2020. 296 teachers/educators will be trained in November 2019 (2 per school) and will then be responsible for the implementation of the programme under the supervision of those already trained. This programme illustrates the combination of a number of critical elements which are essential for the success and impact of a programme, namely the highest political support together with the necessary budgetary allocation for national scale-up, backing a solid evidence-based prevention science and a trained and dedicated workforce. Once educated on these risks, our teenagers can in turn become advocates of drug use prevention and help curb the alarming rate at which our youth are falling prey to the scourge of drugs. Launch of 'Get Connected' programme in the presence of the Prime Minister of Mauritius CIM FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD / ANNUAL REPORT 2019 49