Colastraw Launches Anti-Drugs Campaign
Correspondent | Monday March 7, 2016 14:33
Bonno ‘DJ Colastraw’ Ngaka stated that their main objective is to provide the youth with information on the harmful effects of alcohol and drug usage.
DJ Colastraw highlighted that students remain a target for people who sell drugs, and that peer pressure might also get them involved in things like alcohol and drug abuse.
“Music is a profession. For you to do your best in the profession, one has to stay away from alcohol and substance abuse. We therefore found it fitting to do this initiative in secondary schools through educating and entertaining them or edutainment,” explained DJ Colastraw.
Officiating at the launch the assistant minister of Education and Skills Development, Moiseraele Master Goya said he remembered not so long ago when children used to live in a drug-free environment, but today it is a total different story.
He said this is something which is of concerns to the ministry, government and Batswana at large.
Goya told attendants that it is disgusting that those who sell drugs target youngsters. “We cannot allow drugs to rule our schools, (and) to ruin the gains that we made. This fight cannot be left to the government alone, it is a collective battle that needs all the relevant stakeholders to put effort into,” Goya said.
“Some of these drug dealers we know them. They are our neighbours, our friends and relatives, and the big question is what are we doing about this situation? Let us make a difference and not watch our children’s futures be taken away by the abuse of drugs and alcohol,” he said.
Goya said there are rumours that some workers in schools as well as street vendors selling goods by school premises sell drugs to students. Goya said following this concern the ministry of education has allowed Colastraw to use his music to influence and give awareness to students because modern youth like music.
Daniel Diamond, a recovering alcohol and drug addict said he started developing interest in smoking drugs when he was still at junior secondary school.
“I smoked my first cigarette when I was at school. An older student would force us to buy cigarettes for him and then he would demand us to smoke with him,” Diamond said. He said he used to spend all of his money on alcohol and cigarettes and would buy alcohol for his friends.
Diamond explained that he kicked the habit after his employers at Botswana Life found out that he had a problem and took him for counselling.
Member of Parliament for Francistown East, Buti Billy hailed the project. He said DJ Colastraw and his team are essential to society as they are a concrete teaching aid. DJ Colastraw and his team have already visited two senior secondary schools.