LDS Primary Drug Awareness Day 2015

Suva City -

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The local theme for the week was OUR HEALTH, OUR LIFE, OUR RESPONSIBILITY. I Taukei version: NA TIKO BULABULA E NODA ITAVI .Hindi version: HAMARA SWASTH, HAMARA JIWAN, HAMARI JIMEDAREE.

A number of schools, both primary and secondary, were invited to be part of a march through town as part of the Drug Awareness week program. We, LDSPS, were fortunate to be one of the chosen schools. It began with students designing posters in school to relay our message to the public. Budding artists in the classroom were discovered. Approximately 12 students and the 2 Year 6 teachers were chosen to represent the school.

A bus was provided by the organizers of the program to transport all participants to the venue which was the Flea Market in downtown Suva. We assembled at the site and awaited the arrival of the Fiji Military Forces band to lead the march. At approximately 11:30 the band arrived and the march finally got underway at around 11:45. We had been there since 10 o’clock and were impatient to get going.

With the pounding of drums and trumpets blaring, the march featuring about 200 students started on a very fast note. We took to the streets of Suva, which by now, was lined with hundreds of people. Our journey through the streets of Suva brought about cheers and applause from the bystanders. This in turn encouraged the marchers to yell out ‘NO MORE DRUGS, NO MORE DRUGS” to the beat of the drums. Our journey ended at the Centenary Church (Methodist) where we were welcomed by Reverend James Bhagwan. A service was conducted to open Drug Awareness week and different speakers spoke on the dangers of drug use and the need to rely on the Lord when faced with challenges. The service ended with the release of hundreds of balloons to officially mark the opening of the event. Students, teachers and guests were then treated to refreshments by the organizers.

All in all it was an eye opener for our children to see and be a part of such an event and we hope that we will continue to do so.