Defying drugs: Program teaches children ways to say no to drugs, gangs

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Candy Knight
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
The Drug Education For Youth program held an educational and entertainment event Feb. 18 to inform children about the dangers of drugs.

DEFY is a one-year prevention program for children ages 9-12 that teaches children techniques to resist drugs, gangs and alcohol.

“The purpose of the program is to have the children involved in activities to help build their self-esteem and steer them away from negative influences that they face,” said Mrs. Jane White, DEFY program manager.

The program is broken into two phases.

“The first phase of the program a week-long leadership camp where the children learn about leadership, teamwork, substance abuse prevention and self-confidence. This phrase also enables the children to bond with the adult mentors to improve the effectiveness during phase two,” added Mrs. White.

“Phase two of the program is a school-year mentoring phase that is designed to support the education the children learn during phase one,” said Mrs. White.

During phase two, mentors are required to meet at least once a month.

“During the meetings, the mentors and the children discuss issues that [the children] are facing. For example, the children talk about what to do if they are being bullied at school or know of someone who is being bullied at school. We also discussed ways of improving self-esteem and teenage issues that they will face in the future,” said Mrs. White.

The program relies greatly on volunteers to be good, strong mentors.

“We can always use more volunteers, whether military or civilian, who have patience with children and are willing to share some of their personal experiences with them,” said Mrs. White.

The current DEFY class is scheduled to graduate in May.

For more information about the DEFY program, contact Mrs. White at 424-5266.