Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006
Source: Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Copyright: Arab News 2006
Contact:  http://www.arabnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3617
Author: P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

DRUG COMBATING PROGRAM TARGETS WOMEN AND YOUTH

JEDDAH, 18 October 2006 -- Prince Turki ibn Talal,  chairman of the 
board of trustees of Mentor Arabia, has  emphasized the role of his 
organization in protecting  young men and women from drug abuse and 
promoting their  health and well-being.

Mentor, a non-profit and non-government organization,  has positively 
affected the lives of more than a  million children in 40 countries 
over the last 10  years. It seeks to undertake, identify, support and 
share information on proven and promising practices  that effectively 
prevent or protect children and young  people from drugs.

Speaking about Mentor's vision, Prince Turki said it  aimed at 
creating a world that provides opportunities  for the healthy 
development of children and youth, free  from the harm caused by drug abuse.

Mentor was established in 1994 in Geneva with the queen  of Sweden as 
president. Prince Talal, president of the  Arab Gulf Program for UN 
Development Organizations  (AGFUND), is one of its founders. Mentor 
aims to create  and undertake youth-oriented drug prevention programs 
that are scientifically sound and can be implemented on  a national 
or international basis. With its primary  target group of young 
people, it undertakes projects  and identifies promising and best practices.

Mentor's projects can be grouped into five key areas:  information 
and policy development, schools, families,  vulnerable groups and 
mentoring. It also acts as a  consultant by providing advice, 
training, evaluation  and project management for international 
agencies and  governments wishing to develop or improve their 
prevention policy and practice.

Mentor has an international remit for drug prevention  and is 
developing national organizations that operate  as part of the Mentor Family.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine