Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Lena Sin, The Province RCMP START AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM TO EDUCATE GIRLS AT RISK Gang Membership Looks Good on TV but Not in Reality: Police Surrey RCMP have launched a girls-only after-school program to help girls stay away from gangs, drugs and crime. Rosie Thakar, the diversity co-ordinator for the Surrey RCMP, initiated the program for girls aged 12 to 17. They meet once a week for 1 1/2 hours and play sports or meet guest speakers to discuss issues important to teens. Surrey RCMP spokesman Roger Morrow said police want to do anything they can to educate teens on criminal activity, especially on youth gangs, which TV can glorify. "The way gangs are portrayed on TV, it's sort of an in thing to do," says Morrow. "What they're not seeing are the homicides. They're not seeing bodies being abused. Go to downtown Vancouver, or for that matter, North Surrey, and look at the people addicted to drugs. Is that the quality of life they want to lead? If we can stop the girls getting involved in the drug culture, even if I've saved one, I've saved a life." Thakar, who did not return calls to The Province yesterday, told CBC News that an increasing number of Indo-Canadian women are getting involved in gangs in Surrey. Thakar said teenage girls start as prostitutes and end up as drug runners for gangs. "Some of our younger girls are getting used in this process," Thakar said. "They [the gangs] see them as cash." Another problem is that some of the girls are willing to go to great lengths to compete for the attention of gangster boyfriends who are used to having Caucasian girlfriends, Thakar said. Morrow said the program is for girls of any ethnic background. The program, launched in conjunction with the Surrey School District and Surrey Parks and Recreation, is held after school every Friday at Princess Margaret Secondary School. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake