Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 Source: Coast Reporter (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Coast Reporter Contact: http://www.coastreporter.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/580 SWEEP YOUTH PERFORM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS On Friday, April 20, youth members of Students Wanting to Encourage Education and Prevention on Drugs and Alcohol (SWEEP) performed theatrical skits for their younger peers at Sechelt and Gibsons elementary schools. In collaboration with guest prevention worker from Squamish, Leanna Buffie, these youth are spreading the message that knowledge is power. Acting as peer leaders, SWEEP youth trained in theatre, communication with compassion, ensemble and capacity building skills for two months to prepare for this day. Children in the audience participated by sharing their feelings that were then "played back" through sound and movement. A true story where an anonymous youth experiments with Ritalin is performed as the audience yells out "stop" and students offer an alternative choice to what the actor is doing in the scene. Buffie guides the discussion by answering questions and inviting students to share what they know about healthy choices. The performance ends with the actors creating freeze frames of any changes in feelings from the children after experiencing the show. This interactive show empowers the younger children to speak out, use critical thinking and learn the facts before they move on to higher grades where they are likely to encounter substance use in youth culture. Sechelt and Gibsons elementary schools have both been lobbying for years for a permanent education-based prevention worker who visits schools regularly on the Sunshine Coast and teaches students about the effects of drugs and alcohol. As a pilot project funded by Health Canada, SWEEP has participated in realizing this need, as well as connecting community services, such as Vancouver Coastal Health, the Needle Exchange, Addiction Services and programs with youth. A strategy manual has been developed in a user-friendly website format for youth and adults to access as a template for creating a SWEEP program in their community. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek