John Keells Foundation (JKF) piloted a school-based Substance Abuse Prevention Project under its focus area of Health in collaboration with the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) – pioneer Government Institution that work towards preventing substance abuse in Sri Lanka. Under the pilot programme, two teacher training workshops were conducted empowering 45 teachers and 03 principals representing 41 schools from the Colombo Education Zone and 60 teachers and 02 principals representing 50 schools from the Sri Jayewardenepura Education Zone. Both programmes were conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

The 3-day interactive workshops provided teachers comprehensive knowledge and skills to identify students with substance abuse related issues, ways to deal with such students, where to seek help and how to prevent cases from taking place. The trained teachers are mandated to incorporate learnings at Health and Physical Education classes in their respective schools with the aim of building positive attitudes and values amongst schoolchildren and communities to build a productive, safe and healthy society and are due to be evaluated on the outcomes.

Mr. P.L.G.P Priyantha form Kottawa Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya said “As a counselor teacher, I was keen to participate in this programme to update my knowledge. I have been a part of similar programmes on substance abuse prevention but this programme was completely different as it was an interactive programme that was conducted by a team of experts who provided us a platform to voice our concerns as well. I would like to extend my appreciation to NDDCB, the Ministry of Education and John Keells Foundation for conducting the programme and I would also like to take this opportunity to assure you that we will always strive to plant the seeds you inculcated and take this message to the schools to ensure that the students reap its benefits.”