Wesley High focuses on drug prevention

This morning a parade passed our studios and, like most Belizeans, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods just had to find out what it was all about. After a trip to Wesley High she found out.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Five years ago the principal and staff of Wesley College started on a campaign to help their students deal with the issue of drugs. The problem does not seem to be a major one at the school and administrators want to keep it that way.

Brenda Armstrong, Principal, Wesley College

“I think it is a problem throughout because when the students come to us from primary schools, some of them have already been exposed to drug use. I wouldn’t say that it is rampant, but it is something that we have had to deal with, we have had several students who self-refer.”

Free yourself, respect yourself, be drug free was the message the five hundred and forty one Wesley students shouted as they marched through Belize City streets on their annual Red Ribbon Day.

Camille Anderson, Student, Wesley College

“As a student for Wesley College, parading was so amazing to me because I know the message that we were saying reached most people and that not everybody realizes that drug is an important issue.

Fifteen-year-old Camille Anderson is one of the school’s peer counsellors. It’s just one of the programmes the college offers to address the issue.

Ronald Sanchez, Student Peer Helper, Wesley College

“Peer helping is sort of helping people with their problems, not giving them decisions, but helping them to make their own decisions. And sometimes it makes them happier, even feel better about themselves.”

But as principal Brenda Armstrong notes, the students live in a larger world than the Wesley campus.

Brenda Armstrong

“The society that these students live in sends them messages that say its okay to drink, its okay to smoke, especially if you want to show if you are a man or woman, you know you’re grown. The pressure is extremely high when they are out at parties or at social events, so as a school we need to keep sending the message.”

Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.

The parade was part of activities celebrating Wesley’s Red Ribbon Week. On Thursday, the programme continues with a talent show, and on Friday there will be a Parents Potluck Evening. Throughout the week there have also been poetry, poster and rap competitions.