U.S. Embassy Photo Release

March 23, 2007

 

 

DARE Program Graduation in General Santos City: 

U.S. Embassy Encourages Children to Say “No” to Drug Use

 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Attaché to the Philippines was the keynote speaker during a graduation ceremony for the Philippine Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program at Fatima High School in General Santos City on March 9. 

Mr. Timothy Teal, the U.S. Embassy DEA Attaché, urged the students to “just say no” to drugs.  More than 1,000 fifth and sixth graders attended the ceremony and took a pledge to remain drug-free (pictured above). 

The DARE program is a worldwide, highly acclaimed program that gives children the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. DARE was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, California and has proven so successful that it is now being implemented in more than 43 countries around the world.

In the DARE program, police officers visit schools to teach classes to children from kindergarten through 12th grade on how to resist peer pressure and live productive, drug- and violence-free lives.  Police officers who teach under the DARE program are specially trained in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communication skills.  

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