The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Youth of Namibia has embarked on a year-long campaign for 2024 aimed at educating and creating awareness among the youth about drug abuse. The event took place in the streets of Otjomuise, Windhoek.
The AFM Youth of Namibia launched the AFM Youth Against Drugs Campaign.
The national chairperson, Patrick Molutsi, highlighted the daily experience for urban youth, highlighting the alure of drugs and alcohol that often come with the risk of permanent harm.
"We live in an ill society where young people are abusing drugs. And we, the AFM of Namibia National Youth, take the stand and advocate against the use of drugs. By experimenting with drugs, they are damaging their own future lives. Their behaviour is also causing a lot of deaths. So as the AFM of Namibia National Youth, we take that stand and advocate for the prevention of drug usage."
AFM Youth National Vice-Chairperson, Benjamin Jansen, says they mean to get to the root causes of drug and alcohol abuse among the youth, hence the door-to-door nature of the initiative.
He says they hope to leave with a better understanding of how to bring drug abuse in the country under control.
"We are coming onboard to say that the church and the young people, the youth of the church, are taking a progressive stand against this evil. That is breaking down households, which is just instigating poverty. And we are already coming from such a background that we don't have much. So we have taken a progressive stand to say it is time to end this. And thus we are calling upon stakeholders to come on board; those that are already on board want to work with us. We want to work with faith-based and community-based organisations. Let's take the initiative and work together. Because only by working together will we be able to eliminate this evil."
In expanding the campaign, the AFM Youth hope to set up a drug-use prevention programme that would include elements of community responsiveness, scientific evidence, motivational speaking, and public works across all 14 regions.