KARATE AGAINST DRUGS-PERFORMANCE IN KULYAB

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000449 SIPDIS SCA/CEN (HUSHEK) INL/AAE (BUHLER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR EAID KCRM KJUS TI SUBJECT: KARATE AGAINST DRUGS-PERFORMANCE IN KULYAB REF: 08 DUSHANBE 1381 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: INL Dushanbe officers participated in a drug demand reduction performance in the southern city of Kulab conducted February 17 by members of the Tajikistan Karate-do Federation. The karate experts led by the Federation's head coach, Bahrom Khomidov, engaged high school students in a spirited, interactive performance promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. End summary. ¶2. (U) Background: INL teamed up with the Karate-do Federation of Tajikistan last October sponsoring a kick-off tournament with prizes for karate champions and an essay competition for high school students on the dangers of drugs (reftel). The essay winners received a free English language course or karate lessons. Following the tournament, INL enlisted the support of the karate champions and Federation leadership to travel to 30 schools around Tajikistan to teach about the dangers of drug use and show athlete s as positive role models. End background. ¶3. (U) On February 17, INL Dushanbe team traveled to Kulyab, in the south of Tajikistan, to monitor the final outreach performance of the project. The performance took place in secondary school # 9, a 1970's era structure that was in good repair although it lacked heat and electricity as did most of the town. More than one hundred teenagers, teachers, and staff comprised the audience. The local representative of the Ministry of Education joined us for the event and proved to be an active participant. ¶4. (U) Head karate-do coach, Bahrom Khamidov, briefed the students about different types of drugs and how drug use can damage their health. He actively reached out to the audience, offering kids ample opportunity to speak and express their opinion. He used "Films of your life" an interactive game/ presentation model which INL Dushanbe modified to appeal to Tajik youth. The model creates interaction between the audience and the presenter and students are offered a chance to publicly imagine their futures in both healthy and d rug-addicted lives at age 20, 40, and 60. Focusing on the dangers to the family, the most critical support network in a country which provides next to no social services, Khamidov used dramatic examples of the danger of students' drug use. He encouraged students to openly discuss the possibility of losing beloved family members or even complete family destruction. It was notable how seriously the students regarded the negative impact of drug use on their lives. One young man hypothesized that a life of drug use would cause him to lose his future family and (more importantly) he said his wife's next husband would have no regard for another man's children. ¶5. (U) After the emphasis on the dangers of drugs, Khamidov turned to the karate team to demonstrate to the audience the possibilities for a person leading a drug-free life style, participating in sports, becoming strong and self confident, and living a successful life - an alternative to drug addiction. Four members of the karate team gave a brief demonstration of their sport, with the mock combat definitely catching the attention of the audience. ¶6. (U) At the end of event the most active student participants were invited to the stage to receive presents handed by INL and Ministry of Education representatives. Bahrom Khamidov called on the students to pass on the information they received during this performance to their friends, relatives, and neighbors in order to build a better society for a better future for themselves and Tajikistan. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: INL Dushanbe believes that engaging the group most susceptible to illegal narcotics to drug demand reduction projects will be most fruitful. To identify target schools for the presentations we drew from data collected during USAID's demand reduction project which resulted in considerable cost savings. In the next phase of the project, we are planning to use "Youth Power Centers" previously founded by USAID and which provide teenagers alternate activities in place of drug use. The Ministry of Education, not the most cooperative ministry in the government, was a solid partner in this project, even helping the Federation representatives hone the message for maximum impact. End comment JACOBSON