Grenada Today - Feb 14th, 2004

Young people in Grenada are now provided with an avenue for self development through the launch of the Resource and Drop-In Center located on the grounds of the Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS).

The Center is part of a new initiative of the Youth Centered Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The Center which was opened on Tuesday, is being run by the National Infectious Disease Control Unit, Ministry of Health and the Environment and the Drug Control Secretariat of the Ministry of Education.

It will provide services in areas such as education and self development, counselling, computer and Internet access, information on HIV/AIDS and drugs, spirituality and recreation. New entrant to the local telecommunications market, AT&T Wireless has shown that it is a good corporate citizen by coming to the assistance of the Center.

The company's General Manager, Susan Roberts donated two new computers costing EC$5000.00 each for the Center at a short ceremony held last Thursday at AT&T Grand Anse office. Roberts told the ceremony that her company has always assisted in any way possible the needy cases.

She spoke of AT&T's commitment to the Bill Clinton Foundation, a body set up by the former United States President that is assisting developing countries in its fight against AIDS and HIV.

Several Caribbean countries including Grenada are beneficiaries of financial and other assistance from the organisation. Roberts gave her company's commitment to providing young people with access to information so that they can assist them in making the right choices in life.

Project Co-ordinator Dianne Roberts expressed gratitude to At&T for the donation saying that it was the last company she had thought to asking for the computers. She noted that there has been an increase in the use of drugs among young people in the country and that the goal of the Center is to get them to recognise the problem.

Roberts warned however that the new facility will not solve all of the young peoples' problems but it is the intention is to come up with a safe place where they can recreate and interact with their peers. The Project Co-ordinator is hopeful that the computers can provide an opportunity for the young people to access information on a number of issues so that they can make correct choices as well.

The Center will be housed in the building which was once used by the GBSS Young Leaders for their HIV/AIDS Resource Center. It will be open from 1.00-5.00 p.m. within the first two months as well as during the entire week day and weekends in the future.