Delta launches challenge to curb youth alcohol, drug abuse
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MIRROR REPORTER
HARARE – The drinks giant, Delta Corporation Limited has launched the Smart Drinking and Moderation Innovation Challenge to raise awareness about the risk and consequences of alcohol, drug and substance abuse among young people.
The challenge was launched during a four day leadership boot camp in Harare attended by 106 Enactus Zimbabwe student leaders drawn from 13 local universities.
Enactus is a global programme implemented by BOOST Fellowship in Zimbabwe and present in 36 countries around the world. The programme drives collaboration, innovation and impact through various special projects.
A statement released by Delta states that the programme will run until December 2026 under the theme: Above the Influence.
“The initiative was launched by Delta Corporation Limited in a bid to curb drug, substance and alcohol abuse by the youth. According to a report by the World Health Organisation approximately 12% of adolescents aged between 10-19 years in Zimbabwe engage in heavy episodic drinking and abuse different illegal substances which is detrimental to their health and wellbeing.
“The initiative is meant to raise awareness about the risk and consequences of alcohol, drug and substance abuse among young people in Zimbabwe with an aim to eliminate the harmful impact caused by the challenge on the country’s youthful populace,” reads part of the statement.
The boot camp was for capacity building of students on different topics that will help them implement different initiatives as supporting legislative frameworks and how to run effective advocacy and awareness campaigns in communities on the negative impacts of alcohol and drug abuse.
Delta Corporation Limited General Manager Corporate Affairs, Patricia Murambinda said university hubs as innovators should help to solve the scourge of drug, alcohol and substance abuse in communities.
“As a responsible business we believe in the wellness of our consumers, we believe that when you drive you should not drink and that consumers should understand why and how alcohol should be consumed within the limits.
It is our collective responsibility as youths to proffer solutions in our communities particularly on the harmful effects of illicit substances and drug abuse. We are investing in this program to witness high impact and scalable innovation solutions to address the problem, “she said.
Students were tasked with developing innovative projects that will help in fighting alcohol, drug and substance abuse initiatives aligned to six thematic areas that include illicit drinking, drinking and driving, alcohol and pregnancy, binge drinking, underage drinking, sugary drinking and health.
The teams will run the campaign and roll out innovative models to address drug, substance and alcohol abuse in their tertiary institutions and communities for a maximum of eight months. The final initiative will be adjudicated in December 2024 at the Smart Drinking and Moderation Innovation Challenge competition for further up scaling and investment courtesy of Delta Corporation Limited.
