Youth4Youth Initiative to prevent drug abuse and promote healthy and safe mental and physical development in Burundi

UNODC

Completed successfully

Background: Kanyanga and Umuraha are prohibited local beers in Burundi but still highly consumed in Mishiha community (eastern Burundi). Made from sugar cane, cassava, and a mixture of weed and other herbal yeast-like substances through a several-week fermentation process, these beers contain unpredictable alcohol level and are addictive. People who drink these beers have fetid smell, grey teeth, become drunkard, and have limited psychomotor autonomy. Poor and negative parenting has induced early childhood initiation and persistent abuse of these psychoactive beers. Negative consequences include very low schooling rates, poor school performance, dependence, dementia, schizophrenia, and cirrhosis; as observed in children and adolescents.

Aim: To promote a healthy and safe development of middle children and early adolescents through a positive and nurturing parenthood aimed at providing positive mental and physical developmentally appropriate childhood thriving discipline in families and in schools. Objectives:

• Prevent, halt, and delay initiation of umuraha, kanyanga, and weed in middle children and early adolescents
• Promote cessation and reduce frequencies and quantities of umuraha, kanyanga, and weed in middle children and early adolescents
• Avoid consequent developing disorders (dependence, etc.)

Methodological approach: Parenting skills building, Alcohol policy, School-based early childhood education and Media campaigns.