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MAPS Conferences

Cape Verdean Youth Program

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Traditional and Alternative Healing Practices in Contemporary Portuguese-speaking Communities

This peer-led education/prevention project is intended to reduce risk and incidence of substance abuse, HIV infection, violence and related problems among high-risk Cape Verdean youth, ages 10-18, with outreach & broader education. The program, called in Portuguese MAPS Geração Jovem CV, also connects substance abusing youth with counseling/testing/treatment services so they may achieve a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

The youth program creates opportunities for teens to develop decision-making, leadership and communication skills that will assist them in making informed decisions about their risky behavior. It is open afternoon, evening and weekend hours and in the summer to accommodate the needs of the target population. The project features a combination of educational, recreational and referral services to ensure that center participants access a comprehensive service package devoted to reducing their health risks and improving their overall health status. The program is staffed by the Coordinator, Alcides Semedo.

The Coordinator has already trained a large group of peer leaders to plan and implement the project as well as helping with outreach and publicity. It operates throughout the week in the MAPS office at One Stoughton St., Upham’s Corner, Dorchester. On Saturdays, the group attends community events or other recreational activities.

The program has grown by leaps and bounds, graduating more than 30 peer leaders and granting many other youth certificates for completing a Life Skills Curriculum. A total of 163 youth were served by the Youth Program during the FY 2001, and it has already established itself as a safe place for large groups of teens and pre-teens to meet safely during their free time. More than 125 youth regularly attend educational and recreational programs as part of the program. All attend the prevention education trainings, and then they are divided into several working groups with different interests such as the dance group, the drama group and the media group, which use different formats to provide enjoyment to the youth while spreading prevention messages to the broader community.

 

 

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