UP Brigade hosts annual meeting |05 December 2020

The United for a Purpose Brigade (UP Brigade) hosted its annual general meeting this week, followed by an open exhibition and sale of items made by trainees on methadone treatment.

The activity took place at the Mont Royal Drug and Rehabilitation Centre, North East Point.

UP Brigade is a national non-governmental organisation (NGO) that intervenes at a community level on drug related issues. Its executive officer, John Ondiek, had prepared a brief presentation explaining the programme’s objectives and the challenges and accomplishments so far.

Present at the meeting was Michel Pierre, chief executive of Ceps (Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles), who presented the recent amendments made to the constitution regarding drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Also in attendance were NGO members and trainees that were electing new UP Brigade board members.

The new board elected will be responsible to work on a three-year strategic plan to expand the effectiveness of the programme.

The UP Brigade programme has been set up for a year and a half at the Mont Royal Drug and Rehabilitation Centre in line with the government’s National Grants committee. It caters to recovering addicts for 8 hours a day and engages them in activities relating to skill development and family mentorship which simultaneously keep them from the daily relapse temptations.

Currently there are 10 females and 1 male registered on the programme which is being facilitated by the Unemployment Relief Scheme (URS).

There are 2 trainers that engage the 11 recovering addicts in skill developing activities,namely making products such as cushions, bags, purses and face masks etc. These are then sold to the public in Victoria.

The main setbacks for the UP Brigade programme includes the lack of professional staff and proper operation area. The chairman of the board, Dean Bistoe, said that they have come a long way since the programme was established albeit the lack of resources and funds, but they have and will continue to persevere.

In an interview with Seychelles NATION, Mr Ondiek expressed his satisfaction at the changes he has seen in the lives of the recovering addicts and their families thanks to the programme.

“Their lives are changing especially within family, however the journey to recovery is long and slow but the UP Brigade initiative is a step in the right direction,” he said.

Mr Ondiek added that this is not the first activity that the organisation has organised to showcase and auction the trainees’ work.

“We are proud of the training opportunities we have created, in fact last year 2 of our recuperating trainees attended courses sponsored by Arasa in South Africa and we plan to continue providing such opportunities,” said Mr Ondiek.

The UP Brigade hopes to make a true difference in the lives of recovering addicts. It believes that there is a brighter future for all those affected by drug abuse.

Iza Amade