Organizers for the 8th Anniversary of Mon Youth Day (MYD) have plans to educate the public about the risks associated with illegal drug use, through a role play performance.
Mon Youth Day will take place in Kyaikmaraw Township and”the [Mon] writers have created a script [using] role-play [techniques] to educate the public about drug use… and a group of young people will be performing,” said Sayadaw Parlita, Vice-Chairperson of the organizing committee.
The event is a collaborative effort involving the MYD organizers, the Mon Writer’s Association, and local youth from Kyaikmaraw Township.
“The key message of the performance is [to] raise awareness of the consequences and impact of using drugs and the punishment for drug users and dealers,” explained Nai Ong Jaeneh, who has developed the script for the role play performance.
Drug use has been increasing amongst youth, and local civil society organizations are eager to provide educational awareness on the impact of the drug use.
The Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO) conducted research at the township levels in both Mon and Karen States and published a report in 2018.
According to their research, illegal drug use amongst youth living in Mon and Karen State’s was estimated to be as high as 80%.
A partial township breakdown is below:
- Ye Township: 75%
- Mudon Township: 77%
- Thanphyuzayat Township : 75%
- Mawlamyine Township: 72%
- Kyaikmaraw Township: 75%
- Paung Township: 65%
- Chaungzon Township: 70%
- Hpa- An Township: 70%
- Kyar Inn Seik Gyi Township: 70%
- Kawkareik Township: 70%
The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) also conducted similar research in 2013. The MYPO 2018 research suggests that in a relative short time, there has been a growing percentage of young people who are using illegal drugs.
