Project ‘Quebrados’ gets off to a Smash Start at Maputo Launch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Project ‘Quebrados’ gets off to a Smash Start at Maputo Launch

7:34 CAT | 22 Mar 2016

Yesterday, March 20, a bold and creative new joint initiative was launched in Maputo to combat the rising threat of alcohol consumption in Mozambican schools, supported by the Ministry of Education and Human Development, the British Council and the multinational beverages manufacturer Diageo.

Hosted at MINEDH by Minister Dr. Jorge Ferrão, British High Commissioner Joanna Kuennesberg and Diageo’s director general Miguel Soto, the lively session included a presentation of the scheme’s pilot project in Marracuene, and an introduction by UK technical partners Collingwood Learning Solutions, who are already active in similar projects (known under the banner of ‘’Smashed’’ in the UK) across Britain and internationally.

In her keynote remarks, High Commissioner Kuennesberg highlighted the shared nature of the challenge with a reference to her own homeland: ‘’ I grew up in Scotland where we know the problem and the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption’’ she said – indeed the Scots are notorious both within the UK and globally for their dangerous drinking habits – a recent poll found that Scotland ranks eighth in the world for alcohol consumption per head, even above Russia, according to research published by the BBC.

With so much painful direct experience of the risks posed by that the ravages of drink among youth and in society in general, it is all the more fitting that the British Council in Mozambique shares the sponsorship of this initiative which it is hoped, will be extended in the future throughout wider range of districts and schools across the country.

The most appealing feature of the ‘’Smashed’’ projects to date has been the use of amateur dramatics as the centrepiece of their educational thrust among young people. Appropriately enough, as Ms. Kuennesberg reminded listeners, ‘’in the year of the four hundredeth anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare’’, and with great effect too it appears. The involvement of young people in putting on brief plays to illustrate the risks and consequences of excessive alcohol consumption among youth serves to both entertain, and educate, while giving pupils an alternative, creative outlet for their after-hours energies.

To illustrate, the launch session continued with such an enactment by three talented local actors, who portrayed student and professorial roles respectively and who were received with appreciation and interest by the audience.

The short play illustrated well two of the ‘Quebrados’ key objectives of identifying the range of negative outcomes arising from excessive drinking among youth and to establish positive lifestyle goals and the skills required to achieve this – its better to learn to act like a drunk than to be unable to act sober, you might say. Or as the UK High Commissioner said in her summing up ‘’It is always better to educate than to castigate.’’

By: Colin Waugh

Colin Waugh is an investor and researcher based in Maputo and contributing editor of the Mozambican Investor.