Under the theme: It’s UP to ME to BE drug free, Arecibo Job Corps held for the second consecutive year the Red Ribbon Week, which was carried out by various activities  focus on educating our students about the effects and consequences of drug use.

On Monday, October 24thwe opened our Red Ribbon Week by giving the staff red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards drug use. Workshops conducted by having our students decorate the doors of their rooms with allusive messages about the effects of drugs. All students were present rubber bracelets with the slogan of the campaign. We had word search competitions in each of the academic halls, the first three winners were present a dog tag chain.

 On Tuesday, October 25th in the night we had an awareness activity which young people presented with a residential life documentary called: The Truth about Drugs and a music video titled Living Hard.

 On Wednesday, a representation of 9 students from the center, including Student Government participated in a march of Commission for Traffic Security.

For his part, Friday, October 28 was closing of the week with guidance of four speakers of the community called “Christians with Street”. These special guests motivated the students to follow forward and urged them to stay drug free.

This celebration is in memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), who in a special operation was killed by Mexican drug traffickers in 1985. The Red Ribbon Week has also become a symbol of support and effort to reduce demand for drugs through prevention programs and education.
In Arecibo Job Corps we are committed by supporting campaigns that allow young people to participate in fun and educational activities such as drugs use.

Blog Writer: María de los Ángeles Mercado-Laboy, TEAP Spealist