The Swedish government will support anti-drug educational activities carried out by the Vientiane Education Department, now that the five-year project funded by the German Development Agency (GTZ) has come to an end.

Sweden will invest over 4 billion kip (about US$500,000) in anti-drug activities in Vientiane, said the Head of the department’s anti-drug campaign unit, Mr Hongkeo Thammavong, last week.

The project will begin next month and will finish in 2009, he said, adding that the project will start in three villages in Sikhottabong district, two villages in Xaysettha district and two villages in Chanthabouly district.

Mr Hongkeo added that 14 schools in Xaysettha, Chanthabouly, Sisattanak and Sikhottabong districts also plan to organise anti-drug activities.

The aim is to continue the work that GTZ carried out from 2000-05, that included sports competitions, debates on drugs, theatre and drama, and question-and-answer sessions.

GTZ held these activities in 12 schools of 26 villages in Xaysettha, Chanthabouly, Sisattanak and Xaythany districts.

The headmaster of Phiavat Secondary School, Mr Khamvone Soluangkhot, said the school had been receiving help from GTZ since 2002, but was no longer receiving support.

In Sisattanak district, GTZ worked with Phiavat and Sisattanak secondary schools as well as in the villages of Kao-ngot, Simeuang, Phiavat, Chomphet Tai and Neua.

Mr Khamvone said that every academic year, teachers throughout Vientiane had been working hard to get rid of drugs in schools.

"Drugs are a common problem among youths in the city and in many provinces, but we no longer have a drug problem in Phiavat Secondary School," Mr Khamsone said.

"I think anti-drug activities are not difficult, if we collaborate and help each other."

If we want our youth to be drugs free, we need to have collaboration between teachers, parents and local officials because teachers can only control students while they are studying at school. When they go home it must be the responsibility of their parents, families and local officials, he said.