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JKPL gets into campaign vs underage drinking
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Posted on Aug 17 2011
Staff of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library just finished a training program that will enable them to help in the fight against underage drinking and driving.
Executive director John Oliver Gonzales said that library staff participated in the training held from Aug. 16 to 17 at the Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan. It was conducted by the Community Guidance Center, which had awarded the library a grant to fund its underage drinking prevention program.
“It’s a training for our staff to know more about the conditions and guidelines for the grant, how we can spend it, how we can market the program, and the evaluation component of the grant,” Gonzales told Saipan Tribune.
CGC’s Project Brabu awarded the CNMI’s state library $68,400 for its Just Keeping People Literate through Cultural Literacy After School Programs or Project JKPL CLAP.
Project JKPL CLAP, Gonzales said, aims to address the issue of underage drinking and driving in the community through the promotion of cultural as well as health and wellness literacy.
According to Gonzales, the training would help ensure that they meet their obligation as grant recipient and enable them to evaluate the program’s integrity, effectiveness, and sustainability.
With the completion of the training, Gonzales said they now plan to start work on implementing Project JKPL CLAP. This includes partnering with community stakeholders such as the Public School System and youth centers.
Gonzales said they plan to hire coaches for various sports camps that promote physical activity, ingrain the importance of health and wellness, and encourage the youth to stay away from underage drinking. He said they will also hire cultural artists to teach participants about craft making and performing arts.
“In addition, we will work with the Probation Office to invite probationers and those who violated the underage drinking law to be featured as speakers and inspire our participants to learn from their mistakes and accidents,” added Gonzales.
