Green Crescent has implemented
projects that can serve as an
example to the world. Could you
tell us about these activities and
projects of Green Crescent, as a
long-established organization?
Since its foundation, Green Crescent
has been active in the national and
international arena in its fight against
alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, gambling
and
technology
addiction.
The
organization fights against all kinds of
addictions that threaten human life,
and not only in one or two areas, such
as cigarettes or drugs, as rapid shifts
between addictions are very common.
The fight it puts up against all
addictions separates Green Crescent
from
other
non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) around the
world. Green Crescent develops and
implements all its activities and
projects considering this potential
link between addictions.
From a historical point of view, Green
Crescent has prioritized prevention
and intervention activities in its
fight against addiction. The most
effective and direct approach to the
fight against addiction is through
preventive activities. In this context,
we first developed the Addiction
Prevention Program of Turkey, which
has been put forward as an example
for other countries by the United
Nations. Within the framework of
our cooperation with the Ministry of
National Education, we have provided
awareness raising training to 10million
students and 2 million adults every
year. Then, with the aim of detecting
at-risk groups and intervening before
addiction sets in, we developed the
Program on Addiction Intervention in
Schools for high school students, since
the risk of addiction is highest among
this age group. On the other hand,
through the Life Skills Program we
have encouraged children and young
people to take more confident steps
throughout their lives in resolving
problems, saying no, controlling
their anger and starting new hobbies.
Furthermore, we have sought to
strengthen our fight with such
projects as “My Club: Green Crescent”,
campaigns, publications, national
and international symposiums, and
workshops.
To support our intervention and
prevention efforts, we took the first
stepsin2013inthefieldofrehabilitation
through the inclusion of rehabilitation
activities in our by-laws. We launched
Green Crescent Consultancy Centers,
where we provide psycho-social
support to alcohol and drug addicts
and their relatives, free of charge.
We then began to work on “the Green
Crescent Rehabilitation Center”, which
was created with the Turkish culture
in mind, covering medical treatment,
inpatient rehabilitation services and
the employment of patients, in which
we included family as well, as the
building blocks of society. Our works
continue unabated to enter the Green
Crescent Rehabilitation Center project
into effect.
We believe that the only
way to raise the bright and
healthy generations we
crave is to make sure that
everyone, from the ages of 7
to 70, is a part of the fight.
Green Crescent Headquarters - Sepetçiler Pavilion, Istanbul
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