GEORGE NEWS - Sahara, a community-based organisation dedicated to combating substance use, hosted a meet-and-greet planning session with law enforcement and strategic partners in George on Friday 15 August.
The event set the stage for an upcoming harm reduction workshop, scheduled to take place later this year.
The planning session brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including police from various Garden Route stations, the Garden Route District Community Police Board, local community policing forums (CPFs), municipal law enforcement and traffic officials, South African Alcohol Policy Alliance (Saapa), Local Drug Action Committee (ldac), Legally You and the Hoogegekraal Neighbourhood Watch.
The three-day workshop will tackle several critical issues, among them harm reduction strategies for substance use, legal frameworks and law enforcement's role, gender-based violence (GBV), application processes for liquor licenses and community safety initiatives.
Dr Hermann Reuter, founder of Sahara, said the collaboration represents a significant step forward.
"This workshop is a milestone in our fight against substance use. By bringing law enforcement, civil society and community structures together, we aim to create actionable solutions that protect our communities and empower individuals."
Beyond the workshop, Sahara continues its outreach in partnership with the Department of Health and other local organisations.
Their ongoing initiatives include awareness campaigns, HIV and STI testing and treatment, counselling and substance-use awareness at safe spaces across the Garden Route, aimed at supporting and protecting individuals most at risk.
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