PRESS RELEASES 2005

National Council on Drug Abuse to Benefit
from U.S. Study Program

KINGSTON, June 17, 2005

The United States Embassy in Kingston is pleased to announce that Mr. Clifford Weir of Jamaica’s National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is currently participating in a three-week non-profit management program in the U.S.  The program is part of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor (IV) Program, which brings up-and-coming leaders from all over the world to the U.S. each year to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and experience the U.S. and its institutions first-hand.
 
Mr. Weir, regional manager of the NCDA’s Central Region, has more than ten years experience monitoring and evaluating substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation programs in central and eastern Jamaica.  Acknowledging young people as “the most vulnerable and at-risk group” for substance abuse, he believes the development of youth leadership opportunities is the best way to provide alternative paths for young people.  
 
Communicating last night from New York, Mr. Weir said, “The experience and knowledge I have gained on the trip has inspired me to develop, implement and evaluate a well structured non-government organization (NGO) management program upon my return to Jamaica.”

The multi-city program is taking Mr. Weir and 23 counterparts from 20 countries to learn innovative non-profit management strategies, including fundraising, board development, and utilizing volunteers to promote democracy and civic involvement.  Among his many activities while in the U.S., Mr. Weir is attending a workshop at the New School in New York City; visiting inter-religious NGOs in Austin, Texas; and learning about student community service projects in San Diego, California.  He returns to Jamaica on July 1, 2005.