(ANS - Madrid) - Yesterday, 27 November, the Confederation of Don Bosco Youth Centres received from the hands of Queen Sofia an award for their work in the prevention of drug use in schools and educational centres. The prize was awarded because of a project entitled "Identifying and promoting best practices for the prevention of drug use by youth organizations."

With this prize, awarded by CREFAT, the Spanish Red Cross Foundation for the prevention of Drug Addiction, the jury gave recognition to the high-profile project of the youth centres run by of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. They work in highly vulnerable areas and among young people deprived of resources. For them, volunteer work, even at an early age is a fundamental element in the prevention of drug abuse among young people.

At the awards ceremony, held in the Magnolia Hall of the Zarzuela Palace, Queen Sofia was accompanied by Francisco de Asís Babin, the Government Minister responsible for the National Plan on Drugs.  Referring to the Don Bosco Confederation, he highlighted their "example of solidarity and commitment in the fight against drugs," and he added: "Today more than ever,  in this crisis situation, we must give recognition to the work of prevention done by these institutions."

The award was accepted by Santiago Dominguez (National Coordinator of Salesian Youth Centres), Ángel Gudiña (former president), María José Raso and Lorena Hernando (members of the executive) and Mario Jorda (Director of the Confederation).

At the end of the ceremony, the leaders of the Don Bosco Confederation said they wanted to dedicate the award "to the thousands of volunteers who have worked for many years in the prevention of drug abuse, while remaining faithful to the style of education of our founder, Don Bosco, and his pedagogy, which is successful because it puts young people first."

The Confederation of Don Bosco Youth Centres brings together nine regional federations with 127 youth centres run by the Salesians and the FMA, catering for 66,000 young people, with more than 3,500 voluntary leaders.

The Queen Sofia Prize for work against drugs was established in 1989 and has a budget of €24,000. There are two awards, the national award and the Latin American award, each with various sections - Social Work, Media, Prevention within Schools and Educational Centres,  and Research and Analysis.

In 2013, apart from the Don Bosco Confederation, awards were given also to Caritas Bilbao, the Spanish television program Informe Semana, and the Prevention Sector of the National Police of Colombia.

Published 28/11/2013