Our Program

The DARE program is based on two pillars, namely Preventative Measures and Curative Component

DARE’s School Program:

The project is innovative and designed to build a strong, drug free youth. This project uses a curriculum designed to help young people resist the pressures of substance abuse while developing strong decision making skills. The lessons deal with the consequences of abuse, building self-worth, providing ways to resist and identify peer pressure, and alternatives to drug use.
The curriculum is taught by highly trained community counselors, supervised by professional staff (psychologists and psychiatrist). The DARE project addresses drug and alcohol use on a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach.

DARE Alternate Programs:

D.A.R.E glamorizes pro-social behaviour and engages the youth in song, dance, sport, drama (healthy alternatives,  to delinquent behaviour), in the belief that these are powerful vehicles that can be utilized to convey strong, relevant drug and violence prevention messages.

DARE’s curative component:

The D.A.R.E Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre is locally based and offers  a 28 day, 3 month and 6 month, outpatient rehabilitation program for youth at risk.

The establishment of the outpatient rehabilitation centre is regarded by us as the most critical component of the DARE program currently. The majority of the youth in the Southern Cape is unable to afford the high costs of a private in-patient rehabilitation centre and as such are subject to being patrons of either the Justice system or be placed on the waiting list for an in-patient centre that is government driven.

The challenge with this is that these centers are often located far from home. This in itself presents a problem as family reconstruction and intervention is limited or nonexistent. Statistics have indicated that almost 80% of individuals returning from a rehabilitation center begin abusing within the first month.

The DARE outpatient center, is centrally located in town and is accessible to all

communities. It offers an ideal opportunity where DARE councilors can work

together with the various departments as well as the families of the addicted

individual and in so doing develop an intervention plan suited for each individual.

The uniqueness of the program lies in the fact that it supports youth while they are still engaged in their activities of daily living (i.e. school, sport, college, work, church).

Community service:

DARE incorporates community service into DARE ambassador’s developmental process. This has included performances by DARE youth at various community events such as, ‘Police-Open day’; participation in Youth day celebrations; giving hip hop dance classes at Kids Stop (a safe haven offered to street children by Youth for Christ); and the collection and distribution of food to the homeless.

We DARE YOU:

• To not escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
• To empower our communities to leave the best inheritance. 
• To teach our youth to be the best investment of our future.

The saddest day for any community is when the good people stop doing good.

The 11 Principles of DARE:

Self-Knowledge

Self-Acceptance and Confidence

Enlightened Self-Interest

Tolerance for Frustration and Discomfort

Long-Range Enjoyment

Risk-Taking Moderation

Emotional and Behavioural Responsibility

Self-Direction and Commitment

Flexibility & Objective Thinking

Acceptance of Reality