An overseas expert on children’s issues will be visiting the island later this month to conduct a series of workshops organised

by the charity PRIDE, which attempts to keep children drug-free.

Jerry Moe, National Director of Children’s Programmes at the Hazeldon Betty Ford Center, will emphasise why children need to see how they are loved and appreciated in order for them to deal with the effects of having someone in their family addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The series of workshops will mark the charity’s 30th anniversary.

Mr Moe said: “I will be concentrating on children affected by the addiction to alcohol and drugs of a parent or family member.

“I will talk about ways to support them and work with them so that they grow up in a very healthy way.

“It is so important to build a child’s strength and resilience and one of my key messages to those who work with children as professionals or parents is to make help children see how loved, cared for and appreciate they are.”

Pride Bermuda is bringing Mr Moe to the island to hold ‘Addiction Through the Eyes of a Child’ workshops and training on May 15 and 16.

He is described as an international author, lecturer and trainer on issues for children and families hurt by addiction.

He will help lead professional development workshops and training for people who work with children and families, such as school counsellors, therapists, teachers, parents, churches, faith groups, sports coaches, child and family service providers, prevention and treatment services.

Mr Moe’s association with Pride Bermuda goes back to when he met Truell Landy, Programme Director at the charity, nine years ago.

“I was delivering a workshop and a person called Truell was there. The care that she exhibited for the children and the families was incredible,” he said.

“So when an opportunity came up for me to do something in Bermuda and with Pride, I jumped at the chance.”

He added that an important element of helping children was building on existing culture, saying: “There is a sense of community in Bermuda, it jumps out at me and I know there is a lot to work with on the island.”

For more information on the workshops, contact Marina Sousa or Truell Landy at Pride, telephone 295-9970, or e-mail info@pride.prevention.bm

Pride offers a number of services, including the skills to stay drug free.

“Unfortunately, good intentions are not enough when it comes to staying drug free. The good news is that a few simple life skills can empower kids to stand strong in the face of the pressure to use drugs,” explains the charity.