On the sidelines of the international and continental “#GameChangers” conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with UNODC and the Government of China, Mr. Elias Kalayu, Executive Director of the Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO), participated as a key speaker, sharing extensive experiences on safeguarding youth from the perils of crime and violence.
During the first session, an extensive discussion was held on the deep nexus between substance use and the criminal/conflict ecosystem. It was emphasized that addiction is not a moral failing, but a “brain disorder” that is preventable, treatable, and requires the response of medical professionals. Accordingly, the necessity of implementing the bio-psycho-social and spiritual model was highlighted. It was demonstrated that if youth are to be steered away from a life of crime, high priority must be given to reducing substance use, scientifically managing frequent relapse during treatment and recovery, and breaking the intertwined cycle of addiction and criminality.
In the second session, the irreplaceable role of multisectoral coordination in youth crime prevention was explored. As seen through MCDO’s 15-year rich experience: “A nation is its people! And people are bearers of a precious brain!” Our brain health is directly linked to the nation’s security and holistic development. To safeguard this primary national asset—mental health and well-being—our organization has carried out extensive work from a community perspective, addressing mental health, substance use prevention, and the rehabilitation of youth in conflict with the law.
To make these continental and community responsibilities effective, our work has expanded beyond the community level to actively collaborate with universities and correctional facilities, alongside integrating public health protection with healthy recreational avenues (such as sports and spiritual values), yielding exemplary results.
To sustain this success, strengthening capacity-building training is crucial. This approach builds the capacity needed to reduce substance use, relapse, and recidivism, while ensuring that youth in conflict with the law achieve a successful reintegration when returning to society; therefore, continuous skills development must be reinforced.
Finally, I am extremely grateful for the dinner reception hosted last night at the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and for the opportunity to get to know one another. — Mr. Elias Kalayu
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