A round table for presenting the Ladya program took place on April 14, 2011, at the Public Library in Rostov-on-Don. The program is aimed at primary prevention of risk behaviour and HIV infection among teenagers through education for spiritual and moral values.

It was attended by governmental officials working with children and youth, representatives of public organizations and clergy of the diocese of Rostov-on-Don.

A wrong behaviour stereotype is spread among the youth, encouraging immoral way of life, the use of drugs and alcohol and other addictions destructive for the soul. The round table identified the way of prevention as the most effective one in dealing with this problem. Addressing the meeting, Archpriest Ioann Osyak, director of the diocesan department for charity and social service, compared prevention to laying a foundation for one’s further life. He stressed that it is only the right spiritual foundations that can prevent the moral degradation of the youth and save them from problems connected with drug addition, HIV/AIDS disease and other threats.

The participants were introduced to an experience of using the Ladya program in some schools in Rostov-on-Don. The program has been tested in eight schools and involved over 160 schoolchildren.

It was agreed to set up a coordinating group consisting of representatives of governmental, public and church organizations for propagating the Ladya program in the schools of the Rostov Region.

From rostovbeznarkotikov.ru