Bon Accueil State College wins Drug Prevention Short Clip Competition

The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, in partnership with the Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC) and other stakeholders, organised, today, an award ceremony at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation at Côte d’Or Technopole, to honour the winners of the Drug Prevention Short Clip Competition held under the theme “Your Life Matters: Nou Lavi Pli Importan Ki Ladrog”. Bon Accueil State College bagged the first prize, while Marechal College, Rodrigues, and Curepipe College secured the second and third prizes respectively.

Launched on 14 May 2026, the competition brought together 30 secondary school students aged between 15 and 18 years, with the aim of raising awareness among young people on the risks and consequences of drug use through creativity and visual storytelling.

The Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Jean Yvan Robert Hungley; the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Gilbert Tony Apollon; the Representative of World Health Organisation, Mr Ajoy Nundoochan; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MFDC, Mr Kevin Gutty; the CEO of the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC), Mr Kunal Naik; the Ombudsperson for Children, Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah; and other personalities attended the ceremony.

In his keynote address, Vice-President Hungley commended the students for the quality, creativity and powerful messages conveyed through their works. He stressed the importance of providing young people with greater opportunities to express themselves, have their voices heard and contribute to finding solutions to challenges affecting society.

He called for stronger parental and community engagement, urging adults to be more present and attentive to the concerns of children and youth. He also appealed to all stakeholders to work together to create a safer and more supportive environment for young people.

“The youth are a powerful force, and we have a collective responsibility to create the conditions for them to express themselves freely, confidently and without fear,” stated the Vice-President.

Junior Minister Apollon highlighted the damaging effects of drugs on individuals, families and society, noting that the competition provided an effective platform for young people to reflect on the issue and raise awareness among their peers and families.

The WHO Representative, Mr Nundoochan, congratulated the students for their work and encouraged them to continue using their talents and actions to inspire their families, friends and communities. He recognised young people as important agents of change in building healthier and more sustainable communities.

The CEO of the MFDC, Mr Gutty, emphasised the role of youth in shaping the country’s future and reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to nurturing young talent, fostering creativity and innovation, and providing platforms for young storytellers to reach local and international audiences. He stressed that initiatives such as the competition are aligned with the MFDC’s vision of using film to promote social awareness, nurture future filmmakers and drive social transformation.

For his part, the CEO of the NADC, Mr Naik, praised the students for producing inspiring videos and cautioned against the growing proliferation of drugs and their impact on families and society. He reiterated the Agency’s continued efforts to combat the drug scourge in the country.

As for the Ombudsperson for Children, Mrs Ghoorah, highlighted that the competition represents a high-impact behavioural change initiative aimed at addressing substance abuse among adolescents through peer-to-peer communication. She said that the initiative empowers young people to become active advocates for healthy and drug-free lifestyles, while encouraging them to sensitise their peers and resist the influence of drugs. She also called on parents and educators to remain more attentive to children and young people.

About the competition

Designed around the concept “by students, for students”, the competition encouraged participants to use visual storytelling, digital media and artistic expression to convey messages on the dangers of drug use. It also provided young people with an opportunity to express themselves, demonstrate their creativity and showcase their talents.

The competition was open to students from public and private secondary schools, including fee-paying schools, in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agalega, as well as students from Special Education Needs and non-formal schools in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

The winners received trophies and commemorative prizes in recognition of their contribution to promoting a healthier and drug-free society.

02 September 2026

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Topics: Drugs