National short clip competition launched to sensitise youth on dangers of drugs

Secondary school students aged between 15 and 18 years across Mauritius, Rodrigues and Agalega are being invited to showcase their creativity through filmmaking in a national short clip competition themed ‘Your Life Matters: Nou Lavi Pli Importan Ki Ladrog!’, aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and promoting a drug-free lifestyle among young people.

The initiative was presented, this morning in Ebène, during a press conference chaired by the Ombudsperson for Children, Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah. It seeks to strengthen preventive education on drug use while encouraging youth participation, creativity and self-expression.

The competition is being organised by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children and the Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC) in collaboration with several ministries, departments and institutions, namely the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, the Private Secondary Education Authority, the National Agency for Drug Control, the Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille, the Mauritius Digital Promotion Agency, the Special Education Needs Authority and the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit, among others.

Participants are invited to produce a one-to three-minute video clip highlighting the harmful effects of drug use. The competition is open to public and private secondary schools, including fee-paying institutions, as well as Special Education Needs schools and non-formal education institutions. Five best clips will be rewarded, in addition to special prizes for Best Actor and Best Actress.

Speaking at the press conference, Mrs Ghoorah underlined that the initiative has been designed to ensure inclusiveness and broad participation from students across the Republic. She stressed the importance of informing schools early so that participants would have sufficient time to develop their ideas and fully express their creativity.

She further indicated that workshops on filmmaking and technical production will be organised in collaboration with the MFDC to guide students in producing quality video clips. Dedicated sessions will also be held for learners from Special Education Needs schools in order to ensure equal access and support for all participants, she added.

The Ombudsperson for Children stated that entries would be assessed by a panel comprising professionals from technical, creative and pedagogical fields, with the prize-giving ceremony scheduled for September 2026. She also highlighted the contribution of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs des Droits des Enfants, who continue to support awareness campaigns and activities promoting children’s rights and well-being.

14 May 2026

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Topics: Education, Drugs