Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Summer camp program aims to strengthen ties between youth and security authorities | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Jeddah – Summer camps in Saudi Arabia are currently organizing a program in which students will act as security officers, aptly entitled, “We support you, officer”. The program has been designed for the 350 camps throughout the kingdom in which nearly 200,000 students take part.

Saad Bin Abdulaziz al Oqail, director of the student activities department in the Saudi Ministry of Education, stated that the program aims to strengthen ties between youngsters and the security authorities, as well familiarize participants with the role of security authorities in society. The program also seeks to provide those involved in the project with information on how to help security officers in their duty, which at times can be life threatening. Al Oqail stated that this was the most important part of the program. The summer campers would also offer drinks to the officers and hand out leaflets about the program around checkpoints and areas where there are many security officers. The program would also include visits to security officers who have been injured during anti-terrorism operations, and to the headquarters of security forces and to immigration control at airports and border patrols.

Al Oqail added that those involved in the project would present security officers with certificates, to express their gratitude for their efforts.

A number of summer camp organizations have already implemented the program. Those taking part have visited security officers who were wounded during the confrontation with Al Qaeda militants in the Al Nakheel district. Students will also hand out leaflets concerning the potential risks of disobeying the traffic code, the dangers of smoking and drugs and advice on other social issues.