KEEPING KIDS SAFE AT RAVES

Energy pulses through hundreds of sweaty bodies to the electronica beat,
light sticks glow in the shadows after coloured strobes have passed.

Raves at this turn of the century are what discotheques were a generation
ago - a place to dance with passion and lose yourself in the moment.

But underneath the lights is a darkness luring victims and claiming the unwary.

Shafique Adatia is a Grade 12 student at Burnaby Mountain secondary school
who is spreading the word to fellow students about the drugs and dangers
that can lurk in that darkness.

"It's not preventing them from going to the raves, it's giving them
information about what's there," Shafique said.

He developed a multimedia presentation that's about passing on the power to
make informed choices, he explained.

"Why not, instead of telling them not to go, like adults are doing, give
them a decision?"

Shafique came up with the idea of putting together an awareness
presentation during the previous school year and the results are a
testament to his determination to "make a difference in the community."

As a member of the school's peer helper class - which is generally involved
in things such as Grade 8 orientation - Shafique learned about drugs awareness.

"But Shafique wanted to go a bit further," said Scott Clarke, the youth
services worker at Burnaby Mountain secondary school who has worked with
Shafique as he put the presentation together.

The topic developed naturally.

"I thought I'd begin with this presentation because it's a popular thing
among people my age, raves and substance abuse," Shafique said, adding he
was aware of drug abuse and its connection to raves as a real problem. "I
did see it happening to individuals I knew, but this was outside school."

After talking to Clarke about doing the presentation for younger students,
Shafique started doing his research.

"I basically educated myself about raves," Shafique said. "I learned a lot
about raves while I was (preparing) the presentation."

He also used Clarke and Const. Ernesto Angeles, a school liaison officer
with Burnaby RCMP, as resources.

"He was disciplined - every day he'd come and ask us questions," Clarke said.

Angeles noted how hard Shafique worked on the project. "I was really
impressed (with how) he did his research," the police officer said.

Shafique collected information from the RCMP, the Burnaby-based B.C. Safe
School Centre, the school district and Clarke.

Once Shafique had gathered what he needed, he had to come up with the most
effective way to deliver it and decided on recreating a multi-sensory rave
atmosphere.

"I had to grab their attention," Shafique said. "And people who know about
the atmosphere (at raves) and enjoyed the atmosphere would be more
attentive to the presentation."

He started making the presentation to Grade 9 and 10 students in their PE
classes - chosen because everyone has to take it and it was easier than
taking time out of an academic class.

The idea of having a student talk to other students proved popular, Clarke
said, explaining how it's more effective that way.

"Coming from a peer, it makes the message clearer and easier to understand.

"It's beneficial for me because it doesn't come across as a lecture but a
student giving a presentation," Clarke said.

Whether the presentation makes a difference in the long term will have to
wait, Angeles said, but Clarke noted the short-term impact is already apparent.

"I feel really proud of Shafique," he said. "He's made a huge difference _
the kids remember the presentation."