Last six years organization PROI together with the Old Town Municipality, used to organize special event - 8km street race and walk throught streets of Old Town, called "Race Against Drugs".

Previous races accomplished significant success in the number of direct participants and in their influence on the general population (e.g., via media coverage). The Race Against Drugs is now listed in the calendar of international athletics competitions in BiH and has become a tradicional event.

Aim of this event is promotion  healthy way of life and fun with no drugs and alcohol. Also this tradicional athletic and recreational event is designed to promote International Day Against Drugs (June 26). Funds raised through the Race are intended for quality of life improvements in Association PROI Therapeutic Community.

Project "Race Against Drugs 2008"  first of all is made for youth, because they are often not well informed and that may lead them to take some drugs which are not "danger". Unfortunately most of this trials result with addiction and drug abusing which has long-term and harm consequences as well as for the  addict or whole community.

Performance piece CONCEPT performed by residents and therapists of therapeutic community PROI

This is a project where the residents of the therapeutic community, through performance, have the opportunity to share their experiences with interested others (e.g., family members), and to personalize the causes and consequences of their acts. The character of this performance is individual therapy, where former addicts have the possibility to express their feelings and to uncover their suppressed world about their way of life.

What is it about?

The drug treatment program at Association PROI follows the Therapeutic Community (TC) model, developed by "Daytop" (www.daytop.org) recovery programs in the United States. Daytop is the oldest and most successful existing TC program in the world. During the 60thies of last century, "Concept" was powerfull social document and also a psycho drama and the explanation of drug addiction. The fact is that this document is universal and it outgrown limits of time and space where it had began.

At the beginning performance was an excerise as a part of rehabilitation, and for her apperiance in public was responsabile director Lawrence Sacharow. He is deserving that performance was shown in Off-Brodway theatres for a long time, and thegroup of actors was assembled of addictions who were on recovery and in performance they were testified about their experiences.

"Concept" is the performance for everyone, it is such authentic, so sad and so much unexpected funny. This performance shows this what every  drug addict were looking for and wanted whole life and that is to be accepted in community!

Residents of the therapeutic community PROI have an opportunity to take a part in art therapy twice time during the week (Wednesday and Friday ). Taking part in art therapy is not obligated but almost all residents accept it with pleasure.

Art therapy is the one of the psycho therapeutic procedures whose characteristic is that uses creative art process as a way for expressing  communication. Through drawings, paints or sculpture it shows feelings, minds and imaginations which we cant express through the conversation. Drawings so often, surprise the person who has created it, because on the surface (in very concrete shape) brings the themes which were not recognized earlier.

We should emphasize that art therapy is not occupated with artistic talent. It begans with the fact that anyone can draw, no matter how much is that nice or tehincal correct, because it is not so much important. It is important what does drawing, picture or sculpture represent and consist, and their emotional and communicative value. It is more important the process of making it than the final product. Through the art therapy person is trying to hand down inside world into outside. Difference between speech, drawings and paintings is that those two are permanent notices of process inside and it is possible to go back to them wherever we want.

Art therapy can start with conversation or drawing. As we want that the most important themes come in the first line we prefer that person chose what he want to draw and in which technics. Sometimes therapist can suggest theme or technics if he thinks that it can be useful. During the therapy it is so important to have positive and relaxing atmosphere and freedom which gives opportunity of choice to person.

We proudly inform you that the Association for Assisting Drug Addicts - PROI together with the Old Town Municipality is organizing Sarajevo's 6th annual street run "Race Against Drugs" on June 21, 2008. The Race will be held in Atmejdan park at 10.00 am.

During seven days before Race in Ferhadija Street and in offices of the Old Town Municipallity, volunteers will promote Race and register participants for race and walk, distribute advertising materials (pamphlets) and they will directly comunicate with interested population. On the day of Race in Atmejdan park will be about 1500 persons, and we expect that 500 will run the race (route Atmejdan park - Kozija Cuprija - Tranzit - Atmejdan park). During that period, walkers led by the Sarajevo Drum Orchestra, will walk through the streets of the Old Town taking messages against drug abusing.

During the race for all guests and participiants, in Atmejdan park, we will organize cultural program with participation of folklore assembly "Bascarsija". The Mayor of Old Town Municipality and well known persons from the public life will award the most successful participants.

Start and Goal - Atmejdan park, on June 21, 2008 at 10.00 am

Route: Atmejdan park-Kozija cuprija-Tranzit-Atmejdan park

Categories:

1. Males under 30

2. Males 30 and above

3. Females under 30

4. Females 30 and above

5. The youngest mail participant

6. The youngest female participant

7. The oldest participant

10 KM for participants above 18

All participants will get T-shirt with race logo, start number, drink and food, also they have possibility to get one of awards

Info phone:  061 389 791 Islam Djugum

                    061 348 040 Amer Rastoder

Looking forward to see you,

Organizational Board