Students glide away from drugs

An hour's drive from Tallinn, Aegviidu is a world away from the bustling city, and perhaps one of the only cross-country skiing areas presently with enough snow to satisfy the toughest critics: teenagers.

Nearly 30 high-schoolers from around Tallinn strapped on their skis this weekend at the winter playground and competed in races, played a little snow-rugby and generally had a good time away from town. The trip was a reward, of sorts, for the students who have committed to a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

"It's great for them," said John Slade, founder and head of the Anti-Drugs in Schools program, an organization aimed at providing alternatives to smoking and drinking to school-aged folks around Tallinn. "They'll be able to say they went skiing with a bunch of people to the other kids at school who ask, 'What'd you do this weekend?'"

Slade has been visiting Tallinn-area schools for the past few years, preaching sports and the healthy lifestyle that goes with activity over smoking dope or drinking. The program is largely funded by Slade himself, but over the years, the Tallinn city government and a handful of police officers have pitched in their support.

"I've been doing this out of my own pocket," Slade said. "It's time now that other people come and run it. We need financial support, but also human support."

The program got off to a good start this fall recruiting students as young as seven and as old as 20. Parents have also become involved. One couple even joined the group for skiing this weekend. Corporations such as Stockmann have donated T-shirts and police officers have donated time to help the program along and to heighten awareness of the drug problem in Estonian schools. Slade started the program because he was worried about the day his own two children would enter the school system.

"It is all about choices," says Slade, a 15-year resident of Estonia with British roots. "I am trying to provide an alternative."

So far, a couple hundred kids have decided to join Coach Slade's team. The group gets together up to three times a week to play rugby, Slade's sport of choice. Between practices, the former military man visits schools in the Lasnamae and Old Town districts of Tallinn.

"The police say that it is these kids that get in the most trouble," Slade said during the bus ride home after a day of skiing. "But, turn around, look at them. They just need options."

The students that fled the city on the cool Saturday morning after a much needed snowstorm the week earlier are the most consistent players on the team: they regularly attend practices, they are enthusiastic about learning the sport that has barely taken hold in Eastern Europe, they have agreed to stay away from narcotics and alcohol.

Kirsti, a 14-year-old from the Lasnamae district, has been going to practices for the past three months. With about five friends from her school, Kirsti plays rugby in the afternoons and on weekends and occassionally takes part in other Slade activities such as Saturday bowling or a pick-up basketball game.

"I like it," she says in a typical teenage cool. "It's something fun to do, and different."

Kirsti doesn't elaborate on the drug abuse that may afflict some of her classmates, she just points out that in her school, information about the substances that police say are used by a good percentage of kids her age, is lacking.

Slade also doesn't force information down the throats of the youngsters. He hands out pamphlets and cooperates with local authorities and other government funded programs, but he believes that kids will only learn through example and through the knowledge that there are other things to do besides light up.

"People need to set limits for them. Their parents work and can't be there all the time. It's not their fault, but that is life," he said.

The Aegviidu trip was the brainchild of Slade and Lt. Col Scott Graham of the U.S. Marine Corps in Tallinn. The two met at a church in Tallinn and got to talking about the other's activities in the Baltic country. Graham suggested a ski trip and organized the outing.

"We support what John is doing and we also want to get the Estonian military involved in civic life," Graham said. "People should like the military and see that they are involved."

Graham described the U.S. "Toys for Tots" program, a popular Marine Corps gift-giving charity that receives thousands of toy donations at Christmas time for underprivileged American children.

"People in the U.S. love the Marines purely because of Toys for Tots. We are great at PR," he said.

After breaking into ability groups, the high-schoolers raced around the 2 km ski track. The top six crossing the finish line won a ride on the resort's snow mobile. With all the students clapping as they rode in, the Tallinn Rugby Club's flag flew above the winners.

"This is why I do this. The team work, the laughter," Slade said.

If you would like more information about the Tallinn Rugby Club and the Anti-Drugs in Schools program, email [email protected].