One of the best ways that concerned adults and adolescents can promote the JourneySafe program and protect teens is to establish on-campus JourneySafe Clubs. While the primary goal of the larger JourneySafe program is to raise awareness specific to teen driving safety, the JourneySafe concept (as demonstrated in our pledge) extends into almost every area pertaining to the challenge of growing up in today's world. Positive peer pressure is a tool that teens can learn and use to empower themselves and each other to make safe and healthy choices in all areas of the perilous journey through adolescence.
Typically, a JourneySafe on-campus club meets bi-weekly or once a month to discuss teen-specific concerns, stresses and temptations, brainstorming and sharing ideas in which teens learn to empower each other through awareness and by developing better attitudes and methods to deal with problem issues such as drug and alcohol use, sex and promiscuity, poor self esteem, the relentless pressure to excel, depression and isolation, risk taking, etc. The list of teen specific concerns is long, but recent history demonstrates that often, if these issues are ignored or dealt with in negative ways, they can lead to major teen crises resulting in reckless behaviors on and off the road, addictions, suicide, high school drop-out and even deadly episodes of teen violence on the streets and in our schools.
JourneySafe teens practice and learn how to be more observant and to courageously take the initiative to act as ambassadors to their peers in crisis. The JourneySafe program trusts in the intelligence and innate ability of "informed" teens to take responsible control of their actions and decisions. As well, they can help other teens do the same through positive peer pressure. There is no better way to teach and promote this concept than through individual, small group efforts such as JourneySafe Clubs. Clubs can be formed in public schools, private schools, even among home-schooled students and within church or community youth groups. Students of every age can participate. Even at the elementary level, a JourneySafe club can be effective, educating and preparing youngsters for the challenge ahead and promoting the idea and benefits of community service.
JourneySafe clubs don't have to be large with lots of members. History proves that the "power of one" is often immeasurable. A handful of enthusiastic, concerned young people with the desire to make a difference can create overwhelming change and save hundreds of lives.
Goals of a JourneySafe Club:
To protect teens by raising awareness about unique young-driver safety issues and encourage a buddy-system approach between teen drivers and their passengers to reduce the kinds of distraction that are responsible for almost 2/3 of all teen automobile accident related fatalities.
To protect teens by encouraging the same buddy-system attitude among peers who agree to help each other journey safely through every aspect of teen life. JourneySafe friends and club members will encourage each other to make positive healthy choices that are protective of each other's best physical and emotional interests.
