As part of the industry’s ongoing CSR efforts, APISWA has funded the Smashed Project since 2015. Smashed is a theatre programme that educates students about alcohol misuse, tackling peer pressure and making informed choices. This programme has been implemented across Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand, and as part of this work, APISWA has invested over $100,000 every year to promote responsible consumption and to highlight the dangers of drunk driving.
”Since the programme started, 96% of youths reported that they are less likely to drink while underage.
APISWA has partnered closely with local governments while implementing the Smashed Programme. In Cambodia, APISWA has worked closely with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MPWT), the National Road Safety Committee as well as Meta House – Cambodia’s largest independent arts centre. In Thailand, from 2016-2017, the Smashed Programme collaborated with Anatta, an educational theatre troupe which uses theatre in education to create a learning environment relating to the cultural context of Thai society. Feedback from this tour suggested that schools in rural areas could also benefit, as could younger secondary students who are more at risk of underage drinking.
Reaching over 4,000 students with more than 100 performances across the region, the post-evaluation reports of the Smashed Project tour showed increased awareness of drink driving and the dangers of underage drinking. Since the programme started, 96% of youths reported that they are less likely to drink while underage, with teachers and students alike giving high praise.