Children and Youth at the Center of Disaster Risk Reduction

Asian Pacific Forum: Youth Action on Climate Change

Bangkok, January 2011

Nguyen Dieu LinhCenter for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change

Children’s Vulnerability

• The impact of global warming is expected to result up to 175 million children every year being affected by disasters brought about by climate change

(Source: Child Rights Perspective in Response to Natural Disasters in S. Asia)

• Disasters around the world disrupt the lives of millions of children, and can force many into armed conflicts, prostitution, drugs trafficking and other dangerous survival activities leading to violation of their rights

(Source: IFRC World Disasters Report 2006)

Presentation Content

• Why and how to consider children and youth the main actors in Disaster Risk Reduction

• Case studies on child and youth-centered Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

• My Center’s projects on child-centered DRR

Definition of the Terms

• Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) “Conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to

minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development (Source: International Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction)

• Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction “Children and adolescents must not be perceived as mere victims but as

effective actors, taking into account their levels of physical, social and emotional development, assessing their capacities and opinions, and promoting spaces and mechanism for their full participation in the whole process of disaster risk reduction”

(Source: Save the Children)

Why should involve children in DRR

•Children have a right to participation (as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)

•Children are able to convey messages with a meaning shared by their families and peers

•Children are more willing to learn/change and develop a culture of adaptation and mitigation

•Children offer immense creativity and the will to reduce risks

•Children are able to participate beyond a disaster preparedness role

Do you know how to involve children and youth in Disaster Risk Reduction?

How to involve children and youth in DRR

Begin at School

•Advocate relevant Departments to integrate DRR/CCA education into schools (secondary or primary)

•Integrate DRR/CCA lessons into existing subjects: Civic education, Geography, Physics or extra-curriculum ones

•Organize child-led activities at school and with communities relating to DRR and CCA

•Organize extra curriculum activities with topics on DRR: campaign, contest, child-to-child activity, summer activities

How to involve children and youth in DRR

•Peer to peer exchanges, using various forum and media to promote young people’s perspectives to decision makers, local authorities and young people on disaster risk reduction

•Expand children clubs to train and conduct propaganda on DRR

•Organize children and youth to conduct campaigns: keep our community clean, say no to plastic bag, protect our river, protect our beach, protect our forest

How to involve children and youth in DRR

•Organize contests about DRR and environment: writing contest or making documentary film about climate change

•The groups, clubs organized by children should be encouraged with active and continuous support of adults.

•Communities, school and families should be sensitized to value the participation and potential of children.

•Scale up the children activities to allow more children to participate

How to involve children and youth in DRR

•Support children to conduct community activities to be advocates for DRR/CCA at community and household level to reach vulnerable group

•Promote children and community participation in the DRR/CCA planning

•Advocate for and pilot environment protection small-scale project with community and children participation

Case studies on child and youth-led Disaster Risk Reduction

•Case study in Bangladesh: Saving for disaster

•Case study in Indonesia and Philippines: Raise awareness through cultural means

•Case study in Vietnam: Child-led Disaster Risk Reduction by Save the Children

Research Center for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change

• The Center’s goals are to conduct research, provide consulting services on policies, strategies and implementation of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation projects

• One of the main research areas: Children’s participation in DRR and CCA activities

Our Projects on Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction

• Assessment of situations and needs and development of project log-frame for a new project on “Safer schools and communities in the face of natural disasters and climate change in Vietnam”, under the 7th DIPECHO Action Plan for SEA

• Final evaluation of the project "Increasing reach of community-based child-focused disaster preparedness and response”,

funded by DIPECHO

Our Projects on Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction

• “Development of an Information, Awareness and Education Program for the Natural Disaster Risk Management Project”, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Bank (WB4 project)

• “Flood impacts on children, child drowning in the Mekong Delta”, Save the Children Alliance in Vietnam

EXAMPLES OF OUR PROJECTS’ INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND

COMMUNICATION (IEC) MATERIALS

Fact-sheets on children and community participation to cope with typhoon

20 November 2009 Hanoi 16

Fact-sheets on how to protect children from drowning during flood season in Mekong delta

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IEC Materials

FactsheetsI. Target users: Public audience at all levels,

particularly childrenII. Pupose: To raise pubic awareness on safety

measures and preparedness and response activities to cope with major disasters and its impacts

III. Illustration and communication messages about:– Typhoon and Low Tropical Dipression– Flood– Flash flood and Landslide– Earthquake and Tsunamis

August 2010

Children’s Notebooks

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IEC Materials

Children’s notebooks

I. Target users: Primary: children and teachers; secondary: family and community

II. Pupose: To raise awareness of safety measure before, during and after a disaster

III. Communication messages for Kinh and ethnic minority children (Pako-Van Kieu and Khome), focusing on 4 topics:

– Flash flood and landslide for Pako-Van Kieu’s group– Typhoon for Kinh group– Flood for Kinh and Khome groups in Mekong delta– Child drowning for Kinh and Khome groups in Mekong

delta

August 2010

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IEC materials

Children’s 3D house gameI. Target users: children and teachers in primary and

secondary schools

II. Pupose: To teach (educate) children about safety measures in a household. What children and their parents can do to cope with typhoon, flash flood and flood.

III. Communication messages: Playing a game, learning by doing for Kinh and ethnic minority children (Pako-Van Kieu and Khome)

August 2010

Children’s 3D house game: Model of Kinh’s house in central region (Hue)

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Children’s 3D house game: Model of Pako-Van Kieu’s house in central region (Hue)

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Children’s 3D house game: Model of Kinh’s house Mekong delta (Dong Thap)

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Thank you for your attention