Knowledge is POWER
The United Nations´ Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, adopted by 168 governments during the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005, along with the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign, addresses the ever growing concern for disaster risk management. A cooperative effort has brought together organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to take action. The focus is to reach beyond infrastructure, the environment, and typical recovery planning to build awareness in communities, and specifically among children, establishing the critical knowledge necessary for disaster prevention and response.
School infrastructure is a vital asset in community development, in times of disaster and prosperity alike. However, in many communities, school buildings consist of the simplest structures fulfilling only the most basic of needs, yet, when disaster strikes, these structures are often the only viable gathering point. As part of the disaster risk reduction awareness campaign, the topics of emergency shelter development and post disaster response are essential in establishing a clear understanding among children that they too can take an active role in changing risk factors of their immediate surroundings; understanding that while natural phenomenon will occur, preventive behaviors can mitigate the damage and, repercussions experienced.
Photo: L. Friedmann
Partnering organizations in Latin America and Caribbean devised a fun and creative action plan to captivate the interest of children around this imperative topic, culminating in the “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School” Art Contest and Awareness Raising Campaign. Is this initiative the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Plan International and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) combined resources and know-how for implementation.
The campaign outreach effort was launched in August 2006 in Panama City with a press conference capturing children learning through fun with a giant size version of the board game Riskland, a significant tool used in communicating the campaign theme. Thereafter, local Ministry of Education offices and other community officials were approached, sponsors’ local offices met with school directors and promotional visits were made by sponsors’ local and regional offices. A campaign Toolkit, a concise compilation of the resources available to promote the theme and art contest, was distributed as part of this outreach effort. This toolkit includes promotional posters, brochures, contest rules, guidelines for presenting the topic and promoting awareness a Riskland game, and the Toolkit CD containing newsletters, worksheets, and informative materials to reach all levels in communities. These materials were produced by all the sponsors including the various games and worksheets for children of all ages.
Outreach efforts have continued with promotional visits by sponsors to Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad &Tobago, Grenada and Guyana. The visits included interactive presentations by sponsors to children in wich using art materials provided, the children depicted their understanding of the theme by creating an artistic entry for the contest. Promotional visits to the Caribbean were funded by the UN/ISDR and facilitated by the IFRC to collaboratively offer communities on-site visits and promotional materials. The local Red Cross offices in Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and Guyana provided strong and well organized logistical support. This outpouring of hospitality made possible a successful, well orchestrated effort resulting in presentations reaching over 500 children and 50 school teachers, directors and parents in a five day tour to these countries. As part of the visits, a promotional package was provided to the schools visited and/or were left with representatives of each Red Cross office for use in furthering the promotional efforts. Promotional packages include campaign banners, art supply kits with instruction guides, and the campaign Toolkit information folder and CD.
Partnering organizations in Latin America and Caribbean devised a fun and creative action plan to captivate the interest of children around this imperative topic, culminating in the “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School” Art Contest and Awareness Raising Campaign. Is this initiative the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Plan International and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) combined resources and know-how for implementation.
The campaign outreach effort was launched in August 2006 in Panama City with a press conference capturing children learning through fun with a giant size version of the board game Riskland, a significant tool used in communicating the campaign theme. Thereafter, local Ministry of Education offices and other community officials were approached, sponsors’ local offices met with school directors and promotional visits were made by sponsors’ local and regional offices. A campaign Toolkit, a concise compilation of the resources available to promote the theme and art contest, was distributed as part of this outreach effort. This toolkit includes promotional posters, brochures, contest rules, guidelines for presenting the topic and promoting awareness a Riskland game, and the Toolkit CD containing newsletters, worksheets, and informative materials to reach all levels in communities. These materials were produced by all the sponsors including the various games and worksheets for children of all ages.
Outreach efforts have continued with promotional visits by sponsors to Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad &Tobago, Grenada and Guyana. The visits included interactive presentations by sponsors to children in wich using art materials provided, the children depicted their understanding of the theme by creating an artistic entry for the contest. Promotional visits to the Caribbean were funded by the UN/ISDR and facilitated by the IFRC to collaboratively offer communities on-site visits and promotional materials. The local Red Cross offices in Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and Guyana provided strong and well organized logistical support. This outpouring of hospitality made possible a successful, well orchestrated effort resulting in presentations reaching over 500 children and 50 school teachers, directors and parents in a five day tour to these countries. As part of the visits, a promotional package was provided to the schools visited and/or were left with representatives of each Red Cross office for use in furthering the promotional efforts. Promotional packages include campaign banners, art supply kits with instruction guides, and the campaign Toolkit information folder and CD.
Furthering the promotional visits, various Central American countries also received these promotional packages through the sponsorship ECHO and facilitated by UNICEF while 12 other countries in the target area were presented with the materials courtesy of IFRC. Sponsors’ local office representatives facilitated the promotional visits.
As the closing date approaches, plans are in place for an official unveiling of the winners in three age categories: 0 to 5, 6 to 9, and 10 to 12 years of age. First, second and third place, as well as honorable mention winners will be selected in each age category for inclusion in the production of the 2008 Calendar and posted on the UNICEF, UN/ISDR, Plan International , ECHO and IFRC websites. The unveiling and awards ceremony culminating the successful awareness raising campaign effort is set to take place in a formal presentation in Panama City on October 10, 2007, International Day for Disaster Reduction.
For additional information please contact Lydia Lopez Friedmann at concursopintura@eird.org. |
