Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School Campaign

Societies all over the world have developed specific sets of knowledge and practices to avoid or mitigate the effects of natural disasters, but these are poorly documented and little understood. UNESCO is committed to making such knowledge an integral part of disaster-reduction planning. To mitigate the risks stemming from natural hazards, those at risk must be informed of dangers and the protective measures available, and well versed in the skills of prevention and resilience.

Operating at the interface between education, science, the social sciences, culture and communication, UNESCO has a vital role to play in constructing a global culture of disaster preparedness and mitigation. The Organization is closely involved in the conceptual shift in thinking away from post-disaster reaction to pre-disaster action. In June 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters, the Organization had the privilege of launching, alongside ISDR, a world campaign on education entitled “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School.” The campaign aims to promote disaster reduction education in school curricula and to improve school safety by encouraging the application of strict construction standards. This initiative is fully consonant with UNESCO’s priorities in contributing to disaster resilience through knowledge, education, information and public awareness.

UNESCO, in their Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation description, implies that, their Headquarters has launched in 2006 the "Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School" world campaign, which aims to make disaster risk reduction part of the school's curriculum to foster awareness and better understanding of the immediate environment in which children and their families live and work.

We know from past experience that children who are taught about the risks of natural hazards play an important role in saving lives and protecting members of the community in times of crisis.

When the Tsunami struck Thailand in December 2004, 11 year-old British schoolgirl, Tilly Smith, saved many lives by urging people to flee the shore – she had been taught how to recognise the first signs of a Tsunami in her geography lessons back home in Britain.

At the same time, Anto, a boy on the Indonesian island of Simeulue had learned what to do in an earthquake from his grandfather. He and all the other islanders ran to higher ground before the Tsunami hit the island and all but eight were saved.

In most societies, in addition to their essential role in formal education, in normal times, schools serve as an assembly point for the community and the location for group activities. And in times of disaster they become makeshift hospitals, vaccination centers or shelters. Yet, hundreds of millions of children across the developed and developing world attend schools in buildings that are unable to withstand the forces of nature.

In order to inform communities and ensure their future, the UNISDR secretariat and its partners have made disaster risk education and safer school facilities the two key themes of the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign.

Salvano Briceño, ISDR Director (Photo: UNDRR)

Mr. Saber Chowdhury, Parliamentarian key DRR actor (Photo: UNISDR)

The ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School’ campaign aims to inform and mobilise governments, communities and individuals to ensure that disaster risk reduction is fully integrated to school curricula in high risk countries and that school buildings are built to withstand natural hazards.

Visit United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) official website to learn more about their work and campaigns: https://www.undrr.org/

Source: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/special-themes/science-education/environment/disaster-preparedness-and-mitigation/

https://www.eird.org/cd/herramientas-recursos-educacion-gestion-riesgo/pdf/eng/doc17404/doc17404-b.pdf