Boosting Disaster Preparation through Participation

This is a community capacity building and small-scale structural mitigation project involving both communities and local government authorities in project implementation, for the sake of sustainability. In each village, "rural disaster teams" and "school disaster teams" were formed over a 2-month period and supported in their development. The rural and school disaster teams were linked to the local government in that they were both actively involved in the project implementation (Shoola tried to play a merely facilitating role). For instance, local government staff participated in training and shared their expertise in supporting the structural mitigation work.

Specifically, first, the local disaster teams took part in theoretical and practical training on disaster management, preparedness, and risk reduction. They then engaged in capacity building activities involving other community members in an effort to raise awareness of existing and potential hazards and disaster risks. After an early warning system was developed, and the team members were trained in first aid and on how to respond to emergency situations, they led a participatory process which involved preparation of village maps and risk areas, and creation of preparedness and contingency plans. Each rural disaster team consisted of 20 adult members, and each school disaster team of 23-25 schoolchildren.

The participation of children was central to this initiative, which used playful learning strategies to teach youth the nuts and bolts of disaster reduction, and to inspire them to embrace their leadership roles as key disaster reduction actors. For example, movie events were designed to educate children from an early age about the importance of disaster risk reduction through an entertaining medium. Competitions and summer camps were organised for the youth, where they had an opportunity to hone and demonstrate their skills and knowledge. Having been thus prepared, the school disaster teams conducted training on disaster risk in the schools of neighbouring villages which were not directly involved in the project.

A core strategy involved linking capacity building with small-scale structural mitigation work (strengthening river banks, building reservoirs and dykes, etc.), which was designed to provide motivation and tangible results for the communities to build on. To further celebrate the importance of community initiative in reducing disaster risk, these events and construction activities in the villages were highlighted through a video and other materials broadcast by the local television channel for the residents of the entire Issyk-Kul Province.

Risk Management.