Increasing Action for Risk Mitigation

“What does disaster mean? If you know the answer, please raise your hand up,” asked by 14 year-old Dylen to 30 first grade students as she stands in the aisle of tables in the classroom.

“I am teaching you today what disaster means, and what you should and shouldn’t do during a disaster.”

Finishing her self-introduction, Dylen drags a picture from a table and asks her friends and younger children in the room to hold and show the picture to their friends.

Dylen started to ask questions on what the picture tells them. Pointing to a photo of children swimming in a river of cloudy water that is next to a steep bank, Dylen reminded them, “you could be in danger to whirlpool and strong water current and should never swim in this area. Even if you know how to swim, it doesn’t mean that you would not get drowned.”

It is common to many families living along Tonle Bassac River to take a bath in the river.

“Don’t forget to bring along with you big empty plastic bottle, pumped inner tire tube and life jackets. You should also watch out for your friends when you bathe. For emergencies, you should call adults for help,” says Dylen.

Inside the session hall, Dylen illustrates various forms of disasters like drought, flood, traffic accident, fire, and lightning. “We learnt about all kinds of these disasters in our school books, but we did not learn how to prevent and protect ourselves from their hazards,” continues Dylen.

“Through this session, we will understand more and know how we can protect ourselves from danger.”

Dylen has been trained in many World Vision-coordinated training on disasters. She worked along with her friends to disseminate the knowledge on disaster risk reduction to her school mates and younger students in Russey Chroy secondary and primary school.

“I love young children. I want to be a teacher. I wish I could share my knowledge to them,” says Dylen.

“I found out that encouraging them to ask questions helps them understand things quickly. Another technique is to give them actual examples so they catch up with the sessions easily,” says Dylen, adding that she is so happy having seen those children understands the session at the end.  

Building Community Resilience to Disaster and Climate Change project of World Vision was launched in the five areas that are most vulnerable to disaster such as Saang, Phnom Prek, Chikreng and Sotnikum districts and the urban areas of Phnom Penh capital.

The project has been working at the community and national level to mainstream knowledge on disaster risk reduction, climate change and adaption to community people and young people through their peers, teachers, village committee for disaster management and community committee for disaster management.

“We have a donation box intended to help victims of disasters. We run a campaign and concert to raise awareness among community people,” says Dylen.

World Vision also lobbies to schools to set up safe hills and alert system for children and adults in communities that are vulnerable to disasters.

“We want to see community people and children able to protect themselves from disaster. And the issue should be solved by including this in village and community development plans,” says Vutha Chhem, project manager on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.