Students become better prepared in disaster-prone country
World Vision’s Views from the Frontline study issued a year ago had showed among many findings that no information about disasters has been shared with children in schools. Against this reality, it implemented over the past two months a project where children and teachers took part in awareness sessions and simulations to learn about safe behaviours.
Today I learned not to be scared and that I should remain calm in case something happens “If an earthquake happens, we should go down under the desk, put our hands around the back of our neck because it is a sensitive area or use a book on our head as we go out of the class,” said Marianne Hamawi,10 from Beirut.
“We should hide under the table or the door frame but not a plastic chair,” said Marwa Zaghloul, 12 from the south Lebanon region of Tyre. “Most importantly we should listen to the teacher.”
“Today I learned not to be scared and that I should remain calm in case something happens,” said Nisrine Issa, 9 from the north Lebanon region of Hasroun.
As a child-focused organisation, World Vision has a responsibility to ensure that children are protected in all environments, home and school. That responsibility is even greater when the environment is prone to danger that threatens their lives.
The examples were very practical and simple and taught us how to deal with a crisis within our capabilities Sessions were run in 32 public schools from all areas where World Vision works, including two refugee camps and were tailored to both urban and rural contexts based on scenarios set by the community themselves like earthquakes, fires, floods and conflict.
Also, booklets were distributed to entertain and educate children through age-appropriate tips that help them adopt safe behaviours. Tips include not returning to the site of a fire even to get a valued item, asking help from nearest aid centres in case parents were lost in conflict or not attempting to rescue pets as they might turn aggressive.
“The sessions were not theoretical,” said Cosette Lattouf, one of the teachers who attended the training. “The examples were very practical and simple and taught us how to deal with a crisis within our capabilities of course.”
In both their roles as teachers or members of their respective families, these sessions were so beneficial for them explained Lattouf as they play key roles for the safety of the children.
“Children were so eager to learn more about how to protect themselves from the risks of disasters,” said Patricia Beainy, World Vision project coordinator. “Seeing the increasing vulnerabilities in Lebanon and the lack of risk management projects, only strengthens our belief that such a project should be implemented in more schools across the country.”
Today I learned not to be scared and that I should remain calm in case something happens “If an earthquake happens, we should go down under the desk, put our hands around the back of our neck because it is a sensitive area or use a book on our head as we go out of the class,” said Marianne Hamawi,10 from Beirut.
“We should hide under the table or the door frame but not a plastic chair,” said Marwa Zaghloul, 12 from the south Lebanon region of Tyre. “Most importantly we should listen to the teacher.”
“Today I learned not to be scared and that I should remain calm in case something happens,” said Nisrine Issa, 9 from the north Lebanon region of Hasroun.
As a child-focused organisation, World Vision has a responsibility to ensure that children are protected in all environments, home and school. That responsibility is even greater when the environment is prone to danger that threatens their lives.
The examples were very practical and simple and taught us how to deal with a crisis within our capabilities Sessions were run in 32 public schools from all areas where World Vision works, including two refugee camps and were tailored to both urban and rural contexts based on scenarios set by the community themselves like earthquakes, fires, floods and conflict.
Also, booklets were distributed to entertain and educate children through age-appropriate tips that help them adopt safe behaviours. Tips include not returning to the site of a fire even to get a valued item, asking help from nearest aid centres in case parents were lost in conflict or not attempting to rescue pets as they might turn aggressive.
“The sessions were not theoretical,” said Cosette Lattouf, one of the teachers who attended the training. “The examples were very practical and simple and taught us how to deal with a crisis within our capabilities of course.”
In both their roles as teachers or members of their respective families, these sessions were so beneficial for them explained Lattouf as they play key roles for the safety of the children.
“Children were so eager to learn more about how to protect themselves from the risks of disasters,” said Patricia Beainy, World Vision project coordinator. “Seeing the increasing vulnerabilities in Lebanon and the lack of risk management projects, only strengthens our belief that such a project should be implemented in more schools across the country.”
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