Community members work together for disaster risk reduction

Summary

Eco Boy Oh Boy, a U.P. geography student, shares his experience in a UNICEF child-centered project, where communities collaboratively created 3D hazard maps using a participatory approach. Involving children and villagers in identifying hazards and resources, they geo-tagged structures and plotted them on maps, enhancing disaster preparedness. The project exemplifies UNICEF's commitment to child-centered disaster risk reduction, highlighting children's vital role in community resilience.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The project involved geography students from U.P. working with communities on a child-centered UNICEF project.
• 👦 The initiative aimed to develop three-dimensional hazard maps using a participatory approach known as speed EDM.
• 🏘️ The community, including children, was engaged to create a geographically accurate, scaled model of their barangay, identifying key structures and hazard-prone areas.
• 🌪️ The project took place in several villages in Camarena Surigao Province, an area prone to typhoons and natural hazards.
• 👧 Children played a crucial role in establishing baseline data, identifying hazard-prone areas, and suggesting evacuation centers.
• 🏚️ They also helped in identifying vulnerabilities such as houses made of light materials and the presence of persons with disabilities.
• 📍 Young people assisted with geo-tagging using tablet computers and GPS to plot exact locations on the map.
• 🎨 The creation of the 3D map was a community event, with all members, young and old, participating in tracing, cutting, and plotting.
• 📊 The final product was presented by the children to classmates, teachers, and community members, including local government officials.
• 📝 The map was easy to understand due to the use of local symbols and legends based on the community's knowledge.
• 🛡️ The map helps community members understand risks and plan appropriate disaster preparedness and response measures.
• 💡 The activity demonstrated the importance of children's meaningful participation in reducing risks in their communities, aligning with UNICEF's child-centered approach to disaster risk reduction.

Q & A

What is the name of the project described in the script?

The project is a child-centered initiative by UNICEF involving the creation of three-dimensional hazard maps through a participatory approach, which is referred to as 'speed EDM' or 'P3DM' (Participatory 3-Dimensional Modeling).

Who is 'Eco Boy Oh Boy' in the context of the script?

Eco Boy Oh Boy is the speaker in the script, who is a geography student from U.P (presumably University of the Philippines) and has worked with communities on the UNICEF project.

What was the main goal of involving communities in the project?

The main goal was to help communities develop geographically accurate, three-dimensional scaled models of their barangay (village), identifying the location of houses, schools, and other structures, as well as areas affected by hazards like floods or storm surges.

What role did children play in the project?

Children were involved in every stage of the activity, from establishing baseline data and pointing out hazard-prone areas to identifying capacities for response and adaptation, and helping in geo-tagging houses, facilities, and structures using GPS units.

How did the community members contribute to the creation of the P3DM model?

Community members, including children and the elderly, worked together to trace contour and elevation lines, cut styrofoam boards, cover them with paper mache, and use materials like pushpins and yarn to plot structures and hazard-prone areas on the model.

Which province was the P3DM conducted in, and why is it significant?

The P3DM was conducted in Camarines Norte, a province that lies along a typhoon belt, making it significant due to its vulnerability to natural hazards and the importance of community activity in hazard preparedness.

What tools did the children use to geo-tag the locations in their communities?

The children used tablet computers and global positioning system (GPS) units to plot the exact locations of houses, facilities, and structures on the map.

How did the final P3DM model help the community?

The final P3DM model allowed community members to better understand the location and risks present, enabling them to plan appropriate preparedness and mitigation measures.

What was the process like for the community when creating the P3DM model?

The process involved the entire community, young and old, working hand in hand for over three days to complete the map, creating an atmosphere akin to a mini town fiesta in the village hall.

How did the children present the final P3DM model to others?

The children presented and explained the final P3DM model to their classmates, teachers, adult community members, and local government officials, using symbols and legends based on local knowledge and understanding.

What does the script suggest about the importance of children's participation in disaster risk reduction?

The script suggests that children can play a vital role in reducing risks in their communities when given opportunities and the right methods and tools that allow for meaningful participation, embodying UNICEF's child-centered approach to disaster risk reduction.