Student-led disaster risk reduction simulation improving school, community safety

On any given day after the morning assembly students will proceed to their normal lessons at School #6 in Zimchurud Village of Varzob District, Tajikistan. On May 7, 2015, students at this school had new material to learn: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Students across Tajikistan are learning effective disaster response through trainings conducted under the framework of the European Union funded DIPECHO VIII project, “Increasing Resilience of Institutions, Communities and Most Vulnerable Groups to Natural Disasters in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.” At these training sessions students are learning the key messages of DRR: different types of disasters, how to prepare in advance, how to respond in an imminent disaster, dealing with the aftermath, and how to create family emergency reponse plans within their community planning. 

Utilizing unique child-to-child methodology, this DRR training session had youth teach the important lessons on effective disaster response. All of the “teachers” at these training sessions were members of a special youth group that had been trained by DRR specialists under the framework of the project. 

In addition to being youth led, these training sessions were very interactive in nature. Students experienced a mock disaster, in which they practiced responding to an earthquake while in school. Some students were even designated to go “missing”, so that there was an opportunity to for a rescue team to practice searching. Another team practiced giving first aid to improve their response skills. This hands on opportunity allowed students to practice their reponse. One youth-trainer, Manizha Elmurodova of grade 10, said that: “We have to conduct such simulations in order to become more prepared to respond to disasters. After being trained, now I know that during an earthquake we should drop and cover our heads in stead of panicing. Now we have had practice evacuating after the disaster.”

The whole simulation was conducted by students from School #6 in Zumchurud and qualified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. In total, more than 200 students participated in this simulation which was facilitated under the leadership of school director Davlatov Murodali.

Like many villages in Tajikistan, Zumchurud is vulnerable due to its location in a highly mountainous area positioned with a large river running through the middle of the village. After the training, community members have become more informed and more motivated to plan for their safety. Murodali said: “This type of simulation is practiced at the school level internationally. This practice will enhance student’s capacity to prepare themselves, their friends and their families for disasters such as earthquakes. We will continue to have such practice in our school in order to improve our community.” 

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This article reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.