What children think about the project
When asked what the children felt they had learned and experienced from participating in the activities during the past two years, Nu-Tar, , Ma-Na, Archa, and Sead (All names are nicknames) replied as follows:
Nu-Tar, age 12, said “We had a lot of fun and I learned many new things. The good thing is that other people will learn about disaster risk reduction and it teaches the teachers as well. I have made a book, draw Risk and Resource maps, and did puppet shows. I would like to see my book published in English one day,” she said.
Ma-Na, age 11, said “I feel proud of myself because I can make a Risk and Resource Map that will help the villagers.”
Archa, age 12, said “I am proud of myself. I never thought I would be able to make a Risk & Resource map but I did.” She added that she was happy that CLDRR teaches pupils not to panic in a disaster.
Sead, age 11, said “We’ve learned how to prepare for a disaster and find an evacuation route.”
Principal Supawadee Narwichean believes that students now understand how to be prepared and react to a similar emergency situation in the future. But she thinks much more work needed to be done, and this is just a starting point.
Ensuring sustainability
Together with Rabatbai and Save the Children Sweden, Principal Supawadee Narwichean and teachers at Ban Talaynork have been effecting the inclusion of Child Led Disaster Risk Reduction (CLDRR) education into her school’s curriculum. The curriculum is designed for students in Grades 4 to 6 and its objective is to empower students to apply local knowledge to solve problems in their daily lives.
“At present CLDRR is an extra subject. It is not yet officially part of the school’s curriculum. It needs to be incorporated into the school’s curriculum and be self-sustaining,” Principal Supawadee said.
Supawadee pointed out that the curriculum would need to be applied in a specific way to each school’s needs. Also, it would need to be incorporated into subjects that are already being taught such as geography, social science, math and Thai language, so that it was easily accessible for students.
When Tee-Wa, age 11, was asked if she thought CLDRR should be part of the school curriculum she replied: “Yes, because I finish sixth grade soon and I want the younger children coming up to understand it.”
Students take part in group motivational exercises before beginning CLDRR Education campaigning training at Ban Talaynork School, Ranong province. Photo/story by Jack Picone.
Reaching other schools
Tee-Wa has her point – the CLDRR needs to be made available for other children.
Following a review workshop with teachers and school directors, Save the Children Sweden formed a steering committee composed of Department of Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education, partner organisations, Plan, and Action Aid. The group together with a consultant developed a curriculum drawn from the activities of a two year project carried out by Save the Children Sweden in the tsunami-affected provinces.
Completed in January, the curriculum was introduced to tsunami affected schools in the following month. School staff have discussed on how they will integrate this curriculum in their next academic year. The curriculum will also be introduced to schools in other parts of Thailand with close monitoring and evaluation.
Pachrin Vaileng (Pla), Rabatbai staff who has trained more than 100 students in six schools said “The Child-Led Disaster Risk Reduction project is unique because the children are driving it. Normally the process of incorporating something into the curriculum starts from the top and works its way down to the bottom. This time it is starting from the bottom (at primary school level) and is going to the top (Ministry of Education).