Vietnam: Women and girls take part in disaster risk reduction
For the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction dedicated to the women's contribution in the area of climate change adaptation, young students trained in Disaster Preparedness by the Vietnam Red Cross performed their skills at an event in Central Vietnam.
Danang - 10-year-old Huynh Y Nhi knows what to do: "I would help my family to get prepared in case of an approaching typhoon or a flood." To celebrate the UN International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in October 13th, Nhi and 14 other girls from her school in Huong So Ward, Hue City traveled to Danang with their teachers to perform what they have learned. Their acts combined the demonstration of First Aid skills such as bleeding control and fracture immobilization, and the singing performance of the Red Cross Song - all followed by an enthusiastic clap of hands from the audience. It was their contribution to the event organized by the Da Nang Red Cross Chapter and Save the Children with the theme 'Women and Girls - the (in)Visible force of Resilience'. The Women's Union, local authorities as well as local and international organizations working in the field of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the central region were also participating in the event.
Nhi's school is one of the schools in disaster-prone communes of Thua Thien Hue province that benefits from a Disaster Risk Reduction project, a cooperation between the German Red Cross and the Vietnam National Red Cross. As a part of this project, primary school and secondary school teachers were trained to give lessons on risk potentials, scenarios and preparations for the event of a disaster. Students were also trained in First Aid and Search & Rescue. Evacuation plans for the schools were drawn, and disaster simulation drills will be carried out at the schools. Through extra-curricular activities, parents and other community members where reached.
For Nhi, it was the first time she ever traveled to Danang. She said she enjoyed the performance on stage, especially the singing and dancing. She and her schoolmates practiced for one month for this day, to help raise awareness for the children's and women's roles in Disaster Preparedness. The message of the event was that women are not only victims, but they play an active, important part in DRR. Yet the German Red Cross observed that women are still at a disadvantage and usually have less access to public functions in Vietnam. In their project in Thua Thien Hue, special attention was therefore given to gender equality. Women were particularly encouraged to join the disaster response teams formed and trained through the project.
For questions, please contact:
Kara Devonna Siahaan
GRC Program Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation
grc.vietnam.drr.coordinator@gmail.com
Tel. +84 169 972 0146
Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh
GRC Disaster Risk Reduction Project Manager
grc.vietnam.drr@gmail.com
Tel. +84 98 338 1604