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Empowering Young People in Haiti to Play Key Roles in Disaster Risk Reduction

Description: 

GeoHazards International (GHI) conceived and implemented Timoun an Aksyon! (Kids in Action!), a 3-year, child-focused and youth-led program designed to empower young people in northern Haiti to make their communities safer from seismic risks and coastal hazards. Nearly half of Haiti's population is under the age of 20. GHI’s approach involved young people in the design and delivery of resilience efforts in Cap-Haïtien. It cultivated their natural enthusiasm to learn, enabled them to take small steps toward a safer future, engaged the community, and supported the youths’ interests in creating impact through action. The program brought together a diverse group of students across public and private schools and at elementary and secondary levels. Youth participants in the program saw their impact as leaders in risk reduction, and can continue this into the future.

The program accomplished four main goals. 1) Increased over 11,000 young peoples’ scientific understanding of local risks, and how they can take action to make their community safer. 2) Cultivated a group of 40+ Youth Club members that developed and implemented creative ways to increase disaster resilience, including performances by winners of a disaster-themed slam contest, theater and dance performances, painting displays, and public murals painted by club members with critical tsunami evacuation messages. 3) Empowered young people to share their knowledge, in their own voices, through messages and activities for peers and the public. 4) Increased preparedness of local school children through trainings, and more than 4,000 students evacuated schools during a major city-scale earthquake exercise. Program activities have inspired Youth Club members to create their own sister organization to continue empowering youth.

Session: The Future of Tsunami Science, Preparedness and Response [Poster]

Type: Poster

Date: 4/19/2023

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Garmalia Mentor-William

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors