International day for disaster risk reduction, 13 october 2011 - Theme: Making children and youth partners in disaster risk reduction (DRR)

Solomon Islands, being the country with nearly half of its population youths and children under the age of 29, believe that it is more profound and necessary to engage children and youths in the national disaster risk reduction campaign. Thus, NDMO and other DRR sectors in collaboration with UNISDR will celebrate the IDDR on the 13th of October, 2011.

The event will include a rally in Honiara, with placard written with slogans and hemes involving all the children from school, and to mobilise the volunteers and youths. The rally will conclude in a mass gathering with an exhibition of DRR posters and other materials from various partners engaged. The event will also highlight speeches from key people of government and civil society. Other performances may include youth musical bands with a written script for DRR awareness and songs in the local pop music. An essay competition in schools may also be organized with the theme: ‘What and how children and youth can contribute to disaster reduction in the Solomon Islands’. For the general public, activities will be organized at the province level throughout the Solomon Islands.

The focus of this celebration will be centred on the following objectives:

• Increasing disaster awareness in the public;
• Promoting children and young people as partners in reducing disaster risk;
• Strengthening partnerships with children and young people in disaster risk reduction; and
• Connecting and building bridges and understanding among children and young people.