Philippines: Tool to help children participate in risk assessment and planning

Children are among the most vulnerable groups in times of disaster. To promote children’s participation in disaster risk reduction, the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) developed a toolkit called Child-Oriented Participatory Risk Assessment and Planning (COPRAP). The toolkit uses participatory and creative methods such as role playing, drawing, interactive discussion, and workshops to allow children to determine elements-at-risk; identify safe and unsafe locations; determine appropriate behaviors and responses before, during, and after a disaster; and identify other issues which threaten them. This toolkit was then tested on children aged 7-13 years old living in the flood prone area of Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal.

How it started

CDP advocates a child-oriented disaster risk reduction (DRR) approach. Through the ProVention Consortium Research Grants, CDP was able to do an action research project entitled Mobilization of Children and Youth to Offset Vulnerabilities for Empowerment or MOVE. This aimed to build the capacity of young individuals through raising awareness, enhancing skills, and encouraging values formation so that they become empowered actors in disaster risk reduction. This was carried out in a core group of children and youth between 9-17 years old who were living in a high risk flood zone in the community of Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal. This core group was then named Buklod ng Kabataan [BK] which means ”children bonded together.” They became one of the lead implementors of the research project activities. In the span of 14 months, the children and youth became attuned to vulnerability reduction and environmental protection concepts and were involved in risk reduction activities such as Participatory Risk Assessment, DRR Action Planning, and DRR Training and Advocacy.

Relevance of the tool

The COPRAP toolkit was used to raise the children and the community’s awareness on the high susceptibility of Barangay Banaba to hazards. The children–contrary to the traditional notion of adults that they are just mere beneficiaries of any assistance–were given an empowering role as DRR actors.

The tools enabled them to identify their vulnerabilities and capacities. This then led to community action planning, which was the identification of areas that required priority action, before, during, and after a disaster situation.

The series of discussions which transpired among the BK members also created an avenue for experience sharing. The dialogue provided young individuals with relevant lessons and concrete good practices which will allow them to better cope with disaster risks.

Impact on the community

Through the aid of COPRAP tools, the children and youth were able to strengthen their role as agents of change in the community. The results of the risk assessment process did not only benefit the young but also the whole community. Being familiar with the hazards allowed them to collectively think of responsive and viable measures that will reduce the damage the hazard may cause.

The community was encouraged to embrace the child-centered DRR framework. The young were treated as able partners in promoting disaster safety and resiliency. The realization that they were not just mere beneficiaries enabled them to prove their worth and challenge the common perception. Tangible outputs such as the CBDRR action plan proved that they could make substantial contributions to the planning and decision-making process for the welfare of the general populace.

The residents of the community especially the parents also deemed the initiative as an effective opportunity to keep the young away from vices such as smoking and alcohol drinking. COPRAP trains the young to not only improve their knowledge and skills for themselves but also for the welfare of the public. Pursuing development-oriented initiatives at an early age will be helpful when they assume leadership and management roles in the future. Furthermore, their social skills were enhanced. They came out of their shell and were able to nurture closer relationships with their fellow children. In general, the community was pleased with the way the activity was implemented since the processes and mechanisms employed were participatory and interactive in nature.

For more information on COPRAP, visit the Center for Disaster Preparedness office at the CSWCD Bldg. University of the Philippines, Diliman , or email the author at jesusagrace_molina@yahoo.com.