The annual programme sees groups of young learners immersed in a week-long series of events and activities focused on disaster risk mitigation.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has been driving the ‘Women and Girls: the (In)Visible Force of Resilience’ Programme for more than a decade, inpired by the United Nations’ efforts to highlight the contribution of females in disaster risk reduction
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Engagements happen year round, and include Community-based risk assessment workshops and training for Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners – but the flagship project is the winter school holiday programme where a group of learners go on an eight-day journey that helps them develop a range of life skills and a toolkit for disaster risk management and reduction.
This year, 19 learners from the Leap Science & Maths school in Langa learnt about various hazards, including flooding, fires in informal settlements, wind events, drought, heatwaves, and other severe weather events. The programme also addressed the importance of including disability considerations in disaster management planning, ensuring that all community members are accounted for during emergencies.
There were a number of field trips to augment the theory – most notably to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to learn about the role of nuclear energy in relation to climate change; a visit to the Steenbras Dam where they gained insights into hydroelectric power generation and its significance in sustainable energy practices; and a day spent focusing on climate change and biodiversity at the Helderberg Nature Reserve, where they were taught how to start a yard garden in relation to food security.
The learners also had opportunities for practical implementation – specifically on first aid interventions, including the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and firefighting.
‘I have no doubt that our participants are now equipped with a lifelong, invaluable toolkit to make their households and communities more resilient, and that they will be ambassadors for disaster risk reduction awareness. It is not only about being fearless in the face of adversity, but also about having the inner strength and confidence to lead by example in assisting those in need. I want to thank them for giving up their time during the school holidays, and during winter no less – it is my sincere hope that the experience and the skills that they have picked up, are worth the sacrifice,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
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