Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Project generates public interest at EU Day Fair

Friday 5 June 2015

Head of EU Delegation in Armenia Ambassador Traian Hristea greeting Save the Children staff while children were watching a cartoon on the right behaviour during earthquake

On May 16, 17 and 24 Save the Children participated in the Europe Day info fairs organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Vanadzor, Gyumri and Yerevan respectively. Save the Children presented its Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction project 2 (IDRR-2) at the info fairs, which were about the EU-funded projects implemented in Armenia.

Children watching a cartoon on the right behaviour during earthquake.The opening ceremonies of the events were made by the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea and other Ambassadors from the EU member states. Thousands of people participated in the events, getting acquainted with the EU-funded projects.

IDRR-2 aims to increase the resilience of children with special needs towards disasters. To that end, activities are being undertaken to reflect the needs and rights of the most vulnerable children in disaster risk reduction policy; build the capacity of children, schools and kindergartens in hazard prone areas to better prepare for, mitigate, and respond to disasters; and tackle issues related to disaster risk reduction in the context of the national education system. The project is funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department within the framework of Disaster Preparedness Programme, phase III.

Children were very enthusiastic playing a table game on right behaviour during earthquake and fire.

During the info fairs, Save the Children presented the project’s information leaflets as well as interactive educational materials developed, including the children’s game books, teacher’s manuals for various age children, educational material in Braille for blind children, posters, table games, the
cartoon, audio CD  etc. All of these materials created high interest among both children and adults providing knowledge on the right behavior during disasters. While adults were actively checking their knowledge through the posters and books, children were enthusiastically engaged in table games and cartoon watching.

Thus, Save the Children used the EU info fairs to increase knowledge not only on the EU-funded IDRR-2 project, but also the right behavior during disasters.

More photos on the Europe Day info fairs can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1012530972098119.1073741839.214609181890306&type=3