Increasing resilience of School students through SBDRR* orientation program

1. Increasing resilience of School students through SBDRR* orientation program A plan to empower children and Youths of Schools. Seventh Youth Looking Beyond Disaster (LBD7) Action Plan By BinodParajuli, Deepak Kushwaha, ShivahariMainali Nepal *School-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

2. Background Nepal is at risk of one or more natural disasters, the Kathmandu Valley is particularly vulnerable to a major earthquake. The seismic record of the country suggests that a major earthquake of high magnitude occurs approximately every 80 years, with the most recent one on 25 April 2015. This demonstrates that major earthquakes are an unavoidable part of Nepal’s future. As the population of Kathmandu is increasing rapidly there is a immediate need of proper preparedness and planning to reduce the risk of future probable mega disasters.

3. Rationale A study of school earthquake safety in 2003 by Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium revealed that of the 1,100 buildings in 643 public schools in Kathmandu Valley, over 60% were at risk of collapse during a major earthquake. In the 2015 earthquake this prediction proved correct. It’s fortunate that recent earthquake occurred on a Saturday when there were no classes, so the loss of lives in schools and colleges were less. Several studies suggest that if another mega earthquake occurs in near future it will claim more lives for sure. To reduce this vulnerability there is immediate need to increase the resilience of the schools and school students through capacity building and empowerment.

4. Objectives • Enhance knowledge and skills of the Students and School Staff on basic concepts of Disaster Risk Management. • Develop basic understanding to Student and School Staff on the disaster risk management cycle. • Identify the hazards of Schools, Vulnerable School areas, risks and capacities of the School to develop Disaster Preparedness plans in future.

5. 5 Expected Outcomes • School staff and Students strengthened their knowledge and skills on DRM and CCA. • School staff and Students will be aware of the Participatory tools and techniques, and some basic terminologies, i.e. hazards, vulnerability, risk and capacities of their Schools and are ready to plan for disaster risk management.

6. 6 Activities • First phase of the program will be the coordination and finalization of the at least 10 schools around Kathmandu valley and we will make a series of orientation programs in close coordination with schools and conduct the orientation programs. This will help us to understand the basic concept of DRR and preparedness measures. 1. Orientation on concept of disasters and disaster preparedness

7. 7 Activities • To sustain the program and the knowledge we deliver in the first phase we will form a club of young people including at least 11 students and one focal teacher to guide them. They will be continuously engaged in DRR related activities. 2. Formation of Child and youth club in schools

8. 8 Activities • To enhance the understanding of the students and teachers about disaster and disaster risk management, we will organize mock drills creating the scenario of earthquake. 3. Mock Drill

9. 9 Implementation plan

10. 10 Budget

11. 11 Management of Funds • Approach NGOs/ INGOs in the field of School based disaster risk reduction. • Coordination with like-minded youth networks and see if we can co-organize the program to reduce the cost. • Volunteers provide in-kind support and their time.

12. 12 Monitoring • Formation of Joint monitoring committees including our team, school teachers and students itself. • Final monitoring will be done at the end of the all the planned activities and a short evaluation report will be prepared. • Estimated framework of a monitoring committee (One per school) • 3 members from our team • 5 from students (from each school) • 3 teachers from each school

13. 13 Indicators of Success • Child or youth clubs formed in the schools • Students have basic understanding on Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness Measures (survey) • Short disaster management plan of school is in place

14. 14 Challenges • Lack of funds. • Gap in coordination and communication. • Since most of the schools are partially and completely devastated by recent earthquakes, the orientation program might be affected.

15. 15 Contact details • Binod Prasad Parajuli • binodpparajuli@gmail.com • 9779849476569 • www.binodparajuli.com.np • ShivahariMainali( Sital) • mainali_sital@Hotmail.com • 9779851003821 • Kathmandu, Nepal • Deepak Prasad Kushwaha • tnogopal@gmail.com • 9779851162470 • Kathmandu, Nepal