Each One, Teach One… Jeffrey Town Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Project takes the lead in community environmental education!
21 Apr 2017
The Jeffrey Town Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Project (JTIDRRP) is supporting sustainable partnerships with students, teachers and parents in the community. This was evident when the Inter Primary School Quiz and Expo took place on February 28, 2017. The Tacky High School Choir, Jeffrey Town Basic School, Jeffrey Town Primary School and Wallingford Primary School alongside their project partners participated in the event.
At this Expo, participants enjoyed LIVE deejay music, which featured Climate Change (CC) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) jingles. Chin Chilla also performed the Climate Change Song. The event featured a JTIDRRP informational exhibition booth, promotional items give-a-away, drama skits on CC, student contemporary dance, CC school poster competitions and DRR school quiz competitions. These helped inform communities about the effects of CC and DRR and provided information on practical mitigation measures that can be taken at the individual and community level, to avert potential disasters.
Students of Wallingford Primary School at the JTIDRRP Information Booth with their Project Manager and Staff
In addition to the schools, project partners at the Expo included Jet FM Entertainment, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Social Development Commission (SDC) and Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA). They all shared instructive messages on CC and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) with the students, teachers and parents present.
Members of the recently formed Water Catchment Committees from Barker District, Carter Mountain District, Decoy District and Jeffrey Town/Spring Lane District, all located within the JTIDRRP geographical area, were present and shared their individual talents in the popular song and drama segment of the Expo Programme.
Jeffrey Town Primary School emerged Winners of the Inter-Primary School Quiz
The JTIDRRP Project, under its Public Awareness and Education in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) component, has been helping schools in the community mainstream DRR into their curricula. This aims to raise awareness and help children, teachers and parents better understand disaster management.
To date, there have been a number of school and community lectures and tours. Project promotional items such as calendars and exercise books have been produced and distributed, and promotional quiz, art and essay competitions have been hosted. A radio series on Climate Change targeting the community has been produced and is receiving regular airplay. In addition, radio jingles have been produced. Exchange visits by farmers and community members to national Agricultural Shows have been facilitated.
Also, members of the community have benefited from lectures and on-site training in Best Farming Practices and Disaster Risk Management and Mitigation.
One lesson emerging from the Expo is that local and national Governments can effectively achieve public education and awareness objectives in communities by targeting students, teachers, parents and schools.
Community engagement, and commitment to building a culture of “each one teach one,” could be a powerful way to improve disaster resilience.
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