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On 23rd February, a concluding event for the school-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) project was held at the Model Academy in Dhaka North City. This event, supported by the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Project scheme by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, consists of three components: 1. Training on the use of the rainwater harvesting and firefighting system that is installed at the Model Academy, 2. Disaster simulation drill with the community, and 3. Final knowledge-sharing workshop of the one-year project. Completion of components 1 and 2 had had to be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Dhaka.

During the training on the infrastructure set up [Component 1], the construction company and consultant who were responsible for its instalment provided an explanation on the mechanisms of rainwater collection, treatment, and uses for handwashing and fire extinguishing. The Fire Service and Civil Defence also trained the participants on the actual use of hose reels in putting out fires.

In the disaster simulation exercise [Component 2], the school management committee of the Model Academy (consisting of school personnel, community members and students’ guardians) was divided into smaller teams and they performed their roles in emergency response.

The final knowledge-sharing workshop [Component 3] was an opportunity for all the stakeholders to review the activities of the project. The Thana Education Officer expressed his interest in rolling out the same initiative in other schools in Dhaka as well, which received enthusiastic approval and applause from other participants.

This event would not have been possible without the help extended by SEEDS Asia’s counterpart, Dhaka North City Corporation’s superintending engineer Mr. Tariq Bin Yousuf, and the DRR leaders/Durjoge Amraa members who partnered with SEEDS Asia since the beginning of our JICA project from 2016 to 2019. They encouraged other participants of the event by sharing their expertise in DRR. We could not, however, involve students in this event due to the ongoing school closures. As a result, a documentary video on this event will be prepared and shared with the students as a part of their training.

From March 2021, the second year of the project will commence, partnering with another school in Dhaka North City. A guidebook on implementing school-based DRR and videos for city-wide awareness will also be developed.

This project has received enthusiastic support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, local partners and SEEDS Asia supporters. We are sincerely looking forward to the next one-year phase of the project and working together with all the stakeholders.