Knowledge sharing with students of Yangon Japanese School [Myanmar]
On 18th May, SEEDS Asia was invited to the online disaster risk reduction (DRR) class at the Yangon Japanese School, and delivered a lecture on the theme, “What will you do in emergencies? – Be prepared for the time when you have to face natural hazards”. The target of the lecture was students from the second grade of the elementary school to the third grade of the junior high school. SEEDS Asia’s Executive Director Mitsuko Otsuyama, who was stationed in Yangon in the past, delivered the lecture. Although it has been difficult to travel between Myanmar and Japan in the current situation, the students have been expected to stay in the respective two countries, and thus it has been necessary for them to learn about different disaster risks they might potentially experience.
While Myanmar and Japan are often impacted by the same hazards or natural phenomenon such as earthquakes or typhoons/cyclones, the structures of buildings, warning systems, and most importantly the system of public assistance are very different in the two countries, which means that different actions and preparations must be taken in the event of disasters. After all, taking action in an environment where what is considered common sense in one country may not be “normal” in the other. No risk reduction action is 100% perfect, and this needs to be kept in mind when planning for disaster response. Therefore, it is important to understand the hidden risks around the community, to be prepared, and to discuss actions to be taken with family members, in order to develop the habit of planning and taking action.
We hope the tools introduced during the class such as “Family DRR Conference Sheet” and “What to do if an earthquake occurs in my room?” can be utilized and will give them an opportunity to discuss and think about how to prepare for emergencies.