August 12 is UN International Youth Day, with a special focus on intergenerational solidarity. 2022 is also the European Year of Youth. To mark International Youth Day, the Knowledge Network looks at some of the ways that young people are getting involved in civil protection.
From school to higher education, or from volunteering to practical projects, young people are contributing their skills and enthusiasm to civil protection and disaster risk management actions. International Youth Day provides the opportunity to highlight a few of the ways that young people are getting engaged.
Educational settings are an ideal way to reach the civil protection actors of the future.
Simona Fironda was inspired by an evacuation demonstration in her school when she was eleven years old, tugging at the rescuer’s uniform and saying: ‘I want to be just like you’.
Now, she is. Simona is the youth representative for SALVO Romania and works to engage children and young people in civil protection.
“Do not overlook how children and young people can play such an important role in civil protection preparedness.
We have to create learning opportunities that channel their willingness to help and offers them a sense of purpose and belonging.
Above all, look out for children for me; the ones who really want to help.”
Higher education and research are also finding new ways for knowledge-sharing in disaster risk management.
Students of subjects not traditionally thought of as academic pathways in the field - like business administration, information management or mechanical engineering - are contributing new expertise, knowledge and technologies.
Many of them do not know about disaster risk management and when they learn how useful their skills could be, are often willing to get involved.
Kenny Meesters is a researcher and lecturer at Tilburg University where he lectures on information and ICTs in crisis situations and disaster response.
“Some students of mine who hadn’t even considered that their Information Management background could be needed in emergencies have now started careers in local emergency response agencies and international agencies like the Red Cross. Even during their studies, students are already engaged.
So we need to make an extra effort to bring this field to their attention; by inviting them to training, and other events, but also actively engaging them during their studies.”
Volunteering has always been a powerful way to contribute to society while gaining valuable skills that can be used in both personal or professional life. Local Red Cross societies offer many ways to get involved.
The European Solidarity Corps gathers volunteering opportunities across the EU and has activities on disaster prevention and recovery. Funding is also available for solidarity projects like the SAFE TOWN project in Greece, with its focus on forest fire prevention.
The Knowledge Network platform and newsletter will feature more stories of young people and their work in civil protection and disaster risk management as part of our contribution to European Year of Youth 2022.
