Interactive disaster risk education class in Hwaseong, Republic of Korea marks the start of celebratory events for the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Office for Northeast Asia (ONEA) and Global Education and Training Institute (GETI), the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea, Incheon Metropolitan City, the Citizens Coalition for Safety (CCS) and the Hwaseong Osan Office of Education joined hands to deliver a special disaster risk education class on 7 October 2024. The celebratory school safety event aimed to promote the Korean School Safety Programme (KSSP) and commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR). Students at Dongtan Mokdong Elementary School in Hwaseong, Republic of Korea, learned about disaster risk reduction (DRR) concepts and played the 'Riskland' board game on a life-size game board at Dongtan Disaster Prevention Park.
Every year on 13th October, the international community celebrates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote a culture of risk awareness and disaster risk reduction. The IDDRR 2024 theme emphasizes the role of education in protecting and empowering children for a disaster-free future. UNDRR's call for action this year encourages countries to invest in empowering children to be safe through age-appropriate education to understand and act on the risks they face, equipping them as agents of change for more resilient communities.
The KSSP promotes the use of child-friendly, fun-oriented educational materials to educate children and youth on DRR. It plays a key role in encouraging more participation in and raising awareness on child-centered DRR education, and contributes to South Korea's global efforts in promoting a culture of prevention. Since its launch in March 2016, the programme has trained nearly 60,000 students and teachers, extending its reach to schools abroad, including countries like India, Indonesia, Mongolia and Nepal.
Led by professional instructors from CCS, UNDRR's implementation partner for the KSSP, the session introduced a fifth-grade class of 26 students to the concepts of disasters, hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. After a lesson in the classroom, the class moved to Dongtan Disaster Prevention Park to play the 'Riskland' board game, where they worked in teams and actively applied what they have learnt to advance along the board's winding path. The park, designed with disaster risk education in mind, also features emergency shelters and a helipad to support emergency response efforts.
The event was highly successful, with students fully immersed in the interactive and dynamic session, enjoying the educational and exciting gameplay of 'Riskland'.