TEHRAN –Disaster Risk Reduction Week kicked off on Saturday and will conclude on Friday, October 18.

Educating children will empower them to protect themselves and share what they have learned with their families and communities. Hence, each day of the week focuses on a specific topic.

Saturday, October 12, ‘Empowering children and adolescents, and the role of schools in building resilience’

Sunday, October 13, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of the family in building resilience’ 

Monday, October 14, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; community resilience’

Tuesday, October 15, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of social media in promoting resilience’

Wednesday, October 16, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; the role of computer games in promoting resilience’

Thursday, October 17, ‘Empowering children and adolescents to adapt to climate change and protect the environment’  

Friday, October 18, ‘Empowering children and adolescents; promoting the culture of preventing accidents and disasters’

This year, the theme of the  International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed annually on October 13, focuses on the role of education in protecting and empowering children for a disaster-free future.

Many disasters, often worsened by climate change, pose significant threats to the well-being of children and youth. 

UNICEF reports that around one billion children worldwide are at extremely high risk due to climate impacts and related disasters.

In addition to the risk of death and injury, children face further challenges in the form of disruptions in schooling, nutrition, healthcare, and protection issues in the aftermath of a disaster.

To protect children from disasters, countries need to consider their vulnerabilities and requirements when developing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. 

It is equally important to empower children and youth and provide them with the opportunity to contribute to disaster risk reduction.

In an effort to secure a better future for the next generation in the country, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Climate Change Secretariat have launched an initiative, titled Green DADRAS,  to promote students’ climate literacy.

A total of  11,536 high school students, girls and boys aged 12 to 15 years, from across Iran will benefit from the educational program.

By raising awareness and promoting proactive measures, the IRCS and UNICEF aim to create a positive environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future for all.

The newly launched Green DADRAS Initiative, guided by the Climate Change Secretariat of the IRCS, has equipped 46 master trainers from the Youth Organization of the IRCS to lead educational sessions on climate change for these school students.

These dedicated trainers will train 824 provincial trainers across the country to finally empower over 11,000 high school students within DADRAS teams, focusing on critical topics such as drought and floods.

The initiative will enable these students to design and implement impactful climate change-related campaigns within their schools and communities. 

Having received education on the importance of climate change, these young minds will then be equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to protect their environment. 

MT/MG