Educating for tomorrow: How GEM supports the next generation’s disaster preparedness

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2024, themed “Empowering the next generation for a resilient future,” highlights the crucial role of education in safeguarding children and youth from escalating disaster risks. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of natural hazards, ensuring that educational institutions are resilient and that young people are equipped with essential disaster risk management knowledge becomes increasingly vital.

“For this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, we are calling on countries to protect and empower children and youth through education. We must ensure that all schools are disaster-resilient and retrofit those at risk. Children must be equipped with knowledge about hazards and disaster risk management, and countries should endorse the Comprehensive School Safety Framework 2022-2030. If we achieve 100% school safety by 2030, we will be acting responsibly toward future generations.” - Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (source: https://youtu.be/dQKgBQ7Mbnc?si=ocGaomK9WZlZSeRE)

GEM's Contributions

While the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation does not directly focus on youth-specific activities, our broader projects and activities support the goals of IDDRR 2024. Initiatives such as the FORCE Project, which enhances earthquake risk modeling and communicating hazard and risk information effectively, and the TREQ Project, which promotes public understanding of earthquake risks by focusing on capacity building and effective risk communication. Another key example is the Malawi Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment, which emphasises safeguarding educational infrastructure from various hazards, including floods, droughts, earthquakes, and strong winds. By analysing the vulnerability of schools to multiple hazards and recommending seismic risk awareness campaigns, the project highlights how schools can be central to building disaster resilience and empowering youth in Malawi. Additionally, the recent GEM-EGU Summer School on GeoHazards Risk Assessment provided young scientists and professionals with hands-on training in risk assessment, ushering a new generation of disaster risk professionals equipped to contribute to global resilience efforts.

Forecasting and Communicating Earthquake Hazard and Risk (FORCE)

The ongoing project Forecasting and Communicating Earthquake Hazard and Risk (FORCE) is dedicated to improving earthquake risk modeling and communicating hazard information effectively to diverse audiences. By integrating cutting-edge risk assessment tools and promoting collaboration among local stakeholders, FORCE empowers communities to better understand seismic risks. The project’s focus includes creating earthquake hazard and risk models for smaller regions, where the capacity to assess risk may be limited. FORCE also emphasises knowledge transfer through training workshops, ensuring that local governments and communities are equipped with the tools needed for effective disaster risk reduction.

One of the project’s core objectives is to enhance the ability of local communities to interpret and act on earthquake risk information. FORCE engages a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, disaster management professionals, and community leaders. While not directly targeting youth, FORCE’s training initiatives contribute to a more informed public, helping create a resilient future for all generations. Learn more here.

Malawi Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment

The Malawi Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment project provided critical insights into the country's vulnerability to various hazards, including floods, droughts, earthquakes, and strong winds. Key elements of the project involved exposure mapping and the definition of social vulnerability indicators, alongside the estimation of multi-risk indicators for various building types, such as schools, residential, industrial, government and healthcare facilities.

The project thoroughly examined the vulnerability of schools, assessing infrastructure weaknesses that could disrupt education during disasters. Data provided by Malawi's Ministry of Education included details on primary and secondary schools. In the absence of local building typology data, the project used international benchmarks to estimate building and content values.

A crucial aspect of the project was identifying 60 social vulnerability factors, 11 of which were related to education, with two focused specifically on schools: the lack of internet connectivity and school inaccessibility during the rainy season. These factors underscore the infrastructure deficiencies that can hinder education and emergency responses during disasters. Limited internet access affects the flow of critical information, while poor infrastructure can worsen during heavy rains, affecting school attendance.

GEM’s seismic risk assessment also highlighted the importance of safeguarding educational infrastructure and recommended local-level seismic risk awareness campaigns. Schools can serve as vital hubs for building disaster resilience by educating communities about earthquake preparedness and ensuring a safer future for Malawi’s youth. Learn more here.

Training and Communication for Earthquake Risk Assessment (TREQ)

The Training and Communication for Earthquake Risk Assessment (TREQ) project aims to enhance public understanding of earthquake risks by focusing on capacity building and community-level awareness. The project trained disaster risk professionals and public communicators, enabling them to lead community workshops in cities like Cali, Quito, and Santiago. These efforts help raise seismic risk awareness and encourage local stakeholders to engage actively in disaster preparedness.

TREQ also develops educational materials such as teacher guidelines, public-facing videos, and urban risk profiles for targeted cities. These resources play a crucial role in spreading seismic risk knowledge to the broader public, empowering communities, including youth, to mitigate disaster risks and take proactive steps toward resilience. Learn more here.

GEM-EGU Summer School on GeoHazards Risk Assessment

The GEM-EGU Summer School on GeoHazards Risk Assessment, held in September 2024, provided young scientists and professionals with advanced training in earthquake and geohazard risk assessment. Through interactive sessions and hands-on exercises, participants learned to use GEM’s tools, such as the OpenQuake engine, to assess earthquake risk and enhance resilience in their local communities. The program encouraged collaboration among participants from diverse backgrounds, facilitating knowledge exchange and the development of practical skills. Read the related article here.

Preparing Future Generations for a Safer Tomorrow

Through a diverse range of projects like the Malawi Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment, FORCE, TREQ, and the GEM-EGU Summer School, the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation is actively contributing to global disaster risk reduction efforts. By promoting resilience in communities and equipping stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to understand and mitigate earthquake risks, GEM plays a crucial role in preparing future generations to face the growing challenges of natural hazards. While GEM’s focus may not be specifically on youth, its initiatives align with the goals of IDDRR 2024 by ensuring that education and preparedness are at the forefront of building a more resilient future for all.