ABSTRACT
Children are often regarded as ‘vulnerable’ to disasters. However, what is often not recognised is that children can be effective agents in building the disaster resilience of their communities. This chapter presents a ‘good practice’ of an emerging approach in disaster risk management referred to as child-centred or child-focused disaster risk reduction. This is also an example of EfS in practice. Specifically, the chapter presents the results of a year-long process documentation of the project entitled ‘Strengthening Capacities for Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction and Management’ or S3CDRRM carried out in two communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan 2013. Through field observations, individual interviews, focus group discussions and a review of project documents, this chapter identifies the key achievements, strategies and learnings gained in promoting, institutionalising and sustaining children’s participation in disaster risk reduction. By highlighting the strategies and outcomes of implementing a child-centred disaster risk management project, this chapter hopes to support emerging initiatives, policies and programmes that engender child participation in disaster risk management processes. The chapter concludes by providing important takeaways for undertaking child-centred disaster risk management based on lessons of the S3CDRRM project. First, it highlights the need to recognise children’s agency and veer away from paternalistic views regarding children as powerless. Second, it affirms the need to invest in children’s capacities to understand and analyse risks, communicate risk information and mobilise communities to undertake resilience-building initiatives. Third, it recognises the need to support child-led activities and to nurture children’s creativity to develop and carry out plans and initiatives that contribute to disaster risk reduction. Lastly, it emphasises the need for an enabling environment for children to participate in disaster risk reduction processes.
