Child-to-Child and Disaster Risk Reduction International Training Course

Child-to-Child and Disaster Risk Reduction International Training Course

The Child-to-Child Trust, UK in collaboration with Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC) in Malawi are holding an international training course on Disaster Risk Reduction using the Child-to-Child approach from 3-14 September in Lilongwe, Malawi.

About the Course

Although children’s abilities to identify, avoid and manage risks are rarely, if ever, recognised, let alone taken into account or developed, children can contribute a great deal to risk management, keeping themselves and other members of their families and communities safe.

In this course, therefore, the overall aim is to strengthen participants’ ability to promote children’s participation in risk management, both in everyday life and relating to disasters (Disaster Risk Reduction – DRR) for themselves and others.

This course will last 10 days and will cover a basic training in the Child-to-Child approach, with special input and emphasis on recognising and avoiding risks, and reducing their consequences, where it is not possible to avoid them altogether. It will be divided into several sections, although these are interconnected, as follows:

  1. Introductory day – getting to know each other and Child-to-Child
  2. The next section will look at various risks and disasters to which children are exposed and the means available for recognising, preventing/avoiding and mitigating the consequences of these risks. Techniques for working with children on these issues will be explored.
  3. The next section will be a normal, basic Child-to-Child training with an emphasis on DRR and the possibility of practicing some of the skills learnt, with local children and focusing on DRR issues.
  4. Finally we will explore ways of involving children in community DRR activities and plan action for the next year.

The course will be experiential and practical, and will include several practice sessions with children in a local school.

The course will be held at Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) and will last two full weeks. It will be facilitated by a team of experienced, international and national experts in the field of health education for children and training in child participation. Grazyna Bonati, who has many years’ experience in Child-to-Child, including training in many countries around the world, and experience of training and material development in risk management and disaster reduction, will be the Course Director and lead facilitator (the second facilitator will be confirmed later).

Participants who successfully complete the course will be awarded certificates by the Child-to-Child Trust (The Trust), University of London.

Course Aims:

  • •    To improve child health and well-being, by encouraging children to take an active part in the promotion of their own well-being and that of their families and communities, particularly, in this case, in terms of reducing the risks in their lives;
  • •    To increase children’s participation in issues affecting them, particularly risk management and reduction;
  • •    To increase children’s knowledge, skills, confidence and self-esteem;

Course Objectives:
•    To introduce the Child-to-Child approach.
•    To encourage participants to use more active methods in their work with children, and to give the participants the opportunity to experience and experiment with such methods;
•    To increase participants’ awareness of children’s abilities, needs and interests;
•    To enable participants to promote children’s participation in community measures to reduce disaster risks, and thus keep themselves, other children and other community members safe.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will have:
•    Enhanced their DRR knowledge and skills
•    Investigated the main risks faced by children in their communities, and explored means of avoiding and mitigating those risks
•    Developed their capacity to explore and prioritise DRR issues in their own context
•    Understood Child Participation as a right, in DRR, as elsewhere, and explored ways to promote this
•    Practiced the use of Child-to-Child materials and approaches with children to help them reduce the risks in their lives
•    Enjoyed them-selves while working hard and sharing experiences!

Course Style

The course will be intensive, creative and participatory, with opportunities for practice and experience with local children. Theory is kept to a minimum and active methods are used throughout. Wherever possible, interactive group sessions are used. Participants will be expected to attend the course full-time between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. which will include scheduled periods for individual and group tasks. Homework may be assigned.

Who is the Course for?

This course is suitable for those who have experience, qualifications or interest in the areas of disaster risk reduction, child participation, health, education and community development. It was designed specifically for practitioners and implementers, who work directly with children, for whom the risks of natural disasters, conflict, accidents and abuse are everyday occurrences.

Professionals in children’s health and education and in community development programmes derive inspiration through international short courses such as this, which catalyse and strengthen Child-to-Child and other health and development initiatives worldwide.

Preparatory Tasks

Prior to the start of the course, participants will be sent reading materials to provide background information on topics that will be covered in the course. As the course will be intensive, it is very important that participants prepare themselves by reading these materials. One month before the course, participants will also be requested to complete a training needs assessment, which will contribute to effective course planning.

How to Apply

Please send us your curriculum vitae, with an accompanying letter indicating why you wish to attend the course. Early application is recommended, as places in the course are limited to a maximum of 24. You are encouraged to submit your application by 10 July 2012.

Please e-mail or address your application to:

Emi Hasegawa, Administrator
Child-to-Child Trust
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H OAL
Email : [email protected]

Tuition Fees and Funding

The course fee is $2,400 for participants from international organisations, $2,200 for government institutions and $1,800 for those from local NGOs. The cost includes meals (excluding dinner) and resource materials. Accommodation will be organised separately for those who need it. We would like to receive either full funding or confirmation of funding to participate in the course no later than 31 July 2012. Once confirmation of funding is received, we will send you our bank details and letter of invitation.

Agencies such as UNICEF, Plan, Save the Children, Department for International Development (UK) (DFID) and the Aga

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