Disaster Risk Reducation Education

After experiencing the isolation and gloom brought on by the global pandemic, life has finally returned to normal in 2023. We now cherish opportunities for face-to-face interaction even more, realizing that Disaster Risk Reduction Education (DRRE) holds greater potential, including physical workshops and the resumption of exchanges with other countries. This issue will share the impressive achievements and touching stories that have emerged this year.

Disaster preparedness is a global challenge. In the International Knowledge Section of this issue, flood prevention facilities in the United States and Germany are discussed. The exploration focuses on dissecting the flood prevention projects and management systems developed by both countries in response to the imminent threat of floods, and sharing new trends and experiences in flood prevention.

This year, Youth Envoys for DRRE actively engaged in international exchanges with Japan. In addition to holding the online international communication sessions of the “Taiwan-Japan Student Disaster Prevention Forum”, high school students from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, visited Taiwan to share experiences in promoting disaster prevention. The recruitment for the 4th Youth Envoys for DRRE has concluded, and involved training a group of young forces committed to disaster education dissemination. This newsletter will provide a comprehensive narrative of the missions accomplished by the Youth Envoys for DRRE this year.

Diverging from online courses during the pandemic, the Ministry of Education (MOE) organized numerous physical courses this year, including assistant teachers’ enhancement of capabilities, special education, and early childhood education. Participants practiced making correct judgments in situations with a large number of wounded. Myths about disaster were debunked, scenarios were discussed, and effective disaster coping strategies were explored. Through lectures, practical exercises, and face-to-face interactions, the knowledge and skills of educators and preschool educators in disaster preparedness were effectively enhanced.

The annual achievements of all Disaster Prevention Education Guidance Groups have been fruitful. Not only have they completed routine tasks such as establishing basic Disaster Prevention Campuses and maintaining the normal operation of guidance groups, but also have planned and executed innovative DRRE programs. Disaster Prevention Counseling Group Events of this session invited the Tainan City Government, recipient of the "Guidance Excellence Award," to share how their team established an effective counseling mechanism through continuous consultations and workshops, actively constructing a disaster counseling system for schools and pre-schools at all learning stages. The winner of the "Operation Excellence Award," Pingtung County Government, will also share their overall operational strategies for the disaster education guidance group, demonstrating their proactive practices in management and execution.

This issue also shares innovative initiatives in disaster prevention for pre-school. Through diverse forms of promotional activities such as parent-child co-learning and family games or carnivals, strength is gained in parent’s consciousness and participation in disaster prevention. Also, the introduction of Soil and Water Conservation Teaching Materials section of this issue, introduces the Cool School of Soil and Water Conservation and, a series of innovative teaching materials and lesson plans on soil and water conservation issues, to make the learning process more lively and interesting.

It was a colorful and fruitful year in 2023, and much more content is worth exploring in this newsletter!