Children Leading Change

Plan International, UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision, organised a child-focused event at the Second Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Reduction, 15-19 June, 2009.

The event focused on bringing a specifically child-centred lens to the conference debates, emphasising that children and young people have much to offer in improving local resilience to disasters.

Informed children are often in a better position than their parents to both address climate adaptation/ disaster risk reduction locally, as well as understand global issues. Research shows that young people have a clearer understanding about long-term risks, compared to their elders who often focus on short and medium term risks. In terms of knowledge and experience sharing, children are generally better than adults at communicating risk information amongst their peers, neighbours and their community.

Children are disproportionately affected by disasters, but they can also bring a fresh perspective and adaptability. They have a right to make a contribution. Success in this area in the future depends on the engagement of today's children.

Children in Disaster Risk Reduction in Action

Rhee, 16, from the Philippines attended the event with Plan. He and his sister Honey were instrumental in a project with Plan at their school, which resulted in it being moved from the path or a potential landslide. Seventeen-year-old Honey, explains how the risk map galvanised her and her brother into action "We were warned that if ever it rained for several days, the mountain may collapse on ourschool. We decided we had to relocate it; if we had stayed where we were, none of us would have been able to concentrate on our studies."

Rhee is an active member of a group "Make a link, Be the Change'' which joins groups of children from 12 countries who share ideas strategies and lessons about preventing the worst effects of climate change. "It is our right to be safe." Rhee said when interviewed after the opening of their classes having their school in 2008. "It was a painful process but we have to do it!"

The event was structured around four activities:

  • Presentation by children/young people about Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change;
  • Emphasis on their points from panellists and report of survey findings;
  • Video presentation - statements, questions, debate points from children, from El Salvador to Kenya;
  • Q&A and debate.

The event showcased cutting-edge work of children leading change towards local resilience in their communities, nationally and around the world. Rhee's presence at United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction event appears in photos on the UN's IISD website, featuring highlights of this year's Global Platform.