‘I can protect myself’: Solomon Islands students prepared for disasters

Above: Students at Toroiwango Primary School carry out an earthquake drill. Photo: Allen Waitara/World Vision Solomon Islands

Children and women are 14 times more likely to die or be injured in a disaster, according to UNDP. In Solomon Islands, which ranked fifth in the world for disaster risk in the 2020 World Risk Report, teaching children how to respond during a disaster can save lives.

World Vision Solomon Islands and Save the Children, partners in the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Disaster READY program, are focusing on reducing disaster risks in schools while improving climate change resilience through the ‘Champions of Tomorrow’ project.

A total of 893 children and 1979 adults in Malaita and Makira Ulawa Provinces are expected to benefit.

A recent monitoring trip to Makira demonstrated good progress on empowering children to be prepared for disasters.

World Vision has focused its work on four schools in the area: Manama Primary School, Etemwarore Primary School, Taripara Community High School and Toroiwango Primary School.

The team that toured the participating schools included representatives from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Malaita and Makira Education Authority, Save the Children, People with Disabilities SI, Makira Community-Based Rehabilitation, the Provincial Disaster Management Office, Solomon Islands Meteorological Services and World Vision Solomon Islands.

During the tour, students conducted drills to demonstrate their preparedness and understanding of disasters to the visiting representatives.

“I am confident that in an event of disaster, I can protect myself because our teachers taught us what to do during disasters,” said Ryan Sebastin, a class six student from Toroiwango Primary School.

“Our teachers told us to stand still with our hands on top of our heads or hide under our desks during earthquakes and I am happy because I have knowledge to protect myself,” he said.

Above: The monitoring trip delegation with Toroiwango Primary School teachers. Photo: Allen Waitara/World Vision Solomon Islands

Jerolyn Nunusiau, also a class six student, said before the project came to their school she lacked knowledge on what to do in a disaster.

“I now know what to do during earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters because our teachers taught us about them. I even tell my parents and other children in my community about them,” she said. 

Head Teacher of Toroiwango Primary School, Mr Charles Dauasi, applauded the project, saying he is confident that through the drills conducted at the school the students understand what to do and where to run if there is an earthquake or tsunami.

Nelly Siehu, Head Teacher of Etemwarore Primary School, said her school is now conducting drills every month.

“We have different signals for our drills, so when the signal comes on, even when students are busy in their classrooms or anywhere outside, they will all walk up to the assembly area.”

“We are serious about this and we now see that our students know what to do,” she said.

The Disaster READY program in Solomon Islands, implemented through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, aims to strengthen disaster management coordination and response mechanisms at all levels. The program focuses on inclusive community-based disaster risk management to ensure that people with disabilities, women, children and other vulnerable groups are involved in disaster planning and that their needs are being met.