UNICEF National Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits child centred Disaster Risk Reduction programmes in the wake of Typhoon Koppu/Lando

 

UNICEF Philippines’ National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits UNICEF’s child centred Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes to learn about how children are involved in disaster risk management, as the devastation from the recent powerful Typhoon Koppu/Lando become clear.

UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits Jecille’s Binamera’s family in Dalnac, Camarines Norte to learn about family preparedness in times of flooding.
UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano visits Jecille’s Binamera’s family in Dalnac, Camarines Norte to learn about family preparedness in times of flooding.

 

Children have the right to be protected from the effects of disasters. The hazards that the Philippines face every year puts children’s survival, development and protection rights at risk. Every year, around 170,000 families are displaced as a result of emergencies. Disasters exacerbate poverty, preventing children from exercising their rights; and families and communities from realizing their development potential.

UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano performs for the community of Barangay Dalnac, Camarines Norte after spending a day learning about their efforts towards child centred disaster risk reduction.
UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano performs for the community of Barangay Dalnac, Camarines Norte after spending a day learning about their efforts towards child centred disaster risk reduction.

 

“While children are the most vulnerable to disasters, they are not passive victims. UNICEF believes that involving children in risk reduction will build their own and their community resilience against shocks and stresses,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander says.

UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano learns about the Participatory 3D Map during his visit in  Camarines Norte to learn about child centered disaster risk reduction.
UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano learns about the Participatory 3D Map during his visit in Camarines Norte to learn about child centered disaster risk reduction.

 

During his visit to Barangay Dalnac, Paracale in Camarines Norte, Gary witnessed children’s active participation in disaster response, preparedness and mitigation actions.  Children helped develop Participatory 3D Maps wherein the community, including children, made geographically accurate scale models of their villages that map out the risks, vulnerabilities and capacities of their communities. Gary also witnessed how DRR concepts are integrated in the school curriculum by sitting in a Grade 1 class. A first aid demonstration by children, and use of play activities as part of DRR learning were also participated in by Gary.

UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano listen to Lyn Lyn Cuevo, 10 years old, as she explains the hazards and vulnerabilities in her village. This Participatory 3D map is a project of UNICEF together with the Center of Disaster Preparedness (CDP) and UP Department of Geography to inform the village about risks, vulnerabilities and capacities of the village to help them for disaster planning.
UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan Valenciano listen to Lyn Lyn Cuevo, 10 years old, as she explains the hazards and vulnerabilities in her village. This Participatory 3D map is a project of UNICEF together with the Center of Disaster Preparedness (CDP) and UP Department of Geography to inform the village about risks, vulnerabilities and capacities of the village to help them for disaster planning.

 

“It’s amazing to see how this community has tapped into the the power and potential of children for disaster preparedness and response. It’s so nice to see young people smile and demonstrate their skills with confidence, ready to face any emergency. During my visit here, I saw that it doesn’t take one organization or one person to address risks and build resilience, but it takes a whole community to act and come together to protect themselves and lessen the impacts of disasters,” Valenciano says.

UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano shakes the desk of the students as he acts as an earthquake in the Drop, Cover and Hold activity in Dalnac, Camarines Norte. UNICEF works with the Department of Education to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction concepts in the school curriculum
UNICEF’s National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano shakes the desk of the students as he acts as an earthquake in the Drop, Cover and Hold activity in Dalnac, Camarines Norte. UNICEF works with the Department of Education to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction concepts in the school curriculum

 

In high-risk environments like the Philippines, UNICEF advocates for child-centred Disaster Risk Reduction. Child-centred DRR means looking at risk reduction plans and budgets with a child rights lens, and empowering children to become active participants in building the resilience of their communities.

 

 

Eli

Eli has 28 years of extensive IT sales expertise in Data, voice and network security and integrating them is his masterpiece. Photography and writing is his passion. Growing up as a kid, his father taught him to use the steel bodied Pentax and Hanimex 135mm film and single-direction flash, Polaroid cameras, and before going digital, he used mini DV tape with his Canon videocam. He now shoots with his Canon EOS 30D. Photography and blogging is a powerful mixture for him.

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