Voices from the Ground
Voices from the Ground
Children and youth are the heart of Comprehensive School Safety. It is their right to learn, to be safe, and to be heard that are fundamental to this work.
Read on to learn from young people as they share why Comprehensive School Safety matters and what being in a safe school means to them.
To mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2024, which focusses on empowering the next generation for a resilient future, GADRRRES members shared stories from children and young people about what safe schools mean to them.
A Safe Space in Lebanon
For Iman, Rami, and Adam in Lebanon, safe schools mean care, comfort, and growth.
Adam believes that safe schools can be maintained through enhancing communication and understanding between students and teachers, sharing emergency plans with all students for crisis management, and training everyone on implementation. He believes this is essential, so children are provided with a secure learning environment and achieve a sense of belonging and psychological comfort for students, and are protected from violence or threats and promotes a sense of security and psychological stability. He believes school safety is fundamental for achieving quality education and developing secure and thriving communities.
Iman adds that it is essential to ensure that schools are safe for children and youth, so that they can serve as a second home and contribute to the development of a more educated generation.
Provided by Save the Children. These stories were collected in early September 2024.
Photo right: Children sitting in their neighbourhood in Sidon, Lebanon (copyright Joel Carillet)
Calling for Climate Awareness and Education
The climate crisis intersects with other hazards, exacerbating already significant barriers to safe schools for children around the world. Young people are calling for action on climate change and education, highlighting how this knowledge will help them now and in the future.
Provided by UNICEF.
Photo right: Children practise handwashing in Indonesia (courtesy of IFRC).
