Disaster Resilient Student,

Will It Be?

Training on Natural Disaster and Conservation

At Omah Petruk, Pakem, June 12 – 14, 2015

Natural disaster is familiar to our society, because it frequently happened lately, eruption of volcanoes, floods, landslides and other natural disasters, and the latest tragedy, the earthquake in Nepal. The question is: Will people spry to help victims when disaster strikes? Do they independently and consciously have responsibilities to do it? Not all of them, isn’t it? Why? Because they have not obtained adequate knowledge of disaster mitigation. Disaster mitigation here is to prepare society or local youth to have alertness when facing disaster, often called disaster response.

The title above is a topic of Stube-HEMAT training related to disasters and nature conservation. For three days and two nights, the participants (22 students, 4 volunteers and 6 Stube-HEMAT team) joined a training at Omah Petruk, Wonorejo, Pakem, on June 12 – 14, 2015. The cold temperature during the training did not freeze the spirit of the participants.

The facilitators presented here are: Johan Dwi Bowo, from Perkumpulan LINGKAR, delivered "Understanding Disaster and Mitigation." Next, Waluyo Raharjo, the head of BASARNAS Yogyakarta, presented "What BASARNAS is and its experiences." Then, Endro Sambodo, a member of Yogyakarta Search and Rescue (SAR) team, presented "Student Participation in Disaster Alertness and Disaster Management."

Each facilitator has different skills and experiences. As practical experiences, the participants visited some places,

first, Museum of Mount Merapi (MGM). This museum documented all the activities of Mount Merapi’s eruption from the beginning until now, so that participants got a complete pictures on how volcanoes and volcanic activities caused disasters.

Second, Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU). This institution has technology and props used in an emergency, so that participants can learn and know what to do in emergency situation.

Third, Hargobinangun village, a disaster resilient village. This village has a disaster resilient community and able to coordinate themselves and their families to avoid disaster.

  

Sarloce Apang, the training field coordinator said, “I hope that the participants’ enthusiasm can overcome the bitter cold and they are expected to be able to understand what actions they should take in emergency situation, and they are able to strengthen networks. Furthermore, it would be better for them to learn more about disasters and mitigation as added skills when they return to their home town”.

  

The training was closed by designing a follow-up action. The participants are encouraged to continue what they have learned, such as sharing to his/her community, extra-learning at YEU, prepare seed plants for reforestation, and make a short video about the disaster. *** SAP