MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) wants the youth to be more involved in disaster risk reduction during calamities.
In partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the PRC recently hosted a regional training on Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA) for the country’s youths.
Chris Staines, head of the IFRC country office, said the training activity was aimed at honing the organization’s ability to engage the youth in programs that seek to augment capacity to reduce shelter-related risk.
“What’s exciting about this PASSA program is that it is about the young people. It is about energy, passion and focus,” Staines said. “It is not just about the future, but it is also about now. Because youth is not just future, youth is now.”
At least 31 humanitarian workers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Geneva (Switzerland) took the PASSA training at PRC headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Nov. 6 to 10.
During the weeklong event, delegates were trained to sharpen awareness on shelter safety issues, identify and analyze hazards, vulnerabilities and strategies related to shelter, and implement programs based on their locality’s capacity.
Participants were immersed in a community in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City to conduct interviews with residents who have experienced shelter-related concerns.
PASSA is IFRC’s response to the need to turn communities into safe shelters that can host better living conditions.
IFRC, in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, conceptualized the PASSA Youth to immerse young people, aged 13 to 17, in humanitarian causes by raising awareness on housing-related risks.
The PRC is one with IFRC in involving the youth in a participatory approach toward community safety.