Izmir Child- Centred Disaster Risk Reduction Workshops
4 December 2024 - 6 December 2024
İzmir Mövenpick Otel ve İzmir Tarihi Havagazı Fabrikası
The Child- Centered Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plans for Municipalities Project, implemented by TESEV with the support of UNICEF and in cooperation with the Union of Municipalities of Turkey, aims to support municipalities in Turkey to develop data-based child-oriented disaster risk reduction actions. To this aim, an all-day municipal experts’ workshop was organized on 4 December 2024 in Izmir, one of the pilot provinces of the project, with relevant experts and staff of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. Following the opening speeches of Özge Aktaş Mazman, TESEV Executive Director, and Görkem Güner, UNICEF Social Policy Officer, IMM’s Child Studies and Education Support Branch Directorate presented the municipality’s child services and activities. Following Görkem Güner’s speech on Child Friendly City and Child Centered Disaster Risk Reduction, TESEV Project Coordinator Gizem Fidan Kaya made a presentation on Child Centered Disaster Policies. Finally, Prof. Dr. Murat Güvenç presented the Child- Centered Disaster Risk Maps he prepared by using age and market price data of the neighborhoods of Izmir province to the municipality experts. Following the presentations, in the afternoon sessions, participants were divided into groups and developed action proposals on topics such as children’s disaster awareness, children with special needs in disasters and emergencies, child safety and psychological health of children. The event ended with the presentation of each group’s action proposals and a question and answer session. The activity ended with the presentation of action proposals of each group and a question-answer session.
An all-day stakeholder workshop was organized on 5 December 2024 with the participation of representatives of CSOs, scholars and central government representatives from Izmir. The Izmir stakeholder workshop, like the municipal experts’ workshop, continued with presentations by UNICEF, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and TESEV, followed by a map presentation by Prof. Dr. Murat Güvenç. Following the presentations, in the afternoon sessions, the participants were divided into groups and developed action proposals on topics such as disaster awareness of children, disaster drills and psychological health of children. The event ended with the presentation of action proposals of each group and a question-answer session.
Izmir Child- Centered Disaster Risk Reduction Children’s Workshop was held on December 6 at Izmir Historical Havagazı Factory. The opening session was led by Görkem Güner, UNICEF Türkiye Social Policies Officer, where children were briefly informed about the disaster risks of Izmir and the duties and responsibilities of municipalities in this regard. The opening session was followed by group workshops led by UNICEF Türkiye team. Through the workshops in this section, children reflected on possible disasters that may occur in Izmir and exchanged ideas on the measures that can be taken against these disasters. At the end of the day, children divided into groups made presentations on child- centered risk reduction, which they supported with their drawings. The suggestions developed by the children during the event will be compiled to be included in the action plans to be prepared by TESEV.