CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN MANAGING RISKS AT PETAPA MANAGING RISKS AT PETAPA

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

EL CARRIZAL, CHALATENANGO, EL CARRIZAL, CHALATENANGO,

AUGUST 2006AUGUST 2006

What is the experience What is the experience aboutabout• Formación y funcionamiento de un Comité de Emergencia en Formación y funcionamiento de un Comité de Emergencia en

Petapa, municipio El Carrizal, departamento de Chalatenango.Petapa, municipio El Carrizal, departamento de Chalatenango.

• Conformado por niños, niñas, jóvenes y algunas personas Conformado por niños, niñas, jóvenes y algunas personas adultas, con el propósito es la prevención y atención de adultas, con el propósito es la prevención y atención de emergencias.emergencias.

• Es un espacio de interacción de la población infantil y Es un espacio de interacción de la población infantil y adolescente con la adulta, que permite, que niños y niñas adolescente con la adulta, que permite, que niños y niñas aprendan de las experiencias de las personas adultas, y que la aprendan de las experiencias de las personas adultas, y que la generación adulta se actualice con ideas novedosas y creativas generación adulta se actualice con ideas novedosas y creativas de la niñez y adolescencia.de la niñez y adolescencia.

• Conformado por 6 brigadas : Evacuación, Primeros Auxilios, Conformado por 6 brigadas : Evacuación, Primeros Auxilios, Seguridad, Medio Ambiente e Intervención en Crisis (psico Seguridad, Medio Ambiente e Intervención en Crisis (psico social)social)

• Participan 10 niños, 15 niñas y 4 personas adultas.Participan 10 niños, 15 niñas y 4 personas adultas.

• Se cuenta con un Plan de Prevención y Mitigación de Desastres, Se cuenta con un Plan de Prevención y Mitigación de Desastres, registrados ante las autoridades del gobierno nacional registrados ante las autoridades del gobierno nacional encargadas de la atención en caso de emergencia. encargadas de la atención en caso de emergencia.

HONDURASGUATEMALA

EL SALVADOR

OCÉANO PACÍFICO

DEPARTAMENTO DECHALATENANGO

MUNICIPIO DEEL CARRIZAL

CANTÓN PETAPA

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Located at 95 kilometers from San Salvador, at the border Located at 95 kilometers from San Salvador, at the border zone with Honduras. zone with Honduras.

Characterized by its high risk situation due to droughts, Characterized by its high risk situation due to droughts, forest fires and landslides. forest fires and landslides.

It has 790 inhabitants: 345 male and 445 female, grouped in It has 790 inhabitants: 345 male and 445 female, grouped in 200 families. 200 families.

Economic activity: Livelihood agriculture (corn and bean)Economic activity: Livelihood agriculture (corn and bean)

With access to services like energy, water and phone. With access to services like energy, water and phone.

It has a school that attends to ninth grade, with 260 It has a school that attends to ninth grade, with 260 studentes, 120 boys and 140 girls. studentes, 120 boys and 140 girls.

The maximum authority in the place is the Association for The maximum authority in the place is the Association for Community Development (ADESCO).Community Development (ADESCO).

Other organizative spaces: Water Board, School Council Other organizative spaces: Water Board, School Council Board (CDE) and Juvenile Group. Board (CDE) and Juvenile Group.

Basic Characteristics of Basic Characteristics of PetapaPetapa

Factors for the ariseFactors for the arise• The organizational tradition: it is considered that the

organization is the key to solve problems and they had organized in ADESCO, Water Board, ADESQUITO, Juvenile Group and Emergency Committee.

• The need “to be ready” to face emergencies

• Plan El Salvador’s strategy: promote the participation of children in managing risks.

“Began when the principal of school gave us the new that we will be part of this project, because some workers from Plan had told him that we will be trained in different topics that will prepare us for our future, about what to do in an emergency”Workshop with children members of the Emergency Committee

• Community awareness about the need that children participate in the attention of emergencies and managing risks.

The arising of the The arising of the Emergency Committee in Emergency Committee in

PetapaPetapa • In 2005, with the support of Plan El Salvador promoted the In 2005, with the support of Plan El Salvador promoted the creation of an emergency committee constituted by children and creation of an emergency committee constituted by children and other one constituted by adults. other one constituted by adults.

““It was Plan that planted the seed, the tree, but in It was Plan that planted the seed, the tree, but in but in the development of the idea we found some obstacles… There were difficulties to grow up.”.”

• Promotes the interrelation between the children emergency Promotes the interrelation between the children emergency committee and the adults emergency committee. committee and the adults emergency committee.

• An emergency committee combined with adults and children was An emergency committee combined with adults and children was constituted. constituted.

• Join training and actions are realized to face and prevent Join training and actions are realized to face and prevent emergency situation. emergency situation.

““Began with training from Plan, so we knew that also the children had rights to Began with training from Plan, so we knew that also the children had rights to participate and act, participate and act, step by step they were leading us in each training and then we felt step by step they were leading us in each training and then we felt supported by the people that supported by the people that came and so we began… with the presentation of topics about came and so we began… with the presentation of topics about childhood and some information childhood and some information about risk prevention, it grew up until what it is now and we about risk prevention, it grew up until what it is now and we are now…”are now…”

• The basic approach of the committee is to guaranteed the The basic approach of the committee is to guaranteed the protection of the children rights in emergencies. protection of the children rights in emergencies.

• The environment protection is perceived as a key element to The environment protection is perceived as a key element to prevent risks in the community. prevent risks in the community.

Actions realizedActions realized

• Constant training in topics related with environment protection, Constant training in topics related with environment protection, answers facing emergencies, risk prevention and awareness answers facing emergencies, risk prevention and awareness about the children rights. about the children rights.

““... We had done many actions, among them we stopped the extraction of rock from the river, we have ... We had done many actions, among them we stopped the extraction of rock from the river, we have received some trainees ,… and in my case I feel good because I share with people from other received some trainees ,… and in my case I feel good because I share with people from other communities… and now I know, that the adolescents are able to do anything we want” communities… and now I know, that the adolescents are able to do anything we want”

• Organization of Committees and Brigades. Organization of Committees and Brigades.

• Incidence actions in local agents (ADESCO, church, etc) to avoid Incidence actions in local agents (ADESCO, church, etc) to avoid the damage of the riverside at Sumpul river and became a risk the damage of the riverside at Sumpul river and became a risk factor for children and the community. factor for children and the community.

• Legalize the emergency committee before the Civil Protection Legalize the emergency committee before the Civil Protection authorities. authorities.

• Elaboration of a Plan to Mitigate and Prevent Risks to face Elaboration of a Plan to Mitigate and Prevent Risks to face possible situations of emergency. possible situations of emergency.

““We have made a map where are located the most vulnerable zones, we had created the brigades”We have made a map where are located the most vulnerable zones, we had created the brigades”

Actions realizedActions realized

• Elaboration of a map with the vulnerable zones. Elaboration of a map with the vulnerable zones.

• PracticesPractices

• Establishment of relations with children and adults from the Establishment of relations with children and adults from the community Olosingo, located in Honduras, to protect the basin of community Olosingo, located in Honduras, to protect the basin of the Sumpul river. the Sumpul river.

““... And also a stop to the extraction of rock from the river, it didn’t have defense and when ... And also a stop to the extraction of rock from the river, it didn’t have defense and when rise, some of the houses could be in great danger.”rise, some of the houses could be in great danger.”

• Coordination with institutions that work in risk prevention. Coordination with institutions that work in risk prevention.

• Construction of a retention wall at the school due to the landslide Construction of a retention wall at the school due to the landslide risks, as the construction of fences. risks, as the construction of fences.

• Cleaning campaigns and education to prevent emergency Cleaning campaigns and education to prevent emergency

situations. situations.

Approach work of the emergency Approach work of the emergency committeecommittee

• The most important and the center of the action is the protection to The most important and the center of the action is the protection to the children rights, and guaranteed their participation in all the the children rights, and guaranteed their participation in all the decisions taken to face the emergency. decisions taken to face the emergency.

• Promote the interaction between the experiences of the adults and Promote the interaction between the experiences of the adults and the creativity and enthusiasm of the children and adolescents, the creativity and enthusiasm of the children and adolescents, facilitating a process in which the differences of ideas, ages and facilitating a process in which the differences of ideas, ages and approach are respected, about the different problems in the place. approach are respected, about the different problems in the place.

““...we had coexisted with adolescents from other communities… we had learned to relate with ...we had coexisted with adolescents from other communities… we had learned to relate with adults, it is been useful to feel us important and that we value”adults, it is been useful to feel us important and that we value”

• Formation of capacities in children to face emergencies and prevent Formation of capacities in children to face emergencies and prevent risks. risks.

• Inter-institutional coordination between the committee, the school, Inter-institutional coordination between the committee, the school, the health facility, the municipality, the PNC and Plan El Salvador; to the health facility, the municipality, the PNC and Plan El Salvador; to face coordinately the emergencies. face coordinately the emergencies.

Main achievementsMain achievements

• Children from the committee had acquired capacities and tools to Children from the committee had acquired capacities and tools to face emergency situations. face emergency situations.

““before I didn’t know what to do in a disaster and now I do and I feel more confident and being before I didn’t know what to do in a disaster and now I do and I feel more confident and being part of a group makes me feel stronger”part of a group makes me feel stronger”

• Community organizative level that facilitates the protection, not Community organizative level that facilitates the protection, not just to the children rights, but the community. just to the children rights, but the community.

• Prohibition to avoid the extraction of rock and sand from the Prohibition to avoid the extraction of rock and sand from the Sumpul river, to guaranteed the children right to protection and Sumpul river, to guaranteed the children right to protection and recreation. recreation.

““a very important action that we did was to avoid the extraction of rock from the river… we a very important action that we did was to avoid the extraction of rock from the river… we should have the risk that the river will dry and we are out of water… we made signs to forbid should have the risk that the river will dry and we are out of water… we made signs to forbid the extraction, we made an agreement with other community in Honduras and we prevent the the extraction, we made an agreement with other community in Honduras and we prevent the extraction of rock… we had talked and told to many people the things we kinow so they can extraction of rock… we had talked and told to many people the things we kinow so they can act in a disaster like we do and could help us”.act in a disaster like we do and could help us”.

• Children become a referent actor in the topic of attention and Children become a referent actor in the topic of attention and prevention of risk for neighbor communities like Olosingo, with prevention of risk for neighbor communities like Olosingo, with whose we made coordinations. coordinaciones. whose we made coordinations. coordinaciones.

MainMain achievementsachievements

• People from the community are aware about their duty to People from the community are aware about their duty to guaranteed the children right of protection facing guaranteed the children right of protection facing emergencies and the importance of the participation of the emergencies and the importance of the participation of the children in the mitigation processes and risk prevention. children in the mitigation processes and risk prevention.

““the good thing is that we feel more encourage to act in cas of a disaster, to have the right to the good thing is that we feel more encourage to act in cas of a disaster, to have the right to participate and make valuable our opinions”participate and make valuable our opinions”

• The children express their ideas and opinions freely which The children express their ideas and opinions freely which are value and respected as for children as for adults.are value and respected as for children as for adults.

“… “… the children that are participating will be the facilitators of tomorrow, they will transmit the children that are participating will be the facilitators of tomorrow, they will transmit their knowledge and acquired experience… we didn’t have that chance, if we could have it the their knowledge and acquired experience… we didn’t have that chance, if we could have it the things will be different. Children has fabulous ideas and can give if they have the chance, things will be different. Children has fabulous ideas and can give if they have the chance, sometimes they don’t develop their minds because the parents block them”.sometimes they don’t develop their minds because the parents block them”.

• The respect for the different ideas from boys, girls, The respect for the different ideas from boys, girls, adolescents, women and men had become part of the adolescents, women and men had become part of the community daily life. community daily life.

“… “… we had learned to coexist with the adults and we know that they and we have ideas, we had learned to coexist with the adults and we know that they and we have ideas, sometimes different but both are important... They had valued this ideas and we valued their sometimes different but both are important... They had valued this ideas and we valued their ideas too... Sometimes we felt that we have less value because we were younger than the ideas too... Sometimes we felt that we have less value because we were younger than the adults but now we know that we are the same... All of us have new ideas to share”.adults but now we know that we are the same... All of us have new ideas to share”.

ObstaclesObstacles• Lack of confident in the parents about the participation of children Lack of confident in the parents about the participation of children

in activities from the Emergency Committee, they didn’t let them in activities from the Emergency Committee, they didn’t let them go. go.

““Many relatives don’t support us because they say that we can’t stop the land to prevent a landslide but I Many relatives don’t support us because they say that we can’t stop the land to prevent a landslide but I told them that we couldn’t stop the land but we can do something to prevent it; my brothers support me told them that we couldn’t stop the land but we can do something to prevent it; my brothers support me because they say that in the future I can be an example for other children in El Salvador and other because they say that in the future I can be an example for other children in El Salvador and other countries”countries”

• Criticizes from the people for the participation of the children, Criticizes from the people for the participation of the children, which they think is a waste of time, or like a negative element for which they think is a waste of time, or like a negative element for personal formation. They put them nicknames: parrots and personal formation. They put them nicknames: parrots and “catalnicas”.“catalnicas”.

““The people that see us for the first time, humiliate us, giving us nicknames or told us that we are not going The people that see us for the first time, humiliate us, giving us nicknames or told us that we are not going to do nothing”to do nothing”

• The children state that one of the main obstacles they found was The children state that one of the main obstacles they found was “the shy”, so at the beginning they presented shyness attitudes “the shy”, so at the beginning they presented shyness attitudes that didn’t allow them to express their ideas. that didn’t allow them to express their ideas.

• The committee doesn’t have the resources (money, materials and The committee doesn’t have the resources (money, materials and medicines) to do the actions projected. medicines) to do the actions projected.

How they look themselves in the How they look themselves in the futurefuture• “With more experience and knowledge about what to do in case of

a problem in the community…, we have the resources and tools for it”

• “United, strength and team work”• “With availability to help other people from the community to face

the difficulties caused by the emergencies”.• “Sharing the acquired knowledges and preparing more children to

continue the effort and value and care much more their environment”.

• “Valueing the children rights and ourselves”. • “Learning more every day through the training” • “Happy and optimistic to remember and see what we have done.

Proud of ourselves and the other members of the community”.• “With more bravery to face the different problems, without fear to

face any situation that could happen in the future and never stay behind”

• “With a beautiful river, with more stones and much water”.• “With a better future, with better conditions for all, less threats and

less disasters”• “Establishing coordinations and support between the adults and

children, in order to capitalize the experience and impregnate the creativity and enthusiasm”.

Messages from childrenMessages from children

Literary expression of the Literary expression of the childrenchildren