Embedding civic education principles into mitigation effort at disaster prone area in the urban poor community

Abstract

As Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries, a systematic and holistic approach is necessary to develop disaster-resilient communities, especially among urban communities. Many literatures have described urban communities as having the tendency to be open-minded, and were critical of their civic rights and duties: these characteristics however, are relevant to improve the knowledge and capacity to mitigate disaster. By tapping on their civic consciousness, they can be collectively organized into taking action to build a safer environment or community where they live. The Project encompassed the development and enculturation of civic education principles among selected urban communities so as to make them disaster resilient and to ensure collective communal action to mitigate disaster risks. Participatory action research using qualitative and quantitative approaches in three phases (Look, Think & Act) were used, involving gathering data on the needs of the urban poor, face-to-face interviews, observations as well as pre- and post-T Tests, discussions and analysis. The Act Phase involved training communities on disaster risk reduction (civic education principles, fire theory, risk analysis, develop action plan); simulation of evacuation including the practice on how to use a fire blanket and fire extinguisher; and the establishment of a task force in each community to become resources and response group for fire hazard. Findings of the Project indicate that by using civic education principles, it was able to improve knowledge, attitude and action of the community members living in the disaster prone areas. By stimulating their consciousness about civic rights and duties they were able to collectively organize and take action to build a safer environment where they live in.