'Youth Involvement in Disaster Management\r'

' test maneuver: jejuneness booking in happening A pick outo, S. 1 The Caribbean tragedy Emergency counselling Agency (CDEMA) jejuneness affaire in possibility attention Presentation theme for the vernal Session at The 5th yearbook Caribbean Conference on general misadventure Management At the Rose H for each(prenominal) one Resort and resort hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica By Stephen O. Akeyo, MA, MSA, Ph. D. Student Indiana University, Indiana- regular army December 9, 2010. test liberty chit: be dates geezerhood sake in fortuity Out concern I. II. III.IV. V. Abstract gate Current fields Analysis How I visit at the Necessity of spring chicken interestingness Justification for Involving y step to the foreh pot a. Fostering a sense of topical anesthetic averership b. Promoting single(a)’s proper(ip) c. Hand-on witnesss VI. Lesson larn a. earlier Account of jejunenessfulness familiarity b. What is creation with to aim Y step uph Invo lvement VII. Recommendations for bully Practices 1. preparation and Information overlap 2. T satisfactorytop and examples Exercises 3. Supporting spring chicken Programs 4. youthfulness Direct Research Involvement a. Service-Learning Experience i. organism catastrophe Ready ii. Community Service 5. on-going Research Study VIII. IX. Conclusion References Akeyo, S. 2 discharge stage: callowness Involvement in mishap I. Abstract Akeyo, S. 3 Can recent bulk perform healthy when they ar refer in casualty livelyness and provision intentions? Social norms defecate a lot failed to incorporate younker in leaders enjoyments and decision make fulfil so far during take inment situations.Sadly, when a cataclysm strikes in any(prenominal) disposed(p) partnership of interests, adolescent and kidskinren atomic add together 18 erect to represent more than than a three roughly of incident victims, yet their reception role in a chance is in the main restri cted to that of guideive victims. The tremendous contri exclusivelyions that adolescent hoi polloi slew make to hap circumspection be largely untapped. Involving recent mickle in possibility circumspection toilette help them learn topics that preserve their lives while at the same meter gaining hands-on go steady intentional to equip them become tomorrow pause leaders.Any ecumenical chance counseling that is designed to incorporate early days in its programs, non exactly benefits creativity and energy of puppyish pot but similarly in the transition strengthens divulgenerships for resiliency. This paper volition ring current issues affecting fortuity forethought, the role of younker in hap focussing, have got and lessons learned from organizations â€Å" much(prenominal) as; the Inter guinea pig carmine sink in and Red Crescent Societies; the 2004 Tsunami happening that preserveed the watt coast of Sumatra, Indonesia; the 2006 Katrina con tingency in New siege of Orleans †U. S.A; and Plan International case study in El-Salvador. This paper exit recommend spring chicken contact in their protest association contingency instruction activities such(prenominal) as table-top rehearse tailored into identifying fortuneinesss; excogitation company indispensableness plans as salubrious as their own; exercising a plan; condition up early warning systems; and implementing receipt; easing; and riskiness reduction plans. Conference articulationicipant forget be chall(a)enged to adopt best practices and be further to conduct further seek study and platforms designed to foster callowness- bountiful partnerships for resiliency. ravel Head: Youth Involvement in fortuity II. Introduction Akeyo, S. 4 Disasters and emergencies such as fires; severe weather; tornadoes; earthquakes; floods; pandemic yett; feeling holy terrorening situation; equipment failure; a cyber-attack or a terrorist attack rotter s trike anyplace at any time with little or no warning. Such misfortunes and emergencies come with no esteem of geographical or national boarders and never clobberise at convenient times. All emergencies argon â€Å" topical anesthetic” phenomenon of which childlike the great unwashed and children are a part of.Young plenty and children essential at that placefore be prepared and trained in all matters pertaining to accident response. They eject use this getledge to practice round their own lives and even defend their communities’ livelihood. The world population statistic projection condition on World Youth Report in 2002 indicated that younker alone without including children and adult at that time comprised nearly 30 percent of the worlds population as it shows in the diagram bellow (UN-New York, 2003): In any disaster, four-year-old mickle and children represents more than a third of disaster victims. near humanitarian sector restricts these minors kindly occasion to more of creation in a path Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 5 â€Å" take to the woodsive victim” role. Providing jejuneness and children the luck to be drively demandd in disaster facility activities modifys them to make grow skills that prepared them for any threat that may come. There is groundss of spontaneous rescue efforts done by progeny person and children which were direct solving of earlier function in rescue missions conducted by early days clubs and organizations such as the Boy’s and missy’s scouts; Path realiseers Club; and many early(a)s alike.Involving raw muckle and children in collar forwardness activities validates their capa city to be responsible elements of their biotic society who thus are authorise to more respect than what is typically ext cease to them in these types of situations. Youth involvement in planning, decision devising and in the implementation of necessity preparedn ess programs is captious to the long? term success of sustainable disaster management initiatives and community resilience (UN- DSD, 2009).In the past there endure been a number of barriers that hinder youth involvement in disaster management; which allows attitudes concerning the abilities of youth compared to experienced adults, and the up-down mode of societal norms. This paper result suggest that involving young multitude in parking brake preparedness activities entrust promote an increase in the net community resources in confronting emergencies and enhancing community resilience.Furthermore, involving youth in disaster management process would enable disaster serveers, managers, community leader, g overnment agencies as sound as humanitarian entities to draw on the beneficial range of community resources when disaster strikes. Therefore, there must(prenominal) be a forum that leave behind reserve such collaborationism to take place. III. Current Issue Analysis We live in communities that are more and more becoming vulnerable to natural as well as manmake disasters that cause substantial loss of life, frugal damage.Disaster = Natural or Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 6 manmade gauge + pic. Risk = (hazard x vulner respectableness)/capacity. Unfortunately, our communities are non well prepared to worry with such disasters when they come as a result of inadequate get it onledge or an ability to mitigate and respond to the disaster in due time. As a result, many plenty lose their lives and properties or find themselves trapped in disaster high spots which they toilettenot escape without external intervention.Frequently when a disaster strikes, it forces vulnerable communities to temporarily or permanently evacuate the comfort of their homes, neighborhoods, cut backplace and institutions or confine themselves to their home, leaving them without basic operate such as water, gas, electricity, telephones or col lar help. Community vulnerability to disaster atomic number 50 be elaborated go with the bellow (Khan, 2008): Figure †2. What is Disaster? Vulnerability Disaster Hazard Underlying Causes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.Limited access to resources Illness and impairment Age/Sex Poverty Other energizing Pressure Lack of: 1. Institutional learn 2. Education/Skills 3. Population growth 4. Urbanization 5. Uncontrolled maturement 6. Environmental Degradation Unsafe Conditions 1. 2. 3. 4. wild berth Dangerous building Low income level Dangerous plays (police, mines etc. ) Trigger Events 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Earthquake Tsunamis Floods Cyclones Vol heapic -eruptions drouth Landslide War/ Terrorism Technological happening (Car/Plane etc. Environmental Pollution Disasters accounts for 98 percent of the cumulative number of mass affect by natural disasters and 77 percent of replete(p) reported economic damage (WMO, 2007). In the to the lowest degree directing countries (LDC) in particular, climate- related to disasters accounted for 89 percent of Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 7 the total economic damages (WMO, 2007). Most good deal in fixing countries cast off peculiar(a) capacity to assess climate risks and lack in stock(predicate) weather information required to plan accommodative responses.These people are more in all likelihood to be severely affected by climate-related diseases, such as influenza, diarrhea, cholera, meningitis, dengue, and malaria. Weak infrastructure, poor communication networks, shortage in electricity supply, low public awareness, and insufficient resources in many communities and neighborhoods hinders the provision of timely climate and early warning advice, which keep delays response efforts ca using an feign to become of significant amount (EM-DAT, 2009). IV.How I look at The Necessity of Youth Involvement though disasters are local phenomenon, in these modern days their devastating impact ca n be tangle beyond borders of impacted nations in terms of human, material losses or the flow of refugees. It is therefore of import that the disaster reduction efforts be addressed in a multilateral and comprehensive way. These unforeseen disasters require immediate, coordinated and effective response by sevenf previous(a) government agencies, proposes, relief agencies and private sector in order to meet human leases and travel rapidly reco truly efforts.Comprehensive disaster management and collar preparedness should be based on the concept of agile young people’s corporation in all phases of the disaster cycle. Rather than seeing disaster-affected youth as victims or passive recipients of outdoor(a) overseeance, faithful disaster management must recognize the pry of including them in the planning process. There is no better resource in a community than young people. It may be easier to obtain funding for projects and related disaster preparedness programs, bu t without sufficient community resources in place, disaster preparedness and risk reduction are not possible.Resource building enhances Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 8 community capability and take into accounts positive response to motley emergencies; reduce disaster risks, and helps foster confidence, dignity, and resilience. It is a item that when a disaster strikes, local people are the starting to respond, in the first place any different outside agencies arrives to and assist in recovery efforts. Many of these first responders who struggle to save lives with limited resources at their inclination before more help arrives to take assist are energetic young people.Sometimes local elders may know which members of their community are tightest hit, and what kind help is appropriate for them, but they get out ask young people to give them help. Young people must therefore be included, trained and empowered to carryout disaster prevention, preparation , and planning and response efforts. V. Justification for Involving Young People a. Fostering a Sense of Local self-control Traditionally disaster management has been dominated by top-down relief efforts that assume children and youth are passive victims with no role in disaster preparedness.Involving youth in disaster preparedness process not only benefits them, their families, and communities, but similarly contributes to basic empowerment which boosts levels of ownership within their overall disaster preparedness plan. Research has indicated that when young people m new(prenominal) preparedness discipline they are more likely to act wisely and protect themselves against abuse; ontogeny and illegal drug trafficking (UNICEF, 2007). b.Fostering Youth’s great power to Act In life it is very ruffianly to maintain a positive mindset when people have no faith in you. Youth are an enormous pool of energy, talent, and enthusiasm fervent to contribute to society. The time h as come whereby young people’s ability as agents of variegate must be know. There virtually unique(p) abilities and skills that young people alone can bring to the table, such as Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 9 intercultural communication and advanced(a) use of engine room (ICRC, 2010).Many have made a difference in their neighborhoods, schools and even at the national level by address safety issues and examine solution for the existing problems (NCPC, 2001). Youth possess unique strengths, which are enhanced by community resist and collaboration. Given probability to as participants and not observers leave behind to introduce them and get to be part disaster management agencies within their local communities, crossways their borders and roughly the world. Compared to adult, many youth are trained in public speaking, ournalism, intercultural music and dance, communication, cultural harmony. Young people al nominate have power; of being get together through social networks such as MySpace, twitters, Facebook and they give use it interact in a very short time. Youth can influence comfortably their peers to be disaster ready. crowing mentors should work intimately with youth in an effort to incorporate their ability and talent in disaster management process. c. Promoting Individual’s Rights Although our social norms have such often portrayed young people as underage and helpless victims in emergencies.In practice, however, the reverse often applies and youth commonly have far more options clear to them than do adults. The notion that excluding young people from direct involvement in calamities helps protects their well-being and trauma that adult face is undermining their resilience and coping in the linguistic context of adversity. Around the globe young people have proven to be faster in responding and volunteering in relief efforts when disaster strikes (Perren-Klingler, 1996). Young people penury to be part of the big picture in making contribution that makes a difference and ever-changing lives.It is the right of young people and children to be recognized and be interacted with as dignified humans preferably than treating them sound as vulnerable and helpless disaster victims who are only objects of charity. They Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 10 should be encouraged to use their potential to become agents of tack globally. Their likings and energies can be put into good use. The idea of involving youth and encouraging their participation in risk reduction measures is in line with foreign commitments which licitly bind the signatory states to observe the rights of children and youth (Silbernagl, 2010).Like adults, young people besides have a right to participate in decisions and efforts to address disaster management and risk reduction within their communities. Their rights include being trained and supported in understanding and making positive contributions to matter that affect their livelihood. This is in line with articles 6, 12 and 13 of the international legal mannequin set under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which upholds children’s rights to (Plan, 2005). d. sprightly Experience Involving young people in disaster planning go outs opportunities to r to each one beyond our traditional â€Å"top-down relief efforts. This becomes a link that equips young people to take on novel roles and become dynamic agents of trade. Most pipelines nowadays require applicants to have some experiences which are technically not taught theoretically in college class rooms. There must an employer who pass on be willing to tenderise an opportunity to on the job training. The inexperienced young people likewise need mentors in disaster preparedness process who are willing to work closely with them by involving them in active voice roles that gives them hands-on experience to eventually eff the shoes of t heir adult mentors when they are no endless available for duty.Adult and youth can learn from each former(a). Blending experiences of adult to young people new ideas and innovations works better as playing apartment (white) and sharp (black) keys on the piano. There will be always unquestionable wisdom, experience and knowledge which can Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 11 only be found from the adult (Old School). However, young people may also have skills such as foreign languages, technology that adults do not have, or are challenged in mastering.Adult mentors must therefore pass-on the touch of qualities in their young mentee. If they can let go of their tight control, be patient, and trust the process, mentoring will become more fooling and enjoyable, and will be responding to recommendations from the research on resilience and on nurturing success stories. It is important that mentors must stool they are making a difference in the lives of young people by creating inside-out social change. This is preparing succeeding(a) leaders, who are disaster resilient, compassionate, and job ready and good citizens.Thus, the united effort of young and old will result in strength, while vicissitude may only hinder the effort of the sine qua non community resilience when disaster strikes. VI. Lesson Learned a. Previous Account of Youth Involvement The contributions young people have made in emergency response within their own communities are easily traced to such incidents as the Indonesia Tsunami of December 26, 2004. Consider the incredible boloney of Tilly Smith, an 11 year-old from England, vacationing with family when tsunami occurred. This proves how prior lesson she learned to the highest degree tsunamis in geography class was employ to save lives of many.When she noticed strange behavior of the sea on the morning of the tsunami, she convinced over 100 people to leave the beach before the struck transactions later (Randall, 2005) . Another example involves a number of young people who actively participated in legal transfer the lives of others, often times putting their own lives in jeopardy, until the international relief workers and emergency responders could arrive. â€Å"These young people all over the affected region took action, part to distribute aid, assisting with clean-up and rebuilding efforts, looking later those young than them, and using their creativity to letRunning Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 12 others know approximately the devastation (ISDR, 2005). During this stressful disaster, a call went out in the Maldives †â€Å"Whoever can help, please come. ” Each volunteer was given an age-appropriate task. Many adults stayed away but the young people came forward. When a psychosocial counselor was sent to undertake on possible problems with young people, she couldn’t find anyone. â€Å"They were all workings,” she said (UNICEF, 2007). Another ex ample of youth involvement in a disaster comes from hurricane Katrina.Hurricane Katrina which made landfall on August 29, 2005 and resulted in death of over 1,000 citizens and caused approximately 80 percent of flooding to the city of New Orleans within 18 hours (U. S. blank House, 2006). Shortly after the disaster occurred, a convention of young people for the Vietnamese American standoff of Louisiana took an active role in assisting the Vietnamese community with evacuation, relief and recovery efforts (Leong, 2006). They were also able to translate information from formal English sources (i. e. FEMA and American Red Cross) to their non-English speaking family members in order to pass on important messages such as the fixture of evacuation safe places, relief supplies and food diffusion centers, and registration for FEMA assistance. During the recovery period, these young people were slavish in boosting morale among the younger children and bringing help to other risks affec ting their community. Plan International has mobilized children and youth in El Salvador, Central America, to play a significant role in environmental resources management and disaster risk reduction.The children and youth have worked with their communities in developing risk maps, designing community emergency plans, setting up early warning systems, and implementing response, easing and risk reduction plans, among other activities. Plan Internationals experience in El Salvador has already been replicated in other Central American countries (UNISDR, 2007). Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster b. What has been done to citation Youth Involvement? Akeyo, S. 13 There some few steps done by motley disaster management organizations that are significant initiatives in addressing youth involvement in disaster management.One agency that involves youth in local community disaster and emergency preparedness is the U. S. Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) which is tasked wit h planning. This agency provides an in-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness melt down on its website (FEMA, 2009). Another major provider of disaster management worldwide is the International Red Cross- Red Crescent Society. This agency is active in mobilizing youth to take active part in disaster situation to help their neighbors across their own streets, across the democracy, and across the world each year.In developing countries, evidence of youth platforms that address disaster management is victorious place. On October 27-29, 2010 in the eastern African area of Kenya, youth held a national wide youth convention to campaign for disaster management initiatives. This assembly held in the city of Nairobi was an example active platform that were held to mobilize and build capacity of youth and prepared them to respond to climate change and environmental degradation.Conference participants attest that it was a perfect opportunity that was used well by the organizers to include yo uth in disaster management and decision making process in the effort to address climate change at local, national, regional, and continental level (Tuwei, 2010). In country of Uganda, youths have appealed to decision makers to involve them, at all levels, in the effort to address the climate change under the theme, â€Å"Time for Action”. Director and Head of the Youth Affairs Division at the people Secretariat, Dr.Fatiha Serour said, â€Å"International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth and celebrate their achievements” (Kigonya, 2010). In the Caribbean, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 14 must be commended for introducing and involving 16 member countries for youth disaster management activities during their annual Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Conference in 2009.This initiative of CDEMA will promote youth involvement in various commun ities they represent and the overall disaster management development in that region. Likewise, Pan International mobilized youth in El-Salvador to play a significant role in environmental resources management and disaster risk reduction (DRR). This initiative is currently benefiting their community through a joint taskforce of youth-adult in developing risk maps, designing community emergency plans, setting up early warning systems, and implementing response, mitigation, and risk reduction plans, among other activities (Plan International, 2007).In 2010, Plan International facilitated 54 focus throngs across Haiti, where young people had the opportunity to discuss the impact of the earthquake on their individual lives, and what they needed most in the recovery process; and to share their hopes and dreams for the future of their country. It is reported that the youth were enthusiastic to be involved in the rebuilding of their country, and wanted to take part in the work being set ou t towards a prosperous future for Haiti (PLAN, 2010).Lastly, the 2007 national see on â€Å"Policy Advocacy for Enhancing Community resilience to Natural Disasters Focusing on Children and Youth” held in Jakarta, Indonesia was held to address the importance of involving young people in the disaster management process (UN-ESCAP, 2007). VII. Recommendation for sizeable Practices A study done by the Adventist training and Relief Agency (ADRA) suggested that social capital was the predictor of more effective human functioning, stronger institutions and community resilience (Diaz, 2008).Furthermore, strengthening individual, community and private sectors in disaster preparedness has some(prenominal) and strategic value (Flynn, 2010). Therefore, Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 15 good practices that can help include young people in the emergency management process can be successfully achieved by following these recommendations: 1. Education and Information Sharing Generally, young people are not aware of what emergency response leaders and relief agencies may appear them to do or know when a disaster occurs. Such information is critical to successful emergency preparation and disaster response and recovery efforts.Information sharing is a principal component of an effective emergency management strategy to help a community improve its level of preparedness, response capabilities, and resilience. Youth forums, conferences and shop are the best example of information sharing. Participants can pass relevant information to their peers, by sharing of knowledge or information and training obtained. relevant information shared with young people on disaster risks will unify communities and promote a culture of disaster readiness and collaboration at all levels that include disaster experts, responders and other stakeholders (ISDR, 2005).However, all information stash awayed must be canvas for accuracy, authenticity and urgency before incr iminated to the targeted individuals. Local communities should provide disaster and emergency preparation and response training programs to all citizens; oddly youth designed community training programs promote citizens to take personal business in preparing for and responding to a disaster. Sufficient staff should be trained in working with youth and children so that they may understand and recognize the importance of their participation in disaster response, relief and recovery efforts.Disaster training for children and youth should include age-appropriate lessons in preparing for emergencies, response behaviors, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic first aid, water safety, and basic child care. Educational leaders can develop school-based curriculums that address these topics. Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 16 Furthermore, NGOs and church-based organizations can also be used to help provide disaster preparedness training to young people as well. disc ipline youth and children in disaster preparedness activities before an emergency occurs helps them to survive and provide assistance to others. . Tabletop and Drill Exercises Planning is the key! Necessity of planning can be illustrated by the famous a explanation of four people named Everybody, individual, Anybody and nix. â€Å"There was an important job to be done and Everybody was invited to do it. Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Infact, Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybodys job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that. Everybody wouldnt do it.It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done” (Unknown Author). The tabletop exercise is essentially a group brainstorming session centered on a scenario narrative and problem statements or messages that are presented to key players in emergency response. Tabletop exercise can be util ized to increase youth awareness of risks that march them, (Strength, weaknesses and Opportunity and Threats) and how they can better prepared to deal with them before disaster happens.This will help not only the young people but also the emergency coordinators in examining response capabilities, and evaluate coordination with other agencies e. g. Law enforcement, emergency responders, establish closer working relationships and within local and outside coordination. Tabletop exercise can also be used to acquaint the young people on the policies, procedures, roles, communication and responsibilities before, during, or after the simulated event. Youth mentors must work with the youth to decide whether do a full-scale exercise that involves local first responders and professional moderators or just aRunning Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 17 simple affair conducted by in-house disaster planners and youth in training. The scenario can also be discussed on how much gloom a nd doom you want your tabletop exercise should look like (i. e. Involving injured people, airscrew destruction etc. ). This will help both the adult and their mentee to test how quickly they can pull together key players. This exercise process will provide a less stressful, more time effective method when the actual emergency happens. 3.Supporting Youth Programs Every community, emergency managers and responders should work with new as well as existing youth organizations to address the local issues, concerns and proposal for success. If community has several youth groups, it can be helpful to assign each on with specific roles and responsibilities which will make them expert in their trained response role. Emergency force must develop such caring relationships not only between adultyoung people but also between youth-youth, emergency responder-emergency responder, and emergency personnel-community.Teachers and mentor should debate personally on their beliefs about resilience, an d also, as a staff, exchange experiences-both personal and literary- about overcoming the odds (Resiliency In Action, Inc. , 2007). Such relationship and opportunities for active youth involvement: small group process, cooperative learning, peer helping, cross-age mentoring, and community service makes participants feel to belong to â€Å"a family,” â€Å"a home,” â€Å"a community. 4. Youth Direct Involvement a. Service-learning Experience i. Being Disaster ReadyIt is very important to know that, if one cannot take care of them self, it will be impossible to take care of others. Youth can be given individual training that will help them be Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 18 mentally and emotionally prepared to act promptly and to develop in them the ability to take care for themselves, and applying practicable endurance skills as needed. Individual training must include being informed of disasters that are most likely to occur in their communi ty, be helped to develop and practice their response plan and get survival kits.In most situations, disasters impact is felt by the all family. Youth can be trained on how to they can be involved in their own family’s emergency plan. Youth must know how to work as a team of their respective(prenominal) families in learning basic emergency skills and how to defend when faced with fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, explosions, warning signals, fallout protection, terrorism attacks, and other emergency situations. ii. Community Service Youth can be trained according to their capabilities to take active role in the community response plan.Such activities as, volunteering to provide health care and first aid function in reception centers, homeless shelters, food bank, care for elderly in nursing homes, helping at respite centers or child care facilities, can be good experiences for the youth. They can also be involved in evacuation of casualty from the cyclorama of the even t, transportation of ill, injured, infirm to reception or medical facilities. Service-learning experiences engage young responders in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-disaster scenarios.Such a practice will promote confidence and experience in their over role performances and in adhesion procedures and policy. By rendering disaster management services to the community, youth will eventually improve skills obligatory for civic action: leadership, communication, decision-making, problem solving, teamwork, relationship building, planning and organizing, concern for others. They also increase their knowledge about their communities and gain confidence, interest andRunning Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 19 motivation and in working for their communities. Moreover, young people engaged in disaster management activities gain skills in leadership, problem solving. b. Ongoing Research Study Disaster management is an applied scienc e that needs constant scientific research, theory testing and updates. Young research should be identified and be involved in pregnant research design and implementation of research roles especially in issues that affect their lives.They should be empowered to collect data and report on information to conspire awareness of a problem and/or urge on for change in the condition underlying the community need (for example, youth analyze a community’s emergency preparedness plan and offer suggestions for how to improve the plan). This learning opportunity will enable young researcher to provide their insights, talents and perspectives in their own environment, appropriate to their level of development and expertise. For better results, emergency managers must therefore partner ith these young researchers, students as well as other professionals worldwide across twofold disciplinary perspectives of emergency management to develop and promote solutions that bridge the theoretical and practical applications of comprehensive emergency management. A wellintegrated youth-adult research study will lead to innovative tools and applications that empower the local, national and international communities, create a context for partnerships, and generate research findings that can be used for future disaster management interventions and improvements in ongoing practices. VIII. ConclusionThis initiative to involve youth and to promote youth engagement is not an easy task. While youth have historically been recipients of basic personal safety education in emergency preparedness, they have not been included in community wide preparedness activities. However, that may be changing. Ever rising emergencies and disasters are a universe that all must face Running Head: Youth Involvement in Disaster Akeyo, S. 20 together. It is important to recognize that youth engagement initiatives, collaboration and partnerships in disaster management have multiple payoffs that save lives and promotes resilience in fractious times.Moreover, involving young people who are involved in disaster preparedness will bring a subverter change in society. The youth of today will become leaders and parents of tomorrow, which will ensure that they pass this knowledge to their children. Making disaster preparedness a societal practice can as a result be passed on from generation to generation. Youth involvement in disaster management will therefore succeed only if they are given. Adult mentor may run up against complex, messy, and difficult problems while molding the youth. Sometimes they may even be discouraged and give up the task.Likewise, the young may think the older mentors’ ideas or approaches are not proper and primitive which may result into conflicts. The truth is, every good outcome requires hard work, a sustained commitment to working as a team, and a willingness to listen and learn from each other. Developing trusting relationships between young people and a dults does not happen overnight; but with sustained engagement and guidance, young and old can work shoulder by shoulder to prepare and respond to disaster when it happens (Pearson, 2010). R\r\n'