“Women and Girls – the Visible Force of Resilience.”

With efforts in disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction, the United Nations General Assembly in 2009 declared that on  October 13^th annually as the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) with a purpose to encourage citizens and governments to make community and countries more resilient to disasters. Celebrating the IDDR this year in Vietnam, on 13^th October 2012, organizations working in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) under the Central Climate Change Network including Malteser International, the German Red Cross (GRC), the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), the Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (NAV) and Save the Children co-funded and co-operated with the Red Cross in Da Nang to hold a meeting titled: “Women and Girls – the Visible Force of Resilience.”

The event in Da Nang attracted nearly 350 representatives from different agencies and organizations as well as the enthusiastic participation of women and female students from areas affected annually by natural disasters. Their performance via thematic singing, short comedies and the first aid skills did not only bring laugh and joy, but also conveyed a message of the role of women and girls in DRR; stressing authorities and organizations to focus on capacity building for women and girls to cope with disasters in their community. 

 The event ended in high spirits through signing a commitment responding to action: Building the safe community in DRR; also emphasized significance and necessity in awareness raising for communities in disaster prevention, response and reduction particularly in vulnerable communities; and strengthening the role and build capacity for women and girls to play a more active part.

The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) has been implementing a number of projects in DRR and Climate Change Adaptation capacity building in such vulnerable central provinces as Thua Thien Hue and Ha Tinh.

We cannot stop disasters from happening but we can reduce the risks by preparedness and mobilization. A Community-based approach is one of the most effective ways, scrambling and promoting the power of all people including the crucial role and remarkable contribution of women and girls.

-SRD-