Training participants take a group photo during their field visit at Dhambi village, Hinthada .

From 20–24 June 2016 a total of 45 participants from 15 states and regions across Myanmar attended the Royal Norwegian’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs funded training on Youth Leadership for Disaster Resilience at the Disaster Management Training Centre (DMTC) in Hinthada, Ayeyarwaddy Region, in Myanmar. Organized by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Association of South East Asian Nations Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) Centre and the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD). The five day training workshop provided the youth sector with the necessary knowledge, skills and approaches towards leadership roles in disaster risk management.

One staff from RRD and two representatives from the youth sector represented each state as participants during the training. They underwent a learning course designed to facilitate their transformation from volunteers to leaders in disaster risk management. Upon completion of the training, participants were able to:

• Explain clearly the commonly used terminologies, concepts and approaches in disaster risk management
• Apply selected tools on hazard, vulnerability, capacity and risk assessment in Dhambi village, Hinthada Township
• Put into practice leadership competencies in disaster preparedness, response and recovery
• Report on disasters accurately via social media with the use of mobile phones
• Discuss AHA’s Centre program and activities

Future young leaders participating in a team building activity during the training.

U Aye Min Thu, Principal of the DMTC, and Dr. Mel Capistrano, Capacity Development Advisor of ADPC Myanmar, emphasized the leadership roles the youth can play in the various phases of disaster management during the opening ceremony of the training.

They recalled that during the devastating flood that hit Myanmar in 2015, the youth demonstrated leadership capacity by mobilizing the necessary resources needed to provide relief assistance to the affected communities. They sent information and photos through social media using their mobile phones, and such capacity can be expanded to cover youth leadership in strengthening community preparedness for and recovering from disasters.

Ms. Agustina Tnunay, Preparedness and Response Officer at the AHA Centre, highlighted how the youth will become future leaders of the nation and introduced the Centre’s operational mechanism in realizing its campaign slogan One ASEAN, One Response.

Yin Yin Itan (far left) and Than Than (center) from ADPC, posing with other representatives.

After completing the five day training participants found it to be highly participatory and interactive.

Mr. Htike Htike Aung, a participant from Ayarwaddy region stated, “The capacity development we received from this training filled my knowledge gap. The trainers taught us the concepts of hazards, risks, DRR, resilience and leadership. The training style through group work, games, lectures and the field visit caused us to understanding our roles as young leaders very clearly."

Mr. Min Naing Soe from Sagaing Region said that, "As we live in rural areas, we have never used modern technology equipment for emergency and DRR activities. We found the linkages between the theory and the practical approach necessary for young leaders."

Daw Sandar Shwe of RRD based in Shan State delivered a group reflection about the training saying, “We learned many things from the this training such as what is risk, how we can reduce risk with good coordination and good preparedness, what AHA centre is doing in ASEAN communities using the One ASEAN One Response approach, how to apply learned skills, quality and style of leadership in DRR activities and how to utilize new information technology for disaster management.”

Participants of the course expressed their interest for future DRR related activities including Training of Trainers (ToT) for Youth Leadership for Disaster Resilience, simulations for different hazards including fire, flood and cyclone, Disaster Management Courses, and a Training on Facilitation/Presentation Skills.

During the field visit, participants interviewed local people at Dhambi village, Hinthada.

The partners involved who share the vision of enhancing youth leadership for disaster resilience in Myanmar contributed to the following: AHA Centre and RRD for technical support in developing the course curriculum and RRD for the use of their training facilities, in addition to providing accommodation for the participants and making preparations for the field visit in Dhambi village.

For more information on ADPC’s training courses please visit the our training schedule section.