Assumption University New Media Management/Journalism students participate in the launch seminar

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) launched the iPrepare students video competition, on 16 August in Thailand. Over 60 students from the New Media Management/Journalism Communication Arts Faculty of Assumption University, Bangkok, attended the launch seminar. The campaign encourages students to produce a 2 – 3 minute video showcasing the level of multi-hazard disaster preparedness in their communities.

The iPrepare campaign is designed for promoting community disaster resilience by encouraging students to take on an active role in becoming the voices of change in their community’s approach to disaster mitigation.

During the eight-week campaign, the participating students will produce a video under a specific category of disaster preparedness provided on the iPrepare website. The key themes include climate change, science and technology, agriculture, private sector, flooding, and smog, etc. The launch seminar provided students with insights into a number of themes within disaster risk reduction and ways in which they can shape their storyboards to produce videos on disaster preparedness.

Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, ADPC’s Special Advisor, discussed ways Thailand has been affected by disasters to shape their understanding of their local surroundings.

Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, ADPC's Special Advisor, informs students on disaster impacts on Thailand

The launch seminar was aimed at sharing tools and techniques with students to help them explore how people are generally affected by disasters and what changes they have made to become more disaster resilient. Through developing individual videos, students are able to communicate their personal understanding of disaster preparedness and ways they wish to raise public awareness on reducing disaster losses.

An independent jury will evaluate the entries based on the set criteria. The winner will be announced in November, 2018 and will be awarded a DSLR camera. All participating students will be awarded a Certificate of Participation.

Mr. Bill Ho, Director, Strategic Planning Department, discusses ways students can get involved in disaster preparedness initiatives

Previously, the iPrepare campaign was carried out in Viet Nam, Bangladesh and Myanmar which sensitized hundreds of students to the importance of community-based disaster preparedness to reduce the loss of life and property due to a catastrophe.

ADPC hopes to encourage students to develop their personal and professional skillset through participating in the iPrepare student’s video competition.

Visit our website more information on the iPrepare video competition.