youth participation in mega earthquake response ......annapurna post kantipur nagarik, nepal weekly...

Youth Participation in Mega Earthquake Response: Critical Reflection & lesson learnt

Brabim Kumar K.C

Association of Youth organizations in Nepal (AYON)

[email protected] Twitter - @brabimkumar

Fb.com/ayonnepal

@ayonnepal act4quake.org ayon.org

mailto:[email protected]

act4quake.org ayon.org

Introduction

• #act4quake – initially youth-led info center immediately transformed into relief provider

• Largest youth led relief effort

• Started on loan and credit

• Community participation to

community led relief & recovery

• More than 3000 young volunteers engaged

• 60% of funds from Nepalis living abroad


Accountability


#Act4quake working plan


The working model


Critical Reflection – Lessons learnt

• Increase in consumerism ?

• Increase in dependency ?

• Conflict between the community members – because of the inconsistent relief materials ?

• Lack of acknowledgement re the role of informal platforms and mechanism that exist in the communities?

• Less collaboration, more competition ?

• Are we listening enough to people?

Why are we doing what we are doing?


What should be done?


• Closely work with local communities, informal platforms - ensure their leadership

• Sustainable ways to engage with youth

• Acknowledge and engage with diaspora communities

• Listen to the people/acknowledge the mistakes

• Ensure accountability – build trust with communities


ayonnepal [email protected] ayonnepal

brabimkumar

Approach

1) Information gathering At the heart of our response is creating efficient flows of information, making sure

that we are positioned to collect the best information, in large quantities, from as many sources as possible. We have been collecting information so that all our actions are evidence-based, responding to problems as they emerge and giving the right amount of attention to the highest priority areas.

• Information comes from many sources including our NGO partners, the Home Ministry, the police, community-based organisations, the media (including social media), our field volunteers and the affected communities.

2) Volunteer mobilisation • AYON will continue to identify, register, train and deploy volunteers to the affected

areas. The current volunteers’ register currently exceeds 900 volunteers. We will ensure that key skills are recruited, including first aid and medical care, social work, construction and engineering skills, manual labour, water sanitation and hygiene, project and organisational management and fundraising skills.


Community Involvement

Local communities were critical in the effective distribution of supplies, and #act4quake worked closely with local families and organizations in affected areas to consolidate and coordinate relief efforts on the ground. Small, local organizations were often the first to arrive at sites of emergency, responding directly to distress calls, and delivering tents, tarps, medicine, and water. #act4quake worked directly with these organizations, and, given their extensive knowledge about local people and geography, often relied on them for equitable distribution of supplies.


Opportunities we missed

• Rightfully claiming the position

• Emergence of New Civil Society

• Policy Level intervention – Youth & Volunteerism


Way forward

1) Be a rebuilder –

Youth engagement in community rebuilding

2) Be a educator

WASH issues, psycho-social issues

3) Be a vigilant -

Accountability issues


On Media Kathmandu Post


Editorial Kathmandu Post & Kantipur


Kantipur


TV

Al Jazeera BBC TV CCTV USA Avenues TV Nepal TV, Mountain TV, Image Channel

News:- The Kathmandu Post, Huffington Post, Dutch Magazine, Canadian Magazine Annapurna Post Kantipur Nagarik, Nepal Weekly


News:-

News:-

youth participation in mega earthquake response ......annapurna post kantipur nagarik, nepal weekly...

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