You can make a difference on International Day for Disaster Reduction!
Today, October 13, 2010 is International Day for Disaster Reduction.
Click here to read the statement from United Nations Secretary General to mark the occasion - International Day for Disaster Reduction
All around the world, we are increasingly seeing natural and man-made disasters (and some that are a bit of both). We all despair the homelessness, disease, death, and destruction in the wake of these disasters. But how can we get in front of these disasters and do something to PREVENT or reduce the impact from disasters?
We have an idea! You can make a difference by supporting IIRR's life- and livelihood-saving work in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction. Our projects bring communities together to elect a council of leadership that will oversee an in-depth community reformation - detailing their assets and potential risks, the skills available and needed, and how they can prevent or reduce the impact of potential natural or manmade disasters that affect their village. The community itself is empowered to decide what they need and how they can best achieve those outcomes. The results we have seen to date include - safe water access points, irrigation systems, erosion control, road or bridge repairs, access to health clinics, small business and agricultural trainings, and creation of dams/catchment systems all done by and for the community.
IIRR has also created training courses for other international NGOs and local government officials that teach the techniques of organizing a community to undertake a Disaster Risk Reduction process and be able to manage and sustain it locally.
Our next courses are -
Community Based Integrated Watershed Management (Dec 6 - Dec 17)
IIRR needs your support to continue this important work. If you are interested in sponsoring some of our inspiring Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction projects, please contact me at Lara.Crampe <at> iirr <dot> org or donate online by clicking here.
