Guatemala Project 07-08
Current Project
Rotaract Chicago is proud to announce our 2007-2008 International Service Project!
Disaster Preparedness Initiative
The importance of being prepared in light of a natural disaster is often underestimated and overlooked. It is a program that should be initiated at the national and community levels. When effectively combined, there is a lower risk of human casualty, serious injury and a mitigation of property damage. Both facets of this initiative also help facilitate disaster recovery. At the national level, disaster preparedness programs concentrate on structural safety, large scale rescue, aid and recovery, as well as rebuilding in the aftermath. At a community level, disaster preparedness involves educating and informing the general public on what to expect and how to act before and after disaster strikes.
It is the second, localized, facet that the Rotaract Club of Chicago is interested in implementing with the Rotaract Club of Guatemala Sur. Both clubs will work at a grassroots level, along with CONRED (Guatemala’s National Committee of Disaster Reduction) to execute educational programs at the corporate and elementary school level in local communities. The second part of the program is to construct and distribute disaster preparedness kits. This will enable those affected to be immediately prepared with basic communication and health needs while Aid arrives. Knowing how to conduct themselves and having basic necessities in hand also enables a community to better preserve order and stability and to lessen chaos.
The educational facet of this initiative seeks to set up an education program at corporate workplaces and community schools. The education program will focus on training individuals in specific actions that need to be performed when an earthquake or hurricane hits. It will include designing brigades or teams that will direct others on what to do and where to go, as well as the implementation of practice drills. This part of the program will also facilitate the discussion and design of emergency plans among family members, friends and community members.
The second part of this program involves constructing or purchasing disaster preparedness kits. These kits will include basic necessities such as flashlights, extra batteries, first aid kits, water purification tablets, dry foods, communication radios and essential prescription medication. Expected distribution channels are corporate partners, community schools, Rotaract and Rotary clubs and CONRED.
There is a recognition and admission of need for this initiative. Long term sustainability of this program is expected due to the involvement of both Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Guatemala, as well as the consistent participation of CONRED. Implementing from a grassroots level with all organizations working together in a systematic fashion to build from the ground up ensures a sustainable program with a far-reaching and long term impact.
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