The “Safer schools and kindergartens project” aims to build competencies and skills of primary school and kindergarten teachers and pupils in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia regarding climate change, disaster risk reduction, first aid and school safety. Due to climate change, more frequent extreme events such as flash floods, droughts, cold waves and heat waves can be expected in the future. The participating countries, have had extensive experience with responding to floods and other disasters in the past years. When a disaster happens, children are among the most vulnerable. Although educational institutions have statutory obligations to prepare for disasters, disaster risk reduction and school safety is often not implemented thoroughly enough. Furthermore, the project aims to foster personal and interpersonal skills ('life skills' or 'soft skills) of students at an early age. Within the “Safer schools and kindergarten project”, an on-line disaster risk reduction and first aid platform with different modules (including self-assessment checklists, information material for teachers, pupils, parents and local authorities as well as practical activities) will be set up. When a certain amount of activities is carried out, schools and kindergartens can certify as "safe school"/ "safe kindergarten". The platforms in partner countries will be based on the existing “First Aid Fit Platform” which the Austrian Youth RC has already developed and has used successfully. This will be expanded with school safety, climate change and disaster risk reduction topics within the project. Additionally, a resource catalogue with short description of tools, activities, exercises and games regarding climate change and disaster risk reduction, first aid and psycho-social support will be developed based on the “Safer Schools-project” previously carried out by the Serbian Red Cross. Also, a resource pack will be available for each country containing printed materials and games that will be distributed in schools and kindergartens and other stakeholders. An integral part of the project will also be an on-line and face-to-face training for “ambassadors” (teachers and RC volunteers) who will gain basic knowledge in disaster risk reduction and school safety topics. These "ambassadors" will support the school and kindergarten teams with the certification process and in piloting activities. Another pillar of the project is to work with authorities on different levels to implement governmental regulations on school and kindergarten safety, first aid as well as disaster preparedness in schools and kindergartens on a nation-wide and systematic level. This will include the development of a European advocacy paper with key messages as well as versions for partner countries. At least 10-25 primary schools and kindergartens will a total number of 60-150 teachers and at least 1.200 pupils will be involved in the project for trial activities, training and testing the on-line platform. At least 100 schools and kindergartens are expected to certify after the project ends. Although this project focuses on primary school and kindergartens, tools can be used by all schools and other stakeholders such as youth clubs, RC youth group leaders and volunteers or other CSOs that are active in the field of disaster risk reduction, climate change and civil protection authorities such fire brigade youth groups. The safer schools and kindergarten project will provide a systematic and innovative tool for kindergartens and primary schools that collects and systematizes existing trainings, games etc. to strengthen competences of teachers and pupils in first aid, school safety and disaster risk reduction. This tool will be continuously run and used within the regular activities of the partners after the project is completed and further development is planned with the support of other donors, such as local authorities or insurance companies.
The “Safer schools and kindergartens project” aimed to build competencies and skills of primary school and kindergarten teachers and pupils in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia regarding climate change, disaster risk reduction, first aid, psycho-social suppport and school safety. Due to climate change, more frequent extreme events such as flash floods, droughts, cold waves and heat waves can be expected in the future. When a disaster happens, children are among the most vulnerable. Legal regulations and general framework conditions that pertain to school and kindergarten safety, first aid as well as disaster preparedness in schools and kindergartens differ from country to country. Also, the extent to which these regulations are implemented in schools and kindergartens and integrated as part of regular activities varies. Within the “Safer schools and kindergarten project”, an on-line disaster risk reduction and first aid platform with different modules (including self-assessment checklists, information material for teachers, pupils, parents and local authorities as well as practical activities) was set up in the partner countries. Before the piloting phase started with schools and kindergartens, 380 Red Cross volunteers and teachers received a basic training on the platform, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and safety topics. The trained “ambassadors” acted as contact persons for schools and kindergartens and supported the school and kindergarten teams in piloting activities and with the certification process. When a certain amount of activities was completed, schools and kindergartens could certify as "safe school"/ "safe kindergarten" by receiving a certificate. Additionally, a resource catalogue with a short description of tools, activities, exercises and games regarding climate change and disaster risk reduction, first aid and psycho-social support was developed. Also, a resource pack was put together containing printed materials and games and was distributed to schools and kindergartens. Based on the “Safer schools-project” previously carried out by the Red Cross of Serbia, an on-line training with background information on the topics mentioned above was developed, which provided a useful resource for teachers and which is also available on the platform. Another pillar of the project was to work with authorities at different levels to implement governmental regulations on school and kindergarten safety, first aid as well as disaster preparedness in schools and kindergartens at a nation-wide and systematic level. This included the development of a European advocacy paper with key messages as well as versions for partner countries. Throughout the project, meetings took place with relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, the Teacher Training Agency, local authorities and representatives from the Civil Protection field like the fire brigade or the national platform for risk reduction. The national multiplier events in January 2021 served to present the final project results and the platform, reaching more than 2,300 interested persons on-line. 57 schools and 67 kindergartens participated in the piloting of platform activities, reaching more than 3,500 pupils and 260 teachers. The "Safer schools and kindergarten project" provides a systematic and innovative tool for kindergartens and primary schools as it collects and systematizes existing trainings, games etc. to strengthen competences of teachers and pupils in first aid, disaster risk reduction, school safety and psycho-social support. The "Safer schools and kindergarten project" in general and the piloting of the activities in particular were rated very positively by schools and kindergartens, stating that the developed materials are easy to use, yet effective actions for achieving a safer school/kindergarten environment. The fact that all partners plan to maintain and elaborate the platform and to offer it on a nation-wide basis to all schools and kindergartens is yet another indicators for the project’s success. Although the project focused on primary school and kindergartens, tools can be used by all schools and other stakeholders such as youth clubs, RC youth group leaders and volunteers or other CSOs that are active in the field of disaster risk reduction, climate change and civil protection authorities such as fire brigade youth groups.