Seoul City to Operate 'Disaster School and Disaster Camp' Until October to Overcome Everyday Disasters

Residents Share Disaster Experiences, Learn, and Independently Plan and Practice Community Crisis Overcoming Methods at 'Disaster School'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Volunteer Center announced on the 6th that it will run the ‘Disaster School in the Village’ and ‘Disaster Recovery Camp’ until October, where citizens can share and learn from their own disaster-related experiences and learn how to protect the safety of their families and neighbors amid disasters that have become normalized after COVID-19.

The ‘Disaster School in the Village’ is a program open to all citizens to learn about disasters from various perspectives and to plan ways to help vulnerable groups in the community. The ‘Disaster Recovery Camp’ is a program for families to participate in creating a practical family self-quarantine manual for disaster situations and to learn psychological coping methods.

Since 2018, the Seoul Volunteer Center has operated disaster relief shelter experience camps and disaster schools in the village in collaboration with disaster-related organizations to help citizens develop proactive disaster response capabilities by learning survival skills and coping methods needed during disasters. This year, in preparation for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the center is focusing on programs that help citizens find ways to restore daily life at the individual, family, and community levels.

From April to the present, a total of 354 citizens from 11 autonomous districts have participated. In August, programs will be held in Gangnam-gu, Songpa-gu, Gwanak-gu, and others. Citizens who wish to participate can apply by contacting the volunteer center of their respective district.

‘Disaster School in the Village’ is an online and offline program where individuals and communities learn how to wisely cope with disasters and plan disaster response activities that can be practiced in their neighborhoods. Local residents meet on a non-face-to-face platform (Zoom) to share their disaster experiences and exchange information and knowledge about everyday safety. Any Seoul citizen can participate.

Offline workshops are also conducted. In the workshops, participants seek ways to support blind spots and vulnerable groups revealed by disasters. Residents directly plan and implement measures to overcome disaster crises, such as volunteer activities for elderly living alone and people with disabilities. Local volunteer activists participate together to provide expert knowledge.

‘Disaster Recovery Camp’ is an online program where families can pre-experience disaster situations caused by COVID-19, protect each other’s safety, and learn how to overcome psychological difficulties. Families can participate through an online platform (Zoom). Assuming a situation where one family member must self-quarantine at home, they create a ‘Family Self-Quarantine Manual’ covering securing quarantine space, dividing risk zones, planning movement routes, non-face-to-face meal methods, setting living rules, and managing household waste.

Lee Ki-baek, General Manager of the project, said, “It is important for citizens themselves to build the strength to overcome and recover from disasters,” adding, “Through the disaster recovery program, we hope citizens will care for their weary hearts from COVID-19, look after their neighbors’ well-being, and practice daily activities that can help overcome COVID-19 together.”