“Because we are all really responsible for all” – Pope John Paul II
CARITAS Australia, with support received through Project Compassion each Lent, educates teachers like Martina and helps keep children safe during an emergency.
Through the power of nursery rhymes, Martina is helping to save children’s lives in the Solomon Islands.
Martina, a class teacher at Bishop Epalle Catholic School in Nggosi, West Honiara, enjoys clapping and singing with the children in her classroom. She knows they are not just having fun but learning life-saving skills.
The children have learnt four songs including the “flood song” which is sung to the tune of “This is the Day that the Lord has Made”.
Whenever they sing, the melodies can be heard far and wide.
Martina said singing with the children is her favourite part of the school day. It also serves an important purpose.
Caritas Australia’s Disaster Risk Management project in Martina’s school, much like dozens in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, aims to get teachers to help young children learn strategies to be safe during disasters and emergencies.
Using well-known tunes and simple lyrics, children learn what to do in the event of potential disasters that face the Solomon Islands such as cyclones, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis.
The children and their families live in a vulnerable situation, with their lives and homes constantly under threat.
So far the program has been run in 35 kindergarten and primary schools across the Solomon Islands. In Vanuatu it has been implemented in 22 schools.
The program targets children from the age of four to 12 years.
Teachers receive important training that encourages them to plan for disasters and develop skills around time management, effective communication and child protection.
“Nursery rhymes break down the fear associated with natural disasters, and also help children memorise the rhymes and the emergency response,” said Martina.
“They enjoy the singing.”
Martina’s school in Ngossi is in a region, much like many in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, that is prone to all manner of natural disasters.
A string of natural disasters in the Pacific, including an earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands in 2007 and again in 2013 caused significant damage.
“Our homes are under threat from earthquakes, landslides and cyclones,” Martina said.
“We have the cyclone season that runs from November to March annually, so this type of disaster is a big risk.”
Caritas Australia’s Solomon Islands and Vanuatu program manager Adam Elliott said disasters often occurred early in the morning when the children were at school.
“The children take this disaster risk management to their homes,” Adam said.
“They sing songs and talk about what the songs have taught them.”
Adam said the program worked well, as shown during Cyclone Sandra in 2013.
“In the 2013 cyclone, everything was well co-ordinated and planned. Martina waited with the children in the classroom for the initial bad weather to pass,” he said.
“The children and teachers were later able to return home to their families. So everyone knew exactly what to do once the cyclone finally hit.
“They have really taken it and made it their own, writing the songs in their local languages.
“The reach of the program continues to grow and the songs have spread.
“Children in communities outside the target areas have been found to be singing the nursery rhymes.
“The children sing them to their families and to other children, so there’s a viral nature to what we’re teaching.”
The program, which is helping to promote the wellbeing of whole communities, is running in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Due to its success and interest across the South Pacific, Caritas Australia is planning to extend the program’s reach to other countries.
“This season we’re better prepared and know how to respond, and in an emergency this can make all the difference,” Martina said.
To donate to, support or fundraise for Project Compassion 2014 visit the Caritas Australia website at www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phone 1800 024 413.
