One hundred and ninety Grade 3 to 6 students from six primary schools across Dominica have successfully wrapped up the 2026 Summer Disaster Preparedness Programme hosted by the island nation’s Office of Disaster Management (ODM), walking away with hands-on, actionable knowledge that will serve them, their families, and their wider communities for years to come.
Running from July 13 through August 5, the programme filled a critical gap in youth-focused disaster education for the hurricane-prone Caribbean island. Coordinated by Metin Brumant with support from Wendy Esprit, the initiative was structured to go far beyond the textbook learning common to public safety education. Rather than sticking to static lectures, organisers designed an interactive curriculum that used group discussions, live demonstrations, collaborative team challenges, knowledge quizzes, and creative hands-on exercises to engage young learners. These activities broke down complex emergency response concepts into age-appropriate, memorable lessons that aligned with how children learn best.
The curriculum covered all major natural hazards that pose a recurring threat to Dominica, including hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Students walked through step-by-step protocols for appropriate action before a disaster strikes, during an ongoing emergency, and in the immediate aftermath, gaining confidence in their ability to make safe choices when faced with a crisis.
A core goal of the programme extended far beyond the individual participants. ODM designed the initiative to create a ripple effect of disaster awareness across local communities. Students were explicitly encouraged to share the skills and knowledge they gained with their parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors, with the long-term aim of nurturing a broader island-wide culture of disaster readiness.
As a component of Dominica’s broader national strategy to boost climate and disaster resilience, the programme targets young people as key change agents. Building disaster awareness from an early age not only empowers children to protect themselves but also creates sustained, intergenerational change that strengthens the safety and resilience of entire communities across the island.