The activities which are being funded by Save the Children are aiming at equipping primary school learners with disaster risk management strategies like practicing preparedness, prevention and recovery measures.

Speaking to Zodiak Online on Saturday, Maxwell Sweet, Project Officer from BOHF said that through provision of training to disaster risk management school clubs, learners can apply preventive and preparedness actions in anticipation of effects of disaster that affect schools.

Sweet said that “school club matrons and patrons have also been assigned with various roles to lead the students in implementation of activities that can act as a check of disaster hazards manifestation".

He said that they have lined up a number of activities to be implemented in this rainy seasons such as planting trees, digging bins and installing washing hands buckets.

The project officer further told us that it was their expectation to see learners showcasing  what they have learnt through performances like educative arts (poems, music and drama) as one way of educating non-Disaster Risk Management club members.

A learner from Mwetang'ombe primary school, Malita Mileka, who is in standard 6, appreciated the idea of involving them because “this will help to equip us on how natural disasters can be prevented while at tender age".

Chifunga and Malimba education zones have already been reached with the Interventions with over eleven schools drilled and clubs formed. All schools in the district will be reached.

Grey Keyala, Neno Coordinating Primary Education Advisor hailed the program saying it will help in reducing cases of injury to learners now that the rains are in and disasters are prone at school and among the learners and their teachers.

He said that “through this training, the learners will be able to judge on whether to come to school, cross a river or vacate a classroom that might be in danger."

Keyala added that their matrons and patrons together with school management will also be giving advice to the learners so that disaster that might occur do not affect lives of learners and disrupt the flow of education calendar.

Meanwhile, Beyond Our Hearts Foundation project coordinator Pemphero Nkhata has tipped school managers to utilise the Localisation Drive being championed by the Neno District Council, partnered with their organization saying it has modalities of reducing the negative impact of climate change and prevent disasters.