2007 Workshop Grenada Emergency

WORKSHOP FOR DEVELOPING CAPACITIES TO PLAN AND RESPOND TO

CHILDREN’S NEEDS DURING EMERGENCIES

GRENADA

03 - 04 JULY 2007









Prepared by

Sian Williams

July 2007





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Grenada was the venue of the recently held workshop for developing capacities to plan

and respond to children’s needs during emergencies; as a result of the lessons learned

in Grenada from hurricane Ivan in 2004. UNICEF and other stakeholders highlighted the

plight of Children in the face of these natural disasters in the OECS region.









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TABLE OF CONTENTS





1 Welcome & Introduction

Background

Objectives of the Workshop Lucia Elmi



2 Session 1: Emergencies and Children; Regional Perspective

Presentations

Issues Raised by Participants



3 Session 2: Managing the Physical Displacement of Children

Presentations

Issues Raised by Participants



4 Session 3: The Psychological and Social Intervention for Children

Presentations

Issues Raised by Participants

Andria Grosvenor: Caribbean Reality – Children Living in Emergencies

Issues Raised by Participants



5 Sessions 4, 5: Return to Happiness Programme

Presentations

Issues Raised by Participants

Closing Remarks



6 Session 6: Protecting Children from Abuse

Presentations

The Community Group

The Shelter Group

The Home Group

The School and Alternative Programmes Group



7 Session 7: Media Perspective after Hurricane Ivan

Presentations

Issues Raised by Participants



8 Session 8: Panel Presentations

Presentations

Ms Pauline Finlay: Lessons Learned

Ms Lisa Long: The Wealth of Resources



9 Session 9: The Way Forward

Presentations

Building National and Regional Capacity Key Issues, Challenges and

Recommendations









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10 Conclusion

Closing Remarks



11 References



12 Appendices

Appendix 1: Workshop Agenda



13 Appendices

Appendix 2: List of Participants









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DAY ONE: JULY 3rd 2007





WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION



Mr. Tom Olsen UNICEF Representative of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean



In his Welcoming Remarks, Tom Olsen spoke of the choice of Grenada for this first

meeting of OECS country representatives on children and emergencies. The experience

in Grenada of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 provided many lessons to be learned by the

region. He emphasized the concern for children‟s rights compromised in the chaos and

activity that surrounds an emergency. In this workshop, he called for participants to

explore how we can ensure children‟s protection, especially of children with disabilities,

and care with proper planning for children‟s needs integrated into disaster preparedness.





BACKGROUND

Hon. Claris Charles Minister of Education St. George’s Grenada



In her Welcoming Remarks, the Minister described the diversity of emergencies that can

occur in the region and the adaptability of Caribbean peoples to living with danger every

day. In describing events in recent times in Grenada of natural disasters, she talked on

the natural reactions of persons who did not want to move even when warned of

impending disaster, of the tendency to hedge ones bets in the face of news of an

approaching emergency, to allow superstition to cloud your preparation, even to deny

the likelihood that it is likely to affect you. Reflecting on the experiences in the

aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the Minister Charles described parents who

couldn‟t help children immediately after the disaster because they couldn‟t help

themselves. Children had no access to alternative family support; there was just

nowhere to go. Children expected parents to be wise, to prepare for them but parents

were traumatised and this in turn was feeding children‟s trauma. The experience pointed

to the following strategies for preparation of the future:



 Providing normalisation in shelters: Shelters must provide not only a place of

safety and refuge, but a source of structured activity and stimulation, normal

routines and care, for children. Services to children in shelters can serve a dual

purpose to distract and engage children and to give parents time/space needed to

get organized and to start rebuilding.

 Providing normalisation in schools: It is the best thing for everyone to see the

children returning to school as it speeds the normalization process. In Grenada,

even without power, parents used coal-irons to prepare school uniforms and got

the children back into their uniforms and back to school. Children going to school

gave the national psyche a boost. UNICEF as one of the first agencies on the

ground provided tents, „schools in a box‟, „sports in a box‟ and psychological

interventions.

 Providing highly nutritious food: Food for children going to school must be

highly nutritious, especially as these might constitute the only meal they get. It is

critical to get sandwiches and drinks right.





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 Monitoring of children is essential in the immediate aftermath and for many

months afterwards as how children appear to be can be deceptive. Children can

seem to be doing well, normally, for months but how they have been affected

may not emerge until later. In Grenada, about 6 months after Ivan, a strong wind

one day on the West Coast alarmed children so much they ran out of school to go

home. Deviant behaviour in young adolescents may have roots in early trauma or

disaster.

 Training of teachers is needed in the use of a monitoring framework for children

after a disaster and skills in screening for problems that might be linked and can‟t

be handled

 Capacity building of national disaster agencies in collaboration with key

agencies and government ministries responsible for children. We must jointly

plan for disasters because they will happen, they are characteristic of the region.

 Adults (parents, teachers etc) need to be prepared to help after a disaster and to

anticipate the impacts on children and the actions they can take to reassure and

normalize their lives as soon as possible





Objectives of the Workshop

Ms. Lucia Elmi - Emergency Project Officer



Lucia Elmi described the use of a UN reformed Humanitarian Response which had been

used in 2006/7 in Haiti. A key element of the reformed response is the Cluster

Approach of UN and other external agencies which at country level will ensure

partnerships, coordination, mapping and mechanisms for measurable accountability. For

this approach from the outside to be successful, the country needs to provide a main

„reference point‟ within country, to be identified in advance of disasters.



SESSION ONE

Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Holder-Dolly, Lecturer, UWI. St. Augustine Experiences from Hurricane Ivan in

Grenada



The presentation provided an understanding of the nature of trauma from the

perspective of children and the impact of trauma, with particular reference to Grenada.

The key points included:

 Trauma contributes to how children see the world: it will change their

expectations for their future.

 The trauma is as great for children as that for adults; the devastation of the

familiar disorientates them and undermines their security.

 A child‟s reactions to trauma are complex, affected by level of family support,

individual characteristics, age, history, coping styles etc.

 A child‟s understanding of disaster is complete – more than adults give them

credit for; may experience a wide range of emotions/reactions, including fear

guilt, anger, and failure.

 Children become irritable, clingy or even distant; they may return to earlier

behaviours e.g. bed wetting, separation anxieties; symptoms might be revealed in

disrespectful behaviours, decline in school performance; children become

concerned with avoiding failure rather striving to succeed.





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 However children in Grenada demonstrated remarkable resilience in the aftermath

of Hurricane Ivan. Perhaps this is in part because they were “all in the same

boat” it was the new normality not a private trauma alone? (See RTH experience

below)



Ms. Holder-Dolly described common difficulties parents experienced in dealing with

children‟s traumatic reactions:



 Regressive Reactions: it is particularly hard to manage these with older children

when the natural inclination is to prioritise the needs of the younger ones.

 Emotional/Behavioural Reactions: parents find it difficult to see that school may

have become frightening for children. Also parents wonder when children are

going to stop talking about their experiences and „move on‟.

 Physiological Reactions: Parents might find these exhausting, e.g. children‟s

nightmares.

 Parents need to know what to expect or at least to anticipate.



Reflecting on the useful interventions during the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in

Grenada, Ms. Holder-Dolly identified the following:



 Providing stable support systems prioritising talking, reassuring, hugging.

 Playing games that let children talk about their experiences naturally

 Play as a mechanism for developing shared responsibility, rules, concentration,

skills, problem solving, and willingness to engage with each other.

 Art as „therapy‟ e.g. the ARD “Art Adventure” revealing through children‟s drawing

and painting how they are feeling (use of a range of vibrant colours is generally a

sign of positive health).

 Drama and role play e.g. the ARD Community Caravan which used the concept of

„Playback theatre‟ in which participants‟ stories are acted out, and „played back‟

providing laughter, positive cognition and feeling association. Children often

emerged in these stories as the bravest! The role of laughter as stories are told-

retold serves to make the extra-ordinary more real and manageable.



A framework for anticipating managing psychological trauma and for building resilience

in children was proposed:



BEFORE:



 Discuss impending disaster to get children‟s views: children often know exactly

what can be done to prepare differently making suggestions of how families might

be safer and include these suggestions in the preparations.

 Actively involve children in preparing for emergencies: what to put in safety kits;

seeing what goes into it; choosing really important items to put in e.g. the child in

Grenada who wanted to put in “one piece of lasagna … cooked just before”.



AFTER:

 Give children a voice: Creating a space for children to talk and adults to really

listen with understanding (and not to respond straight off).





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 Provide support for children to recreate the event positively.

 Reassure children, don‟t negate children‟s experiences or judge it as in

appropriate.



At regional and country level there are macro issues for consideration:



At country level:



 In school time, the focus is getting children back into school; however if a disaster

occurs in the holidays, imaginative provision needs to be made to occupy and

interest children.

 Shelters needs to provide (a) structures for children‟s play and (b) food children

like.

 Children should be able to participate in the normality of preparations and the

planning e.g. preparation in the home, in school or day care.

 Core commitments must include psychological support – training of shelter

managers.









At regional level:



 A regional psycho-social effort needs to be made to put together a pool of

practitioners ready to help; a potential role for CDERA.







Issues raised by the participants:



1. The nature of the follow up with children affected. A psycho social support

committee, working at different levels of intervention and response, continues to

provide training. Build capacity on the ground in mental health services. Now

part of Shelter Management training.

2. Detection of needs for specialized help for children and the risk of getting them to

talk/relive if they cannot cope with it. Need to work in conjunction with the adults

in their lives to create spaces for ongoing conversation and not to force children to

talk or express if they do not wish to do so spontaneously.



SESSION TWO

Presenter: Mr. John Fleming Regional Health Delegate, Central America and the Caribbean International

Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)



Mr. Fleming‟s presentation outlined the role of the Red Cross in Shelters in Disaster. The

structure of the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies globally is as follows:

 16 national Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.

 4 areas on intervention:

o Disaster risk reduction;





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o Disaster response;

o Promotion of Humanitarian principles and values e.g. respect for diversity

gender PLWA;

o Health Programme, 8 activity areas e.g. MCH, blood donation, psychological

support (now given much more prominence), harm reduction, water and

sanitation, pandemics.

 Working at National level: Collaboration with MOHs.

 Working at Regional level: Alliances with Universities, UNICEF, PAHO, UNHCR,

OCHA.

 Role of the Pan American Disaster Response Unit, Panama; Appeal Process; actual

goods in warehouse; RITS (regional intervention teams); volunteers

trained/prepared.

 Within the Cluster Approach, the Red Cross is the only non-UN actor with its own

financing mechanism. It plays the role of Shelter Sector Convenor within the

Cluster Process (not to be confused with UNHCR role in Shelters in Conflict).



Key issues for shelter management:

 safety;

 privacy;

 protection from climate;

 opportunities to commence or re-commence livelihood activities.

Issues raised by the participants:



 Not clear how the Red Cross MOU with governments in the region will affect the

joint responsibilities for provision/management of shelters.

 Prioritising of Psycho Social Supports to the Red Cross staff and volunteers so

they are supported in their work.

Important for external agencies like the Red Cross to find out what exists and

what works and fit it in with the national disaster agencies.

 Red Cross needs to precede intervention with discussion and dialogue with

national agencies.



SESSION THREE

Presenter: Dr. Jane Mocellin UNDP Adviser on Disaster UNDP Barbados and the Organization of the Eastern

Caribbean States



Ms. Mocellin‟s presentation drew on experience of disasters of great magnitude,

overwhelming national capacities to respond and creating social and logistical problems

that were exceptionally difficult to address. The lessons learned from evaluation of

interventions for planning and responding to children‟s needs included the following:



 Dangers in the use of ventilation techniques. Coercive talk was found to be

potentially damaging compared to natural talk.

 Spontaneous drawing and playing was beneficial; forced art and play activities

could be damaging.

 Critical incident debriefing was an important mechanism for sharing, exchange,

understanding and coming to terms.









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 Clean up activities were useful mechanisms for developing solidarity, collaboration

and sharing.

 Proactive community based techniques.



Issues raised by the participants:



 The experience of interventions is that they must be culturally and socially

appropriate, led by the agencies for health, social reconstruction and education in

the country.

 The manner in which an emergency situation might evolve is not homogenous.

The different phases (prevention and mitigation, preparation and anticipation,

impact, survival, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction) require different

approaches for psychosocial preparation for each phase. Prior to a disaster there

is communication with affected populations needs to be addressed, to urge

response to warnings and ensure that populations understand risk and respond.

Immediately after impact, interventions are critical for victims and for the helpers,

paramedics and relief workers.

 The use of Sphere Standards can set up a barrier because once minimum

standards have been reached there is a tendency to stop at the minimum and not

go beyond; also they can set up an inequitable situation where in some areas

standards are reached but not in others.

 Must guard against the approach of “one size fits all”. Need a „village‟ approach to

cope and care for each other, generated by the people experiencing the disaster,

rather than relying on external agencies to provide the impetus.

 Need to document our indigenous models for spurring on our survival: culturally

sensitive projects; rallying events/songs.

 Need to know what we need to do, make sure villages know what to do. How can

we pre-assess accurately so we target our interventions to children in general and

to specific needs of children as they arise?



Ms. Andria Grosvenor: Team Leader, Country Programme and Project Support,

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA)



Ms. Grosvenor detailed the vulnerabilities in the Caribbean, man made and natural, and

provided a demographic profile of the populations, the high incidence of young people

and FHHs. She cited anecdotal evidence of changes in family expectations and outlooks.



The rate of disasters in the region has tripled since the 1970s and the effects on children

were outlined. Children fear they will happen again, that they will lose who they love,

that families will lose livelihoods. Even if they have not experienced them directly they

see/hear the news coverage.



It was recommended that:



 Children‟s needs be integrated into CDM, into all phases of the disaster

management cycle.

 MOE and MOH must collaborate with Offices of Disaster Preparedness on

integration efforts.





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 Risk management skills should be integrated into education and community

services.



Issues raised by participants:



 HIV / AIDS needs to be included in disaster management planning.

 Emergency planning in Jamaica in identified schools, children‟s homes and

facilities for children with disabilities is underway and will provide useful lessons

for children‟s participation and the levels of preparation of staff. The proposal and

project outline are included on the CD for the workshop.



SESSIONS FOUR AND FIVE: Dr. Zuri Amuleru - Marshall, St. George's University

Ms.Tonia Frame, St. George's University



The Return to Happiness Programme was implemented by UNICEF for 400 children in

one area of Grenada after Hurricane Ivan. As it was received positively, St Georges

University agreed to adapt it to the Grenadian context and go to scale at national level.

Key features of the programme are:





 Working at a community level, providing resources for persons directly affected,

including healthy snacks, income generating efforts.

 Short term - 3 weeks (10 days intervention and a culminating event). What can

you really do in such a short space of time? Continuing concerns.

 Did find children with greater needs, severe difficulties over time, and identified

children who would need extra help (MOE).

 Adolescents need to be involved, work with the younger ones, feel competent,

secure – all the things that the Hurricane disrupted. After a disaster if you‟re not

a victim you want to help. Unfortunately the evaluation did not look at this area.

 The devastation meant that no one at all was unaffected – most unusual in a

country.

 Aimed to cover the whole population but were only able to cover 65%.

 Worked on the socio cultural fit – worked hard with NGOs, assisted by Red Cross,

got into communities that St Georges University may never have been able to

access.

 Needed resources. Big logistical problems doing previously routine things e.g.

shipping of crayons, where you buy the, where you put the, store them, distribute

the, logistics were overpowering.

 Evaluation essential but a strain for people on the ground on top of the work

 Phases to a disaster…this programme started 4 months after the Hurricane …

when is the optimal period to do a programme of psycho social recovery.



The process of implementation and the following evaluation was described in detail (on

the CD). The lessons learned from evaluation:



 Process: Reached 7000 out of 11000 children.

 Outcome: using 4 instruments (see Evaluation booklet) and a comparison group:









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o Good results on the Hope Scale. Should have been measured earlier?

Should have done the programme earlier?

o No significant difference on any measures;

o Experimental group had higher level of anxiety which the programme was

successful in reducing.



Issues raised by participants:



 Important for a programme of this nature to commence immediately after impact;

AND important for it to be used after the „honeymoon period‟ and before

disillusion sets in. Although it‟s a very brief programme, the national coverage

and the use of concrete/local materials and practical/creative strategies would

serve to lend it a greater effect.

 Could compare the results of this study with others using the same instruments to

assist in process of comparison of findings and validation of the instrument.

 Important to have the detailed understanding that this Programme has given of

exactly how/what steps are needed to implement properly.

 Would have been very useful to include evaluation of the impact of the

participation on the adole-scents.







In closing the day‟s deliberations, Mr. Olsen set the participants the challenge to come

up with very concrete steps in a „road map‟ for the OECS countries which can be useful

for the region as a whole and be an example to the world. He cautioned that the

approach should not be an academic one but a very practical series of steps to be taken

at national level with the support of a regional network. In the next programme of

cooperation of UNICEF with the OECS, emergency response will be a major area for

partnership.









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DAY TWO: July 4th 2007





SESSION SIX

Presenter: Niloufar Pourzand Ph.D, Deputy Representative for UNICEF and Heather Stewart, Child

Protection Specialist, UNICEF



Ms. Pourzand introduced the first session of the day, jointly prepared with Ms. Stewart.

The session‟s format marked a departure from Day 1 as it was fully participatory. A

case study was presented of a typical experience of a child requiring protection and

support because of severe loss and dislocation following a hurricane. Participants were

divided into four groups to consider the potential child protection issues arising in each

of the following locations.



 Shelters

 School/alternative programmes

 Home

 Community



In addition, groups were asked to outline the issues emerging from and in dealing with

the media. In the feedback session, the following key points were raised.



1. The Community Group



Issues and Actions Identified:



 Identify all children within each community.

 Identify those with special needs.

 Identify groups in the community capable of giving voluntary support including

trained personnel who can train others.

 Identify and assess official and potential shelters.

 Develop a public awareness campaign (places, persons, contact numbers, general

instructions).

 Develop a Family/Community disaster plan.

 Develop contingency plans.

 Take into consideration cultural differences and practices, ethnic and language

differences e.g. Spanish speaking communities in Montserrat and Antigua.

 Make a Health Plan.



2. The Shelter Group



Issues Recommendations

Provision for basic needs Arrangements need to be made in advance for

the food children would like; clothing they need

including underwear, nappies.

Health care

Appropriate medicines, water purification.





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Ensuring children are occupied, Planning for different children – including

providing for entertainment/inter- special needs; ways to occupy entertain and

action continue education for children.



Psychosocial needs: impact, worry Establishment of safe spaces for age

about homes, injuries, parent appropriate children‟s activities, with

frustration with children, grieving supervisors; activities arranged to give

expression to children‟s experiences (art, role

Child safety: with other children, play, debriefing).

conflicts, predators

Security requires lighting (inside and outside),

Neglect and abandonment, sexual security officers, lighting for latrines, and men‟s

abuse, children as witnesses to and women‟s toilets latrines.

abuse and intimacy amongst

adults Gender differences Use of safe spaces, supervised activities, use of

volunteer „shelter matrons‟.



Boys might make greater use of supervised

activity outside – sports etc; fetch and carry

tasks; age appropriate tasks.



3. The Home Group



Issues Recommendations

Issues of sexual exploitation: Equip institutional settings to cope: resources

transactional sex; law and order needed for counseling.

breakdown; inhibitions broke

down Monitoring and follow up essential to track what

is happening to he child; data collection

Need a system in place for systems need to be in place, child registration;

protection of children so children vetting of homes they go to including relatives.

are not placed in an ad hoc way

Screen volunteers….not taking just anyone.

Adolescent girls home opened up Facilitate re-entry to school swiftly.

to adolescent boys in emergency

phase resulting in security issues Careful in the future of children being aban-

Mothers who left country after doned.

Ivan to take advantage of relaxed

visa opportunities, not wide- Need child protection mechanisms in place:

spread, but cause for concern for legislation, systems.

child protection; opportunity to

throw out partners, claim they are

not part of home, children thrown

out too









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4. The School and Alternative Programmes Group



Recommendations:



 Prepare materials, kits, pre-position kits, plan recreation, school provision

 Training needed in child protection, provision of supervised activities and psycho

social support, training in anti discrimination, special needs provision, equal

attention to boys/girls

 Prior identification of temporary locations for provision

 Partnership with Health: establish a core of medical volunteers; supplied with

essential treatments; ongoing medications; vaccination vs. malaria, cholera,

tetanus etc

 Ministry of Education needs a comprehensive plan for disasters and for the

provision of psycho social support



Feedback from all four groups made the following points regarding the role of the media,

how the media should be dealt with, and the promotion of the protection of child rights:



 We must entertain the media or the media will entertain us;

 Important to set parameters, barriers where needed;

 PRO or Information Officer, appoint a spokesperson through which the

communication flow should go;

 Provide the Media with prior knowledge of the plans and procedures so as to help

dispel rumours, keep the Media with you, ensure the Media know exactly who to

speak to get correct information and to keep a measure of control over the

situation so as not to create a new disaster, a media disaster;

 Persons assigned for protecting children‟s rights and interests in the

circumstances;

 Care to be taken with photos that may put children in threat. Must be vigilant that

photographers are not sneaking in to take photos;

 Minors must not speak to the media except through the adult designated to speak

to the Media, or alongside the adult so as to maintain a check on the process;

 The preparation of A Code of Conduct on investigating, photographing and

reporting the impact of emergencies on children is recommended. It must be

recognized that the Media play a vital role in maintaining contact with isolated

communities and links with the outside world.







SESSION SEVEN:

The Media, Emergencies and Children - Presenter: Lisa McClean-Trotman Ph.D, Communications

Specialist, UNICEF



Ms. McLean Trotman‟s presentation drew on the experience of Hurricane Ivan and the

general protocols of discussing children‟s issues with the Media and the participation of

children in Media coverage.









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She cautioned participants to make proactive alliances with the Media to ensure

understanding of child protection and child rights issues. In disasters, the Media is a vital

ally for „keeping the story alive‟ and for raising funds required for relief and recovery.



Notwithstanding the problematic issues of photographing children, it must be

remembered that “a picture is worth1000 words”. Ms. Trotman supported the idea of

developing a Media Code of Conduct and considered a regional approach to developing

such a protocol a useful strategy to consider.



She advised that the participants be very clear about leadership by authorized persons

in handling the media, and develop procedures for those members of the media who try

to circumvent or who do not comply with agreed protocols. Protocols need to be

developed in normal times so that we have relationships /channels of communication for

times of emergency.





Issues raised by participants:



 Inappropriate headlines e.g. “Young Girl Sells Sex for Food” divert attention from

the dangers children experience towards social disapproval of behaviour. The

Media needs to be shown ways of reporting that respect child‟s rights and deepen

understanding of the exploitation suffered by children. The gender issues were

noted particularly in the example given.



SESSION EIGHT: Panel Presentations



Presenter: Arnaud Conchon, Emergency Consultant, UNICEF, New York Headquarters



The Development of an ECD kit for distribution, and use in emergencies was highlighted.

Following on the success of School in a Box and Sports in a Box initiatives, the ECD kit is

undergoing a series of pilot tests (Jamaica was one of the sites) and should be ready for

distribution in late 2007.



Ms. Pauline Finlay’s presentation of the lessons learned by the Ministry of Education,

Grenada, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, provided a practical in depth „road map‟ for

other countries in the OECS Region to be used in prevention, mitigation and preparation

for children in disasters.



Ms. Lisa Long presented the wealth of resources in materials and documented

experiences that Save the Children USA has accumulated in their work internationally

with children in emergencies. The presentation details the resources and sources of

assistance.



SESSION NINE:

The Way Forward: Building National and Regional Capacity Facilitator: Leon Charles, Consultant, Grenada



Mr. Leon Charles introduced a participatory planning process in which the participants

were organized in three groups – Education, Health and Disaster Preparedness &





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Prevention Agencies - to explore the issues and challenges to mainstreaming emergency

preparedness and response into national processes in the best interest of the children.



This task filled the remainder of the time allocated for the workshop and a special

evening session was scheduled for feedback. The matrices developed by the groups are

included on the CD. The summary of the main points arising is set out below.





Building National and Regional Capacity

KEY ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Prevention and Mitigation

Issues and Challenges Recommendations

Child sensitive public relations Three levels of intervention:

and programming  Establish a Core Regional Group/

UNICEF supported

 At National Level, Ministries of

Education to become more involved in

a holistic way

 National Disaster Offices to provide

leadership and improve

coordination/include relevant Ministries

at Policy level and broaden their role

Curriculum Development Identify entry points in existing school

curricula in all phases for disaster

Noted: Inclusion of Disasters preparedness; include as part of the OERU

into Geography syllabus Reform process, initiated by UNICEF with

CSEC/CXC CDERA



Ongoing training, including infusion into

Culture of safety teacher training

- risk assessment

- ongoing training Develop use Public Education through Mass

Media



Develop Policies re use of schools as shelters



Develop Peer to Peer activities

Health & Safety: Mapping of „risk‟ personnel

-Promotion - diabetes etc

-Immunization

-Food safety To be taken forward by the MOHs, initiated by

-Water quality UNICEF in collaboration with PAHO

-Storage of medicines and

supplies

Policies on building codes & MOEs to lead

maintenance

Community resilience Strategies for building community resilience

to be developed. UNICEF to initiate





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Building National and Regional Capacity

KEY ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Prevention and Mitigation

Issues and Challenges Recommendations

Family disaster planning UNICEF to initiate

Preparation

Issues & Challenges Recommendations

-School Emergency Procedures -Organisation at national level of a planning

(Simulations, Emergency process requiring schools to develop plans,

Procedures Training, Drills) led by MOEs

-Basic materials e.g. Basic -Establish School Action Committees

Needs Kits, School in a Box etc -Establish a regional team to guide the

-Action Committees in schools process, UNICEF initiated, comprising USAID

and other partners

Shelter Management Training Develop training module on planning and

providing for children, draw on the materials

& experience of Save the Children, UNICEF

initiated in collaboration with CDERA

Strengthen capacity for Regional Task Force approach, support from

psycho- social support, PAHO, drawing on the trained resources in the

counselling region e.g. the task force of psychologists

attached o Red Cross, the new pool of Masters

trained Clinical Psychologists at UWI

Networking and To be developed in collaboration with PAHO

Communication in Health and MOHs, UNICEF initiated

Theatrical Productions Develop these as tool for raising awareness

and „telling stories‟ of lessons learned

Impact

Issues & challenges Recommendations

Have a good plan, at family To be completed from the Matrix

level that has been tested

Shift system going back to

school

Reduce number of schools

used as shelters to ease

transition

Communication Systems

Parents have a critical role,

provide reassurance and

special attention

Caring for caregivers /first

responders to children



Survival (48 hours)

Issues Recommendations

Psycho social support for child, To be completed from the Matrix

for teacher





18

Building National and Regional Capacity

KEY ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Prevention and Mitigation

Issues and Challenges Recommendations

Political intervention, cronyism

Security – gangs/safe places

Recovery (one month)

Issues Recommendations

Age appropriate activities To be completed from the Matrix

Family Reconnection

Refugee dependency especially

amongst the elderly affects the

transition back to school

Timely implementation of

programmes

Teaching and psychosocial

materials

Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (long term)





CONCLUSION



The session ended with a field trip to Morne Jaloux Roman Catholic School facilitated by

the Grenada Red Cross Society, it was a practical demonstration of the activities

undertaken in a psychosocial programme.



Closing remarks: by Niloufar Pourzand PhD, Deputy Representative, UNICEF, BECO.









19

Reference:



Addresses



Olsen, T. 2007 Welcome Remarks: Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and

Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Charles, C. 2007 Welcome Address: Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and

Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Presentations



Elmi, L. 2007 Power Point Presentation: Humanitarian Response for Children in

Emergencies. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to

Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Holder-Dolly, J. 2007 Power Point Presentation: Emergencies and Children: Experiences

from Hurricane Ivan in Grenada. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to

Plan and Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Fleming, J. 2007 Power Point Presentation: Managing the Physical Displacement of

Children: Protecting children from family separation and promotion of appropriate

reunification. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond

to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Mocellin, J. 2007 Power Point Presentation: The psychological and Social Interventions

for Children in Disasters: What do we know? Presented at the Workshop for Developing

Capacities to Plan and Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007

Grenada.



Grosvenor, A. 2007 Power Point Presentation: The Caribbean Reality - Children Living in

Emergencies. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond

to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Frame, T. 2007 Power Point Presentation: Preparing to Implement the Return to

Happiness Programme – The Grenada Experience.

Amuleru – Marshall, Z. 2007 Post – Emergency: Implementation and Evaluation of the

Return to Happiness Programme – The Grenada Experience – The Challenges, Lessons

Learnt. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to

Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Olsen, T. 2007 Closing remarks at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and

Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 3 July 2007 Grenada.



Pourzand, N. & Stewart, H. 2007 Power Point Presentation: Protecting Children from

Abuse, Exploitation and Gender – based Violence. Presented at the Workshop for

Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 4

July 2007 Grenada.





20

McClean-Trotman, L. 2007 Power Point Presentation: The Media Emergencies and

Children. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to

Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 4 July 2007 Grenada.



Conchon, A. 2007, Power Point Presentation: ECD Interventions in Emergencies – Why

and How. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to

Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 4 July 2007 Grenada.



Finlay, P. 2007 Power Point Presentation Ministry of Education Lessons Learned.

Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to Children‟s

needs During Emergencies, 4 July 2007 Grenada.



Long, L. 2007 Power Point Presentation Early Child hood Development, Save the

Children. Presented at the Workshop for Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to

Children‟s needs During Emergencies, 4 July 2007 Grenada.









21

APPENDICES



Appendix 1







AGENDA



WORKSHOP FOR DEVELOPING CAPACITIES TO PLAN AND RESPOND TO

CHILDREN’S NEEDS DURING EMERGENCIES

GRENADA

03 - 04 JULY 2007



Organized by the

UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean



DAY 1



Chairperson:

Niloufar Pourzand, Deputy Representative, UNICEF, BECO



Tuesday, 03 July 2007



Overall Workshop Objectives:



In this two-day workshop, participants will:-



 Get information on the kinds of impacts on children that can be anticipated from natural disasters.

 Gain practical guidelines and decision-making skills about what can be done to respond to these impacts.

 Learn how to set pre- and post-disaster action priorities for the education sector and children in particular.





Opening Session



09:00 Welcome and Introduction of Participants Chairperson



09:05 Welcome Remarks Mr. Tom Olsen

Representative, UNICEF, BECO



09:10 Welcome Remarks Hon. Claris Charles

Minister of Education



09:15 Humanitarian response for children in Emergencies Ms. Lucia Elmi

Emergency Project Officer UNICEF New York





09:35 Caribbean reality - Children Living in Emergencies Ms. Andria Grosvenor

Team Leader, Country Programme and Project

Support, CDERA



This session will a) examine the different stressors of natural disasters for children, distinguishing between the pace of onsets of various

types of disasters, and the implications for the kinds of responses and interventions. The UNICEF presentation will focus on lessons learned

and best practices taken from UNICEF responses to natural disasters the world over and b) highlight the increasing vulnerability of the

Caribbean region and the need for this region to be prepared for a range of potential disasters.





Session 1



10:00 – 11:00 Emergencies and Children: Experiences from Hurricane Ivan in Grenada



Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Holder-Dolly

Lecturer, Social Work Unit, University of the West Indies,

St. Augustine



This session will examine issues related to children and emergencies with specific reference to Hurricane Ivan in Grenada.

11:00 – 11:15 BREAK









22

Session 2



11:15 – 12:15 Managing the Physical Displacement of Children: Protecting children from family separation and

promotion of appropriate reunification





Presenter: Mr. John Fleming

Regional Health Delegate, Central America and the Caribbean

International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)



This session will examine the management of children in shelters and other temporary places of refuge. It will provide practical guidance in

relation to the proper registration of families and children in shelters as well as guidance in minimizing the separation of families in the first

place.





12:15 – 13:30 LUNCH



Session 3



13:30 – 15:00 The psychological and social interventions for children in disasters: What Do We Know?



Presenter: Jane Mocellin, Ph.D.Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor

UNDP Barbados and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States



This session will explore the full range of psychological and social interventions that have been proven to work with children and young

people in the post disaster process.



BREAK



Session 4



15:00 – 16:00 Preparing to Implement the Return to Happiness Programme – The Grenada Experience



Presenters: Ms. Tonia Frame, St. George's University

Zuri Amuleru-Marshall, Ph. D., St. George's University



Session 5



16:00 – 17:30 Post-Emergency: Implementation and Evaluation of the Return to Happiness Programme– The

Grenada Experience – The Challenges, Lessons Learnt



Presenters: Ms. Tonia Frame, St. George's University

Zuri Amuleru-Marshall, Ph.D., St. George's University



This session will explore the implementation processes, challenges and lessons learned in facilitating a social recovery programme for

children such as the Return to Happiness methodology which was used in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan.



18:00 Reception





Day 2



Chairperson

Sian Williams, Sub-regional Adviser, ECD



Wednesday, 04 July 2007





Session 6



08:30 –09:30 Protecting Children from abuse, exploitation and gender-based violence









23

Presenters: Niloufar Pourzand Ph.D. Deputy Representative, UNICEF, BECO

Ms. Heather Stewart, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, BECO



This session will examine the vulnerabilities of children to abuses during periods of dislocation when their protective forces are limited or

non-existent and provide practical guidance on what can be done and by whom.



Session 7



9:30 – 10:15 The Media, Emergencies and Children



Presenter: Lisa McClean-Trotman Ph.D. Communications

Specialist, UNICEF, BECO



This session will examine the role of media during an emergency and provide guidelines on how to deal with the media and still ensure that

the rights of children are protected.



10:15- 10:30 BREAK



Session 8



10:30 -11:45 Panel Presentations



ECD interventions in Emergencies - Why and How



Presenter: Mr. Arnaud Conchon, UNICEF Emergency Consultant, UNICEF New York

Headquarters



Lessons Learned from Implementation of Lessons on Let’s Learn to Prevent Disaster



Presenter: Ms Pauleen Finlay, Ministry of Education, Grenada



Facilitating Support for Young Children 0-8 and their Care-givers – Practical Resources"



Presenter: Ms. Lisa L. Long, Education Specialist, Early Childhood Development, Save the

Children



This session will provide policy, programme and practice guidelines focusing on the preparation and initial response for the Education

sector to ensure that children’s access to quality education is not compromised.



Session 9



11: 45 – 13:00 The Way Forward: Building National and Regional Capacity



Facilitator: Mr. Leon Charles, Consultant, Grenada



This session will help each country to leave with clear guidelines in terms of structure and guidance on effectively mainstreaming

emergency preparedness and response in the best interest of children.



13:00 –14:00 LUNCH

14:00 Departure for Field Visit



The Grenada Red Cross Society will facilitate a practical demonstration of the activities undertaken in

a psychosocial programme. This will be held at the Morne Jaloux Roman Catholic School



Workshop Evaluation



Closing Remarks

Niloufar Pourzand PhD, Deputy Representative, UNICEF, BECO









24

PARTICIPANTS LIST

Developing Capacities to Plan and Respond to Children's Needs During Emergencies

St George's, GRENADA

03 - 04 July 2007









Participant Last Participant

Country Organization/Designation Address Telephone & Fax Email Address

Name First Name





Antigua and

1 American Road Tel: 268-562-2144

Barbuda

Ms BARTLEY Laura National Office of Disaster Services St John's Fax: 268-462-4742 nods@antigua.gov.ag



Antigua and

2 Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Old Parham Road Tel: 268-728-3345

Barbuda

Ms GOMES Joan Society St John's Fax: 268-460-9595 nelsata@hotmail.com



Antigua and Radcliff and Market

3 Streets Tel: 268-562-2547

Barbuda

Dr KNIGHT James Ministry of Health St John's Fax: 268-562-2565 nitejam@hotmail.com

#3 Warrens Industrial

4 Barbados Park Tel: 246-438-7575 cvdowrich@hotmail.com,

Ms BLACKMAN Catherine Central Emergency Relief Organisation St Michael Fax: 246-421-8612 cblackman@mes.gov.bb



5 Barbados Jemmotts Lane Tel: 246-433-3889

Mr SMALL Jerome Barbados Red Cross Society St Michael Fax: 246-426-2052 de_j_rule@yahoo.com



6 Barbados Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Constitution Road Tel: 246-430-2836

Ms WARNER Patricia Sports St Michael Fax: 246-436-2411 pwarner@mes.gov.bb



7 Barbados Jemmotts Land Tel: 246-427-8326

Ms STUART-SELMAN Avashine Ministry of Health St Michael Fax: 246-435-0657



British Virgin

8 #3 Wailing Road Tel: 284-494-4499 bviddm@surfbvi.com,

Islands

Ms ARMSTRONG Sheniah Department of Disaster Management Tortola Fax: 284-494-2024 sarmstrong@gov.vg



British Virgin

9 Road Town Tel: 284-494-3701

Islands

Ms CHRISTOPHER Julia Ministry of Education and Culture Tortola Fax: 284-468-0021 jchristopher@gov.vg







25

British Virgin

10 Ministry of Health and Social Road Town Tel: 284-494-3701

Islands

Ms CONNOR Loralie Development Tortola Fax: 284-494-6803 builaconnor@yaho.com



Commonwealth Government

11 Ministry of Educaiton, Human Resource Headquarters Tel: 767-266-5591

of Dominica

Ms BRUNEY-MAYERS Shirley Development, Sports and Youth Affairs Roseau Fax: 767-448-0644 sbruney@hotmail.com



12 Grenada Upper Lucas Street Tel: 473-440-1483

Mr MORAIN Kathy-Ann Grenada Red Cross Society St George's Fax: 473-440-1829 grercs@spiceisle.com



13 Grenada Upper Lucas Street Tel: 473-440-1483

Ms DUNCAN Samantha Grenada Red Cross Society St George's Fax: 473-440-1829 grercs@spiceisle.com

Botanical Gardens,

14 Grenada Ministry of Health, Social Security and Tanteen Tel: 473-440-3485

Mr CHARLES Osbert Environment & Ecc St George's Fax: 473-440-4127 charlo139@yahoo.com

Botanical Gardens,

15 Grenada Tanteen Tel: 473-440-2214

Ms JONES Sandra Ministry of Finanace and Planning St George's Fax: 473-440-0775 sandra.jone@gov.gd



16 Grenada Old Fort Road, St. Tel: 473-440-2822

Ms FRANCIS Amanda NCH George's Fax: 473-440-6275 nch@caribsurf.com



17 Grenada Old Fort Road, St. Tel: 473-440-2822

Mr PERROTTE Joel NCH George's Fax: 473-440-6275 nch@caribsurf.com



18 Grenada Old Fort Road, St. Tel: 473-440-2822

Ms JOHN Cecilia Ann NCH George's Fax: 473-440-6275 nch@caribsurf.com

Fort Frederick, Tel: 473-440-8390-

19 Grenada Richmond Hill, St. 94

Ms PHILLIP Valarie National Disaster Management Agency George's Fax: 473-440-6674 nadma@spiceisle.com

Fort Frederick, Tel: 473-440-8390-

20 Grenada Richmond Hill, St. 94

Mr MCINTYRE Sylvan National Disaster Management Agency George's Fax: 473-440-6674 nadma@spiceisle.com



21 Grenada St John's Street Tel: 473-440-2448

Ms GLASGOW Vanessa GRENSAVE St George's Fax: 473-440-5120 pprt@caribsurf.com



22 Grenada St John's Street Tel: 473-440-2448

Ms DAVIES Kriss GRENSAVE St George's Fax: 473-440-5120 pprt@caribsurf.com









26

23 Grenada St John's Street Tel: 473-440-3788

Ms SEALY-BURKE Jacqueline Legal Aid Councilling Clinic St George's Fax: 473-440-4595 lacc@spiceisle.com



24 Grenada St John's Street Tel: 473-440-3788

Ms ST JUSTE Anna Legal Aid Councilling Clinic St George's Fax: 473-440-4595 lacc@spiceisle.com



25 Jamaica 60 Knutsford Boulevard Tel: 876-926-7584

Ms WILLIAMS Sian UNICEF Kingston Fax: 876-929-8084 sgwilliams@unicef.org



26 Montserrat Ministry of Education, Health, Tel: 664-491-2542

Ms IRISH Ursula Community Services and Labour Brades Fax: 664-491-6941 education@candw.ms



St Kitts and

27 National Emergency Management Lime Kiln Tel: 869-466-5100

Nevis

Ms DUNROD-FRANCIS Diana Organisation Basseterre Fax: 869-466-5310 nemaskb@thecable.net



St Kitts and

28 Tel: 869-467-1105

Nevis

Ms MENON Naeemah Ministry of Education Basseterre Fax: 869-466-8974 kryptonae@hotmail.com



St Kitts and

29 Church Street Tel: 869-465-2521

Nevis

Ms SIMMONDS Dahlia Ministry of Health Basseterre Fax: 869-466-6681 daleya2000@hotmail.com



30 St Lucia Vigie Tel: 758-450-9751

Ms AUGUSTE Petra National Office of Disaster Services Castries Fax: 758-453-2152 kidscare.petra@gmail.com



31 St Lucia Vigie Tel: 758-452-5582

Ms ISAAC Marie St Lucia Red Cross Society Castries Fax: 758-453-7811 sluredcross@candw.lc

Francis Compton

32 St Lucia Building Tel: 758-454-0771

Mr BLANCHARD Winston Ministry of Education Castries Fax: 758-453-2299 winstonblanchard@yahoo.com

Ministry of Health

33 St Lucia Division of Human Services and Family Waterfront Tel: 758-452-7204 leslielew@candw.lc,

Ms LEWIS Elizabeth Affairs Castries Fax: 758-451-9937 huservices@yahoo.com.com



St Vincent and Office of the Prime

34 Minister Tel: 784-456-2975

the Grenadines

Ms PETERS Houlda National Emergency Organisation Kingstown Fax: 784-457-1691 houldapet@hotmail.com



St Vincent and

35 Halifax Street Tel: 784-456-1888

the Grenadines

Ms WILLIAMS Suzette St Vincent Red Cross Society Kingstown Fax: 784-485-6210 bernard_marksman@yahoo.com









27

St Vincent and

35 Halifax Tel: 784-457-1104

the Grenadines

Ms DOUGAN Susan Ministry of Education Kingstown Fax: 784-457-1114 office.education@mail.gov.vc



St Vincent and

36 Tel: 784-450-0511

the Grenadines

Ms RYAN Emily Ministry of Health and the Environment Kingstown Fax: 784-457-2684 mohesvg@vincysurf.com



Turks and

37 Disaster Management and South Base Tel: 649-946-1425

Caicos Islands

Ms THOMAS-PETERS Joyce Emergencies Grand Turk Fax: 649-946-1425 jpeters@gov.tc



Turks and

38 Tel: 649-946-4016

Caicos Islands

Ms WIILLIAMS Jean Ministry of Health and Social Services Grand Turk Fax: 649-946-3998 min_social_development@gov.tc

FACILITATORS









Tel/Fax: 473-442-

1 Grenada 4681

Mr CHARLES Leon Charles and Associates St George's Cell: 473-407-3054 caa@caribsurf.com



2 USA UNICEF Tel: 212-326-7520

Mr CONCHON Arnaud ECD Unit/Program Division New York Headquarters Fax: 212-824-6470 aconchon@unicef.org



NYHQ Humanitarian Support Unit Tel: 212-326-7135

3

Ms ELMI Lucia Office of Emergencies Programme New York Headquarters Fax: 212-735-4410 lelmi@unicef.org

APDO 0819-01138

4 Panama International Federation of Red Cross El Dorado Tel: 507-315-13899

Mr FLEMMING John and Red Crescent Societies Panama City Fax: 507-315-1401 john.flemming@ifrc.org



5 Grenada Tel: 473-444-4175

Ms FRAME Tonia St George's University St George's Fax: 473-444-1522



6 Barbados Caribbean Disaster Emergency Building #1 Manor Tel: 246-426-0386

Ms GROSVENOR Andria Response Agency Lodge Fax: 246-425-8854 andriagrosvenor@cdera.org



7 Trinidad University of the West Indies, St Tel: 868-480-8019

Dr HOLDER DOLLY Jennifer Augustine Port of Spain Fax: 868-628-2915 jholderdolly@yahoo.com



8 USA Tel: 203-454-6883

Ms LONG Lisa Save the Children Memphis Fax: 901-346-7146 llong@dc.savechildren.org









28

9 Genada Tel: 473-444-4175

Dr MARSHALL Zuri St George's University St George's Fax: 473-444-1522 zmarshall@sgu.edu



10 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6036

Ms MOCELLIN Jane UNDP Christ Church Fax: 246-429-2448 jane.mocellin@undp.org



11 Grenada Tel: 473-440-2737

Ms FINLAY Pauleen Ministry of Education St George's Fax: 473-440-6650 efinlay@spiceisle.com







UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean



1 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Ms MCCLEAN-TROTMAN Lisa UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 lmccleantrotman@unicef.org



2 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Mr OLSEN Tom UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 tolsen@unicef.org



3 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Ms POURZAND Niloufar UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 npourzand@unicef.org



4 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Ms STEWART Heather UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 hstewart@unicef.org



5 Barbados Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Ms ALLEYNE Karen UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 kalleyne@unicef.org



6 Barabdos Marine Gardens Tel: 246-467-6000

Ms LOPEZ Pamela UNICEF Christ Church Fax: 246-436-2812 pklopez@unicef.org









29