Building Children’s Resilience to Face Disasters, Human Initiative Collaborates on SPAB Simulation at SDN 3 Imogiri

Bantul, DI Yogyakarta – Human Initiative, in collaboration with the local government, conducted a simulation of the Safe School Disaster Unit (Indonesian: Satuan Pendidikan Aman Bencana or SPAB) at SDN 3 Imogiri, Bantul, on October 13th. The SPAB simulation aims to test and evaluate the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

In collaboration with the Bantul Regional Disaster Management Agency (Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah or BPBD) and the Bantul Youth and Sports Education Department, Human Initiative conducted a series of training and capacity-building activities for school staff at SDN 3 Imogiri before conducting the SPAB simulation. The activities included an Initial Self-Assessment, Disaster Risk Assessment, Formation of Disaster Alert Teams, Development of School Action Plans, Formation of SOPs, and various training sessions, including First Aid in Emergencies. Participants included teachers, educators, staff, students, parents’ associations, and the Disaster-Resilient Karangtalun Community.

Based on the Risk Assessment, Bantul Regency is identified as an area with the potential for several disaster threats, including earthquakes, tsunamis, erosion, floods, landslides, and water crises. Given this, Suprihana, the Head of the Prevention, Preparedness, and Post-Disaster Handling Department at BPBD Bantul, hopes that SPAB can reach individual levels.

“Its target is non-structural mitigation. It should involve not only institutions but also individuals. Consequently, it is expected that every member of the educational unit is prepared to face all potential natural disasters, as indicated by the Risk Assessment in Educational Units,” she said during an evaluation after the SPAB disaster simulation at SDN 3 Imogiri.

Protecting the Future Generation

Safe School Disaster Units (SPAB) within the school environment are not limited to education alone. In formulating SPAB, the government recognizes the importance of protecting the nation’s children from the impact of disasters. Therefore, all parties involved are committed to ensuring that children understand and can respond effectively to disaster situations.

Isdarmoko, the Head of the Bantul Youth and Sports Education Department, stated that SPAB is part of efforts to protect and build the resilience of the nation’s future generation. For him, SPAB, once established in schools, should continue and be periodically implemented through simulation exercises.

“… we are very pleased because this is part of building resilience in educational units to protect future educational investments. We hope that SPAB, which has been established, will continue, as it is essential for us to do to ensure its ongoing implementation and repetition,” said Isdarmoko.

He added that SPAB in each school is also part of the assessment in the Child-Friendly School, as per the Bantul Regent’s Regulation. In his statement, he expressed his gratitude to Human Initiative and BPBD Bantul for establishing SPAB at SDN 3 Imogiri. This is a concern for him because the school is located not far from the Opak Fault, a major threat.

Agus Triyono, the Head of the Human Initiative Branch in DI Yogyakarta, explained that during the participatory training and capacity-building process for SPAB formation, it would result in a document that serves as a reference for future implementation. Serving as the facilitator of education, Human Initiative in DI Yogyakarta hopes that this document will not merely gather dust but will serve as a foundation for continuous progress.

“We hope that SPAB will continue and can be independently implemented by schools. Its goal is nothing other than to build resilience and reduce risks in educational units,” he concluded.