ABC Stories
Playing our way to disaster awareness in Batangas
Dana Macarilay | August 6, 2019
KiDisaster 2019 is a collaborative CSR initiative among Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Republic Cement, Aboitiz Foundation, and WeatherPhilippines Foundation that sought to bring disaster awareness and resilience knowledge to students of San Jose Sico Elementary School in Batangas City, one fun-filled activity at a time!
Students from San Jose Sico Elementary School in Batangas City learned about proper disaster preparedness through games and an interactive storytelling activity presented by Aboitiz Group team members (TMs) from AEV (Risk Management, Reputation Management, and Human Resources), Aboitiz Foundation, WeatherPhilippines, Republic Cement, AboitizPower and AboitizPower Oil Business Unit, and PETNET.
In culmination of National Disaster Resilience Month (July), the AEV Risk Management Team partnered with Republic Cement to bring KiDisaster to the latter’s host community in Brgy. San Jose Sico, Batangas City last July 26. Over 50 TMs were welcomed by 108 students from Grades 4 to 6, young children who are among the most vulnerable to disaster risks.
The event was also notably the first run of KiDisaster under the Integrated CSR (iCSR) program of Aboitiz Foundation. iCSR is a localized needs and resource-based approach to co-creating safe, empowered, and sustainable communities. Stakeholders, led by business units, share and complement resources and expertise to deliver a mix of interventions in the areas of enterprise development, education, and environment, among others.
KiDisaster is a team member-led initiative by the AEV Risk Management Team that seeks to educate children about the perils of natural disasters and how to properly prepare for them. An annual outreach activity that started in 2014, KiDisaster, to date, has reached Aboitiz host communities in Tarlac, Navotas, Pasig City, and Taguig City.
The morning of KiDisaster started off with fun learning activities in the booths sponsored by AEV Sustainability, WeatherPhilippines, and Republic Cement.
The highlight of KiDisaster is an interactive storytelling activity that demonstrates proper emergency responses during earthquakes, fires, typhoons, and floods. Students are encouraged to participate by following the characters’ actions and remembering key learning points throughout the story.
At the end of the program, the kids are given their very own Get-Home bags, each containing a raincoat, whistle, flashlight, hygiene kit, first aid kit, and biscuits. The canvas drawstring bags in which they were packed were made by the ladies of a local community livelihood program founded by the CSR department of Republic Cement.
Armed with their knowledge on disaster response and their own Get-Home bags, these San Jose Sico kids are truly KiDisaster ready!
