Children, youth and disasters – online workshop as part of the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2022

The Council of the Baltic Sea States has the pleasure to invite you to the online workshop “Children, youth and disasters. New study results on how children and young people play a role in building resilient societies in the BSR. What obstacles do they face?” that will be organized in the frame of the EUSBSR Annual Forum on 26 September 2022, 13:00-14:30 CET.

In recent years the Baltic Sea Region has been affected by many disasters and crises of increased interconnectedness and complexity. These risks include disasters caused by climate change, pandemics, and other threats. When combined, they present a severe challenge for the region. Children and youth are greatly affected by disasters, and they could take an active role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate action. However, despite evidence of the clear benefits of involving children and youth in DRR activities, it is still difficult for many authorities and societies to fully accept that children can take responsibilities in DRR.

The seminar is organized by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), co-coordinator of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Policy Area Secure, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and will present the results of a new study “The Role of Children and Youth in Building Resilient Societies in the Baltic Sea Region” developed in the framework of the transnational project “ChYResilience – The role of children and youth in building a resilient society”, funded by the Swedish Institute. 

You will hear opinions and perceptions of children and young people about risks, disasters and safety, their ability and willingness to engage in DRR activities, various barriers for their involvement and possible improvements, as well as about benefits that would result from children and youth’s involvement in DRR activities.

Agenda

13:00 – 13:05 Opening of the seminar (Vineta Polatside, CBSS)
13:05 – 13:15 Children, youth and their rights in the resilience context (Olivia Lind Haldorsson, CBSS)
13: 15 – 13:45 The Role of Children and Youth in Building Resilient Societies in the Baltic Sea Region (Maria Antonia Di Maio, ChYResilience project)
13: 45 – 14:05 The voice of youth: stories from Danish Youth Fire Brigades
14:05 – 14:20 Children involvement in disaster risk reduction activities in Sweden. Practical examples (Christin Thornvall, MSB)
14:20 – 14:30 Questions & Answers
14:30 Closing of the seminar

The seminar will include presentations by experts and stories of children who are actively involved in disaster risk reduction activities.   

Co-organisers and speakers of the seminar:

• Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Senior Adviser & Head of Children at Risk Unit, CBSS Secretariat
• Vineta Polatside, Senior Adviser for Safe and Secure Region, CBSS Secretariat
• Maria Antonia Di Maio, Independent Consultant, ChYResilience project
• Freja and Cecilie, Danish Youth Fire Brigades 
• Christin Thornvall, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)