Voice

You’ve now thought about space and how to create a welcoming environment to encourage participation. A supportive environment is necessary for ethical and meaningful child participation. However, it is not sufficient – you will also need other aspects.

“Voice” is part two of the Lundy model. Voice is about thinking carefully about what information children need to grasp what you are doing and to form an opinion about it. But what kind of information do they need? And do they know how to express themselves based on that? Voice enables you to think about these questions. 

We have collected a series of questions that will help you determine what voice means in your DRR context. 

Find out what voice means in your DRR context

Guiding questions: 

• What questions in the context of your DRR work can the target group provide input on?
• What kind of information would the group need to be able to form a view?
• What kind of material would you need to provide them for them to form an opinion?
• What are some different options for children to express their view/ opinions?
• Do the children understand the expectations, relevance and limitations of their participation?

Find out what voice means in your DRR context to your target group

Guiding questions:

• Have you asked your target group what topic in your work they would like to provide input on?
• Have you asked your target group what kind of information they need to be able to form a view?
• Have you asked the children about their preferred way to express their opinions?
• How can the target group be in charge of their participation (i.e. lead the discussions and make the decisions)?

Good practice examples:

1. Barnahus Estonia: Putting the Child at the Centre When Developing the Physical Space
   Barnahus Estonia
   A webinar highligting Barnahus’s Estonia work with listening to children’s voices in designing their Barnahus.

Tools/Resources:

1. Engaging Children in Decision Making – A Guide for Consulting Children
   Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), p. 26
   This report highlights various consultation methods for engaging children in decision-making processes.
2. How to Implement the Lundy Model in Your Organisation
   Participation People
   A checklist for applying the Lundy Model.
3. Child-Centred Disaster Risk Reduction
   UNICEF
   An approach that emphasizes children’s roles and needs in disaster risk reduction efforts.
4. Child-Centred DRR Toolkit
   Save the Children
   Advocacy with children on disaster risk reduction.