Step 2. Define your project

Hopefully, your arguments in favour of child participation in DRR are now more stringent than ever before.

Let us now turn our attention to your specific work. Imagine going about this participation process like a project. The first step in your journey is to think about the objectives. What is the aim of your work? What areas do you want children to be involved in? And why, at all, would you like to include children?

This is a very important step! Take time on these questions, consult with colleagues, and discuss with people who will be involved. This will help both you and your colleagues to come up with clear objectives. The rest of this guide will help you use the answers you come up with to make your project successful. At this stage, it is really important to consider how children can co-create the activities, and how children can decide on what and how they would prefer to be involved. 

If you feel like you have a very clear idea of the objectives and that you’ve already addressed these topics – feel free to skip ahead to Step 3. 

Sub-step 2.1. Define the aims of the work          

Guiding questions:                                         

  • Why do you want to involve children in your work?
  • What do you want to achieve by having children participate?
  • Who do you want to reach with your work?
  • What impact would you like to see?

Sub-step 2.2. Ensure – at least explore – child-led participation

Guiding questions:

  • How can children make decisions or take part in the decision-making process?
  • How can children have a say in the topics they would like to be involved in?
  • How can children co-create the activities? (Co-creation is key for meaningful participation!)
  • How will children benefit from taking part in the activities? 
  • When children are looking back at their participation, what would you like them to remember?

Remember, there is a whole spectrum of child-led participation. On the one end, fully child-led, child-initiated participation might not (always) be feasible in your work. But ensuring that you do not end up on the opposite end of the spectrum is always possible

Sub-step 2.3. Consider different frameworks/ formats for participation in your work

Guiding questions:

  • What are the different ways children can participate in your work?
  • What is the best format for children to contribute? 
  • Will the activities be online or face-to-face?
  • What are the DRR topics you want children to participate in?
  • Why is it important that children learn about these specific DRR topics?
Examples:
  • Finland – Child participation in voluntary fire brigades (Valtteri Tervala)
Tools and resources that will help you address the questions:
  1. The Ladder of Child Participation
    Roger Hart, UNICEF
    A conceptual framework for understanding children’s involvement in decision-making .
  2. We Are Here: A Child Participation Toolbox
    Eurochild
    A rich resource containg tools and exercises for meaningful participation.
  3. So You Want to Consult with Children? A Toolkit of Good Practice
    Save the Children
    Toolkit aimed at governments, international agencies and NGOs who want to involve or consult with children in a meaningful way.
  4. Children’s Participation in Decision-Making: Why Do It, When to Do It, How to Do It
    Save the Children
    This guide explores questions about how and when children’s participation is needed.
  5. Engaging Children in Decision Making – A Guide for Consulting Children Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA). p,26.
    This report highlights various consultations methods.
  6. Engaging Children in Decision Making – A Guide for Consulting Children, p. 26
    Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA)
    This report highlights various methods for consulting with children.