Youth play an important role in disaster response and management in Bangladesh. A study was conducted that included focus groups, surveys, and feedback from youth volunteers involved in disaster management. It found that youth welcome community support and use technology effectively but face challenges like lack of funding and training. Their areas of interest include raising climate change awareness and developing earthquake preparedness. Recommendations include recognizing youth contributions, improving information sharing, and creating networks to enhance their involvement in national initiatives. The study highlights innovative projects from youth like rescue robots to aid recovery efforts.

1. Centre for
Research and
Information

2. THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN
TIMES OF CRISIS
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND YOUTH VOLUNTEERS
INVOLVEMENT IN DISASTER RESPONSE

3. About CRI
Center for Research and Information (CRI) is a not-for-profit policy
research organization which aims to create platforms for public
discussion and debates. Our primary area of focus is the young people
of Bangladesh and all our events are designed keeping them in mind.

4. How The Research Was
Conducted

5. Focus Group
Discussion with
40 youths
involved in
disaster
management
Survey of around
150 youth
involved in
disaster
management
Proposals of Joy
Bangla Youth
Award nominees
involved in
disaster
management
Online feedback
collected through
CRI and Young
Bangla social
networks

6. Example of Youth in Disaster Management
Nodi Vangon Songram Parishad
As I have been experiencing the impact of natural calamities like river erosion first hand, I
wanted to do something for standing besides the people of my own community. River
erosion often takes away everything they possess in an instant, and uproots them from
their homes. I feel it is inhuman not to extend our helping hands.
Suman Chandra Das
Founder, Nodi Vangon Songram Parishad
Primary Area of Work: River Erosion
Location: Durgapur Union, Bakergonj Upazilla, Barisal
Volunteers: 40

7. Imparting
basic training
of disaster
preparedness
Providing
voluntary
labor support
to the victims
Houses rebuilt
as a result of
their efforts
What They Do?

8. Research Queries
 Which areas of disaster management are you involved in?
 What motivated you to work in disaster management?
 What are the problems you face in your line of work?
 What recommendations do you suggest for improving youth
involvement in disaster management?

9. RESEARCH FINDINGS

10. “
Youth in Disaster Management:
Common Features

11.  Welcomes support, but ready to go at it on their own
 Open to comparative ideas and perspectives
 Technology driven with particular knack for use of ICT
 Most effective while working in their own communities
 Cost effective, relevant, informed & prompt responses
 Adaptive to indigenous and traditional knowledge

12. “
Problems Faced by Youth Volunteers in
Disaster Management

13.  Lack of funding hampers scaling up existing efforts
 Inadequate support from local administration
 Scarcity of relevant information about central initiatives
 Lack of platform for networking and cooperation

14.  Difficult for women to engage in volunteerism in rural areas
 Lack of adequate infrastructure and equipment
 Lack of facilities for quality training
 Not enough scope to transfer experiences to other youth
 Attitude towards volunteerism discouraging generally

15. “
Areas Where Youth Volunteers Want To Work

16.  Raising awareness about climate change, adaptation,
action and building resilience
 Building resistance to earthquakes
 Creating awareness on earthquake preparedness
 Man-made disasters such as collapse of buildings,
incidents of fire, and political violence

17. “
Recommendations

18. 1. Sensitizing local
administration and
political leadership to
the benefits of youth
volunteers in disaster
management
4. Compiling and
maintaining an
updated list of local
youth volunteers
5. Incentivizing
volunteerism on part
of government by
giving certificates,
recognition etc.
6. Increasing feedback
of youth in national
disaster management
initiatives
3. Raising awareness
on the positives of
youth volunteerism
2. Enhanced use of
digital methods for
awareness raising
and information
dissemination

19. Youth Innovation for Disaster Management
Alor Dishari
My heart cried when I saw the recovery efforts following the Rana Plaza collapse. I
wondered why do we not have any modern equipment which can make such recovery of
people trapped under debris easier. Hence, I thought of designing a robot which can help in
this regard.
Md. Zakaria Haider
Founder, Alor Dishari
Winner, Joy Bangla Youth Award 2015
Gold Medal Winner, 2015 IEEE-RAS International
Robot PRIDE Competition

20. Innovation: Robot named "Max Explorer" which locates trapped people and also can send
emergency provisions to people in inaccessible places. Controlled both manually and
automatically, the device uses GPS, maps, high resolution camera and other relevant
technology. Prototype designed in association with other classmates of BUET.

21. Full Report
Please send us your contact details at shah.farhad@cri.org.bd for
receiving a copy of our full report on the research findings

22. Thanks