A new disaster preparedness initiative aimed at strengthening resilience among young students has been launched across 21 primary schools in Dominica.
The Kay & Kelan Level 2 Disaster Toolkit, introduced in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is designed for students in Grades 1 to 3 and uses a play-based, digitally enabled curriculum to teach children how to prepare for and respond to emergencies and natural hazards.
Through interactive activities such as music, games, and puzzles, the toolkit helps young learners develop critical disaster preparedness skills in an engaging and age-appropriate way.
The initiative builds on a partnership that began in 2017 and has since evolved into an independent framework capable of being sustained locally. Organizers say Dominica is now well-positioned to serve as a regional model for school safety and disaster risk reduction in education.
Chief Education Officer Jeffrey Blaize emphasized the importance of ensuring children’s well-being during emergencies.
“We establish safety, then comfort, and then we have the learning. In a crisis situation, education supports children psychologically and emotionally, keeping them safe while helping them cope with these immense challenges,” Blaize stated.
The program recognizes the vital role educators play in fostering a culture of safety and preparedness, helping to protect students, families, and communities from the impacts of disasters.
Officials say the launch marks another significant step in strengthening disaster resilience within Dominica’s education system and empowering the nation’s youngest citizens with life-saving knowledge and skills.
