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Turkey, located in first and second degree Earthquake Risk
Zones, needed a basis disaster awareness program for its schools.
Turkey lacked curriculum materials, instructors trained to implement
the curriculum, a system to spread this knowledge and training
to reach all local school communities, and an information technology
infrastructure to deliver training and support throughout 50
provinces.
GHI's Approach and Solution
In 2004 GHI joined the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory
and Earthquake Research Institute's Disaster Preparedness
Education Program (abbreviated as B.U. KOERI DPEP, seen
in the logo to the right). GHI was able to contribute experience
and expertise gained in the Central
Asia project and elsewhere to improve and extend the original
Istanbul project to 50 provinces in Turkey. GHI's strong interest
in school seismic safety includes implementing training methods
to reach all targeted school community members.
Long-Term Outcomes
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Effective Basic Disaster Awareness Curriculum
now in place for all of Turkey:
Working with the team at Bogazici University in Istanbul,
GHI organized work groups and led the development and distribution
of Basic Disaster Awareness curriculum materials, including distance learning
self-study materials, for the primary and middle school levels. In addition, two curricula
for trade and apprentice high-school students were developed and distributed over the
Internet and via CD-ROM. One curriculum presents Non-Structural Mitigation (the
rationale, techniques and tools for stabilizing furnishings and equipment during an
earthquake). The other focuses on Structural Awareness for Seismic Safety, with an
emphasis on the principles of seismic-resistant construction. Both will become part of
the national curriculum. Materials and website capacity are now in place to reach out
beyond Istanbul to all of Turkey.
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Corps of Trained Instructors Active and Engaged:
250 participants from 30 provinces completed Basic Disaster
Awareness instruction through distance learning. From this group, all 100
selected for instructor training successfully completed the training
course. These Master Trainers have trained teachers in their
own provinces and districts, who in turn, have instructed
students, school personnel and parents in schools of all
30 provinces. These instructor-trainers are now training 25,000 teachers,
who will reach 5 million children in every at-risk province and district of Turkey.
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Thousands trained and aware in Turkish school communities:
Starting in Istanbul as the model, 444 trained instructors used the Internet-based reporting system created to report
training in 32 districts of Istanbul to 12,752 teachers, 4,312 school personnel, 899,381 students and 700,728 parents.
The model is now being replicated in 29 other provinces. The reported success in Istanbul captures
only a fraction of the actual outreach already completed or in process
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