ADRA SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES DISASTER TRAINING FOR GOUNASU COMMUNITY

The Gounasu Community in North Malaita has completed a week-long Disaster Evacuation Centre Management Training (ECMT), equipping them to respond effectively to any natural disasters that may occur in their area.

The training was facilitated by Raynick Jack, Coordinator of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and DRR Project Officer, Leslie Molea, with the support of Church Agency Network Disaster Operation (CANDO) volunteer, Javen Misi.

The training was co-funded by South Pacific Division (SPD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Australia, TransPacific Union Mission (TPUM) in Fiji, ADRA Regional Office and ADRA Solomon Islands.

The project, part of the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) initiative, was implemented by ADRA Solomon Islands across three sites in the Solomon Islands.

The training, which took place from March 18th to March 24th at the Gounasu SDA Church, saw the participation of 13 community members faithfully attended the training.

Raynick Jack, ADRA Coordinator of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) said that, the participants has gained vital understandings into hazard assessment, risk evaluation, and vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of preparedness in ensuring community resilience.

He stated that participants now realise the training is very important that’ll help them to understand hazards in the community and assess risk since vulnerability in the community is very high.

Patrick Toda, one of the participants, uttered his gratitude for the training, highlighting its role in enhancing his ability to assess livelihood vulnerability in his community.

He emphasized the importance of collective action in disaster preparedness, highlighting the need for a unified approach to ensure the safety of future generations.

Another Participants, Anga Samani, Head Elder of Gounasu SDA Church, praised ADRA for bringing the training directly to their village, reducing the need for costly travel to Honiara.

He highlighted the new confidence of the community in responding to natural disasters, attributing it to the practical skills and knowledge gained during the training.

However, the construction of the Gounasu Community evacuation center, is progressing well and is expected to be completed before the project’s deadline.

The successful completion of the ECMT training marks a significant milestone for the Gounasu Community, paving the way for a more resilient and prepared community in any future disasters.