PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED 4: The Invisible Heroes

Dr. Laura M. Yoder is an Environmental Anthropologist. She is a PYLP Training Facilitator.

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The invisible heroes: They take action to prevent a hazard from becoming a disaster.

Laura

Who is the presenter?

Laura Meitzner Yoder is an environmental anthropologist who works with university students to understand human-nature relationships and their own intercultural learning. Her work has allowed her to live with forest-dwellers and smallholder farmers in many rural areas of Latin America and South/Southeast Asia – especially Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Thailand. Laura is an active member of CADAN (Culture and Disaster Action Network) – a network of anthropologists who seek to improve outcomes for disaster survivors by applying anthropological insights to disaster settings and responses.

What is the presentation about?

Primarily due to its geographic location and condition, the Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, frequently experiencing typhoons, storm surges, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, and the effects of these events. This presentation will focus on helping students to gain a greater understanding of risk, vulnerability, resilience, and the role of DRRM; focusing on the role that they, as student leaders, can act within. It will use their country and community context to explore past responses to disasters, both good and bad, at various levels, and identify positive practices and create plans that will allow them, as student leaders, to create communities that are more resilient.

To do the tasks below and accomplish the learning outcomes, please watch this video presentation or watch via YouTube.

What are your tasks and the learning outcomes?

  1. On Your Own: To identify community members who are involved in DRRM
  2. With A Team: To summarize the responsibilities of community members in DRRM
  3. With Your Community: To celebrate the work of volunteers, organizations, and staff by creating appreciation post on a social media page