Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action promotes "Educating for Civil Protection - Growing Up Safe" project in Azorean schools - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, visited today the Vila do Porto Basic Education School on Santa Maria Island, accompanied by the President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, Rui Andrade, to highlight the importance of civil protection among younger generations, through the "Educating for Civil Protection - Growing Up Safe" project. This initiative is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service.

Alonso Miguel explained that the "Educating for Civil Protection - Growing Up Safe" project started in October 2024. This initiative was launched in celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction and the 45th anniversary of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service. He added that this "initiative aims to inform and raise children's awareness of issues related to natural hazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, in an educational and practical context, expecting this knowledge to translate into safe behaviour in the future."

"Children must know that small gestures can make a big difference to their safety and the safety of others," he continued.

The Regional Secretary emphasised that "the provision of educational resources on natural hazards represents an important contribution to the preparation, prevention and self-protection of children, both in a school environment and in a community context."

Alonso Miguel explained that "the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service teams visit schools using a dynamic approach that includes an initial talk, a training session on the three protective gestures - lowering, protecting and waiting, and ends with an educational game to consolidate learning in a fun way."

According to the government official, "We have managed to reach more than 7 thousand Azorean pupils. The aim is to take this project to all elementary schools throughout the Region, something that has not happened for nearly two decades, thus covering 593 classes and about 8,500 students."

The Regional Secretary emphasised that "safety education must begin at an early age."

He added: "We firmly believe that multiplier effects can be achieved in schools."

Alonso Miguel concluded by saying that "every informed child is a civil protection agent within their family and community and, therefore, with this project, we are preparing for the future with more aware children as well as more resilient and prepared societies."