Expert volunteers help strengthen the preparedness in vulnerable areas.

22 volunteers across Europe came together in Prague for training for disaster risk reduction before starting their work in strengthening the capacity of local organisations working with communities in disaster-prone areas.

The volunteers learned e.g. to make Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans, to enable them to share their knowledge with local communities. In addition to DRR, the training also included communications, security issues and getting to know their countries of destinations.

“They are a dedicated and motivated group. During October, they begin their deployments and start working along the local partners of their sending organisations” says Sabina Bergholm, volunteer coordinator for the ACT Alliance member Finn Church Aid.

Sending organisations are Finn Church Aid, Dan Church Aid, ICCO and Diaconia DECCB. The project builds on the extensive experience of ACT Alliance work.

The volunteers will share their experiences in social media and in the communications channels of their sending and receiving organisations. After their deployments, they also have visibility actions in sending countries.

The 2017-2018 project is funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) initiative called EU Aid Volunteers, bringing together organisations from different countries and strengthening the local capacity of disaster-affected communities.