NEMO Rolls Out Wildfire Awareness Training for Children in Toledo Villages

The Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, through the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), launched a Wildfire Awareness Campaign for children from wildfire-prone villages in the Toledo District.  The initiative, launched last week, brought together fifty students from San Pedro Columbia, San Miguel, San Antonio, San Jose, and Na Luum Ca. The program builds on recent Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training conducted for adults in the same communities, ensuring that both parents and children are equipped with essential knowledge to reduce wildfire risks and respond safely during emergencies. The campaign was implemented in partnership with Galen University, with funding support from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT). Using the educational book and mascot “How Taiga Became Faiya Taiga, created by Dr. Gail Lash, facilitators delivered wildfire safety lessons tailored to young learners in a fun, clear, and relatable format.  During the morning sessions, children were taught the basics of fire behavior, including how fires start, how they spread, and why wildfires can become dangerous. In the afternoon, students put their lessons into practice through interactive exercises, role-playing ten emergency scenarios designed to reinforce safe and responsible actions.  Minister Henry Charles Usher emphasized the importance of incorporating children into disaster preparedness initiatives, stating that when children understand how to stay safe, they help protect not just themselves but their entire community. Each participating student received school supplies and a Faiya Taiga scarf as a reminder of their role in promoting safety within their families and communities.