Emergency Aid Preparedness Training At Crisis Management State Academy

On June 17-20 the last week training within the “Emergency Aid Preparedness” project took place at Crisis Management State Academy. 26 participants represented Gegharkunik, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Shirak and Armavir Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a number of NGOs, partners of ART and UMCOR: “Cross of Armenian Unity,” “Caravan–88,” “Sustainable Development in Communities,” “Youth Union of Karakert,” “Shen,” “Youth of Jrvej,” “YMCA-Armenia,” “Zangakatun” and “Future is Yours”.
This time training focused upon environmental protection, fire protection, ensuring security of the population in crowded places, establishment of the network of the ART and UMCOR partner organisations to cooperate in prevention and overcoming of emergencies, provision of networking between the state and non-governmental institutions and the role of Church.
Participants were encouraged to draft detailed risk maps of their organisations. The topics were much attractive and left place for discussions. One day of the training was dedicated to the relationships between Mass Media and Emergencies.
Audience watched video films on emergencies in Armenia and the consequences of landslides in Voghjaberd. The trainees were distributed special calendars, posters and newspapers from Emergency Channel with contact numbers and other awareness raising information.
The “Emergency Newspaper” newspaper reflected upon the seminar in the issue #248, from 20.06.08-26.06.2008. For more information, please, follow the link www.emergency.am/armenian/artakarg_tert/ .
Last day the trainees represented and defended their dissertations in various topics on emergency situations and received certificates. The examination group consisting of the professors of CMA expressed their satisfaction with active and serious participation of the “students”.
Yet during the seminar trainees shared their ideas regarding their plans of dissemination of the seeds of awareness in emergency situations thus building on this initial success and forwarding it to another level through involving the beneficiary communities. Participants were determined to form a reliable and competent network of organisations that in cooperation with state institutions will be able to properly react to emergencies. ART and UMCOR will coordinate this process and follow up the achievements of the participants, focusing on the further development of their capacities.
The project foresees also organisation of a special training for the clergy to get knowledge on psychological rehabilitation and ways of treating the victims of disasters and conflicts and also a seminar in conflict management. It is worth mentioning that all the participants expressed great interest towards the psychological aspects of the work in the emergencies, so it is expected that the training will include not only the clergy, but also all the trainees wishing to participate.