Yogyakarta is known as one of the regions in Indonesia with a high risk of earthquakes. Being situated on several active faults, such as the Opak Fault, triggered a major earthquake in 2006, destroying many buildings and claiming lives. The long history of earthquakes emphasizes the importance of community preparedness, including in educational settings.
As a disaster preparedness effort, on September 18, 2024, Lifeway School in Yogyakarta received a visit from the Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU), an organization engaged in disaster management and active in providing education to communities in earthquake-prone areas. This activity is very relevant considering that Lifeway School has just moved to a new building, making it important to ensure that all students and staff understand the steps to take in the event of a disaster.
In that session, YEU provided comprehensive training on the potential of earthquakes and what to do when an earthquake occurs. Several important points conveyed include the introduction of earthquake disaster threats, techniques for self-protection during an earthquake, proper evacuation methods, and mapping evacuation routes in school buildings. In addition, students and staff are trained to recognize potential hazards in their school environment, especially related to buildings that may have different risks compared to previous structures.
What makes this educational session even more interesting is the interactive approach used by YEU. Instead of just providing theory, YEU invites students and staff to directly engage in simple simulations within the building. The main focus of the simulation is to recognize threats and potential dangers within the school building, so that participants not only understand the theoretical steps but also gain practical experience in dealing with emergency situations.
This preventive measure is part of Lifeway School’s commitment to ensuring the safety and preparedness of the entire school community, especially in facing the high risk of natural disasters in Yogyakarta. With education like this, it is hoped that all students and staff will be able to react quickly and appropriately when an earthquake disaster occurs, so that negative impacts can be minimized.
