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11
Disaster risk management trainers reunite and put their skills
to use in Samoa and Vanuatu
Following the successful Training for Instructors
course held in September 2013 with participants from
seven Pacific Island countries, SPC supported three
course graduates to put their training skills into action
as Regional Assistant Trainers.
Patrick Arioka
from the Cook Islands joined the
training team in Samoa to deliver Evacuation Centre
Management (ECM) training. Patrick had previously
participated in ECM training when it was delivered in
the Cook Islands in June 2013 and was, therefore, able
to support the trainers in the delivery of the course
in Samoa and also share valuable experiences and
perspectives from the Cook Islands. This experience
means that Patrick is now in a position to co-facilitate
future ECM training in the Cook Islands. During his
stay in Samoa, Patrick was able to catch up with fellow
DRM trainers, Molly Nielsen of Samoa’s Disaster
Management Office and Lemau Afamasaga of Samoa
Red Cross.
Elizabeth Hosking
(also from the Cook Islands)
attended the Evacuation CentreManagement training
in Samoa as a participant. Elizabeth did not have the
opportunity to attend the course when it was offered
in the Cook Islands and, therefore, travelling to Samoa
enabled Elizabeth to get up to speed on Evacuation
Centre Management and be able to assist Patrick
when the course is next delivered in the Cook Islands.
Fred Talo and Pearson Simi
from the Solomon
Islands volunteered to join the training team in
Vanuatu to support the delivery of Disaster Risk
Reduction (DRR) training. Fred and Pearson are both
experienced trainers, delivering Introduction to
Disaster Management and Initial Damage Assessment
training for several years in the Solomon Islands.
Having participated in the DRR course in December
2012 in Honiara, the trip to Vanuatu provided Fred
and Pearson with their first opportunity to join a DRR
training team. Fred and Pearson provided support
to the lead trainers and played an important role
in facilitating group discussions and activities. Fred
and Pearson were able to share experiences from
the Solomon Islands with ni-Vanuatu participants.
Fred and Pearson also spent time with ni-Vanuatu
trainers, Steven Noel of the National Disaster
Management Office, William Worworkon of Vanuatu
Meteorological Services and Philip Morris of the
Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Trainer development is a key aspect of SPC’s work in
DRM Capacity Building. Providing DRM trainers with
exposure to training courses and the opportunity to
learn on the job is pivotal to our approach. Taking
trainers from their home country to facilitate training
in another Pacific Island country has the benefit of
strengthening the relationship between trainers in the
region and allows the sharing of ideas and experience
between countries.
Patrick Arioka and Elizabeth Hosking at Evacuation Centre
Management training in Samoa, November 2013
Fred Talo leads an energiser during Disaster Risk Reduction training
in Vanuatu, December 2013
Pearson Simi facilitates group discussion during Disaster Risk
Reduction training in Vanuatu, December 2013