Gender and religion in children's participation in disaster risk reduction

Plan has conducted research (with partners IDS and RMIT Australia) in two communities in Indonesia to explore how gender and religion affect children's ability to participate in disaster risk reduction.

This project builds on work being carried out in Indonesia on how to support children to participate in Disaster Risk Reduction. It investigated the extent to which children's ability to participate in disaster risk reduction programmes and communicate risk is influenced by their gender and religion.

Field research took place in two areas, a predominantly Catholic one on Flores, and a predominantly Muslim area in Eastern Java in October 2008. Action research methods were used in workshops with adults and children (separate and mixed groups). Children produced a photo diary of their involvement in the research.

Preliminary findings show a clear gender bias present in both areas, with almost all participants stating that male children have more ability and power to bring about risk reduction. No obvious differences in terms of religion were apparent.

Find out more information. Data is currently being analysed and a working paper will be published and available shortly.

A child friendly booklet on Indonesian children's views on DRR and gender has also been developed, available to download below.