Banda Aceh — UKM Fastana (Disaster-Resilient Facilitators), a student activity unit under the supervision of the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC), conducted disaster education and simulation activities for early childhood students at HS Academy English & Character School on Tuesday (February 3, 2026).
The activity, which took place from 09:00 to 11:00 WIB, was attended by 47 students and 15 teachers, and was directly accompanied by the Principal of HS Academy, Mrs. Yana Zahra, S.Pd. TDMRC was represented by Ismiatul Ramadhian Nur, a researcher from the Disaster Education Cluster, along with seven Fastana student members who served as facilitators in the disaster education activities.
During the initial session, children were introduced to the basic understanding of disasters, types of disasters that may potentially occur in their surrounding environment, and the importance of preparedness from an early age. The material was delivered using an interactive and child-friendly approach, enabling participants to understand disaster concepts in a simple and enjoyable manner.
Next, the children were guided to learn basic steps for responding to emergency situations, such as how to protect themselves during an earthquake and how to remain calm while following instructions from adults. The activity concluded with a simulation of an earthquake and tsunami, during which participants practiced evacuation procedures in an orderly and safe manner under the guidance of the facilitators.
Ismiatul Ramadhian Nur stated that disaster education from an early age is an important part of building a risk-aware culture within the community.
“Disaster education for children is not sufficient if it only introduces what a disaster is. What is more important is building courage, calmness, and appropriate reflexes from an early age, so that they are prepared to respond properly when facing emergency situations,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Principal of HS Academy, Mrs. Yana Zahra, S.Pd, expressed her appreciation for the implementation of the activity.
“This activity is very beneficial for our children. They learn about disasters in a fun way while also gaining hands-on experience through simulations,” she said.
This activity is part of TDMRC’s commitment to strengthening school-based disaster education, as well as encouraging student involvement as disaster education agents within the community, particularly for early childhood groups in disaster-prone areas.
