BANYUMAS, CENTRAL JAVA — The 2023 Volunteer Camp by DMC Dompet Dhuafa on its second day (23/11/2023) was filled with enthusiasm and excitement. On this day, the camp featured disaster management topics delivered through a mobile classroom method. This innovative approach, likened to a journey, offered a fresh experience for the participants.
Held at the same location, Wana Wisata Baturraden in Kemutug Lor, Baturaden, Banyumas Regency, the participants of the 2023 Volunteer Camp were divided into three groups. Each group was required to enter designated stations named Papua Class, Kalimantan Class, and Flores Class.
The disaster management topics in Papua Class were presented by Shofa Qudus (GM of DMC Dompet Dhuafa Program), Ahmad Lukman (Manager of the Disaster Education and Training Center), Narwan (Emergency Response, Recovery, and Volunteering Manager), and Ahmad Baikhaki (Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Readiness Manager).
An interesting issue related to volunteers and disaster management was discussed by the speakers and participants in Papua Class.
“The enthusiasm of volunteers in each region is immense. In certain areas or branches, when a disaster occurs, a significant number of volunteers get involved. What strategies are employed for this recruitment process?” asked Hamdan Kesuwi, one of the Volunteer Camp participants from Maluku.
This question was simply and clearly answered by Ahmad Lukman, the Manager of the Disaster Education and Training Center at DMC Dompet Dhuafa.
“At DMC, we have established a recruitment process and a disaster training curriculum that facilitates and equips volunteers with the understanding and capacity to respond to disasters. Moreover, a BNPB representative has approached us to observe and learn from the disaster curriculum we have developed,” he stated.
The issue of volunteers and disaster management is critical given Indonesia’s high disaster risk potential. Especially towards the end of the year, when heavy rains often lead to flooding, this becomes an annual issue in Indonesia.
A volunteer’s capability must be proficient, achieved through ongoing disaster-related training.
The excitement of the second day was not only filled with insightful and beneficial topics but also featured outbound and team-building activities for all participants and organizers.
Various engaging games were designed to test and build solidarity among them. This was evident in the enthusiastic portraits of participants during the games captured by the DMC Team.
Baca juga: Kepung Sampah: Relawan Bertukar Pikir dengan Lepas Bersama Praktisi Lingkungan
The 2023 Volunteer Camp, running from Wednesday to Friday (22—24/11/2023), was packed with topics on disaster management, volunteerism, and significant environmental issues, enriching the volunteers’ knowledge. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC/AFP)