Philippine E-Journals

KALAMIDAD: AN INTERACTIVE SURVIVAL MANUAL ABOUT DISASTER RISK PREPAREDNESS AND AWARENESS FOR FILIPINO CHILDREN TO INCREASE THEIR ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TOWARDS NATURAL HAZARDS

Christopher Sante | Ian Tristan Valerio | Mario Serrano | Erica Ngui

Discipline: creative arts and design (non-specific)

 

Abstract:

The inquiry focuses on understanding the level of awareness and preparedness of Filipino children towards natural disasters, considering the geographical location of the Philippines, which is one the most disaster-prone countries in the world. With the children being highly susceptible and the most vulnerable in times of emergencies and disasters due to their low adaptive capacity, lack of awareness, and lack of preparedness, it compromises their survival, recovery, and development. In line with the study’s problem, the researchers designed an interactive children’s survival manual with augmented reality that can adapt in both digital and print mediums, catering to the Filipino children’s learning adaptive capacity towards the extensive topics of disaster risk preparedness. The aim of the manual is to raise awareness, enhance their participation in preparedness, acknowledge their rights and roles, and reduce their risk towards natural disasters. An effective, creative, and simplified approach has been integrated through visual exploration and interactivity for an immersive and educational experience. Based on the user testing, children respondents showed positive responses towards the overall designs and contents of the manual, with the incorporation of colorful, striking visual elements and relatable characters which inspired them to understand more various natural disasters and hazards. As a timely, educational instrument, the survival guide manual has addressed the lack of awareness and preparedness among Filipino children. It is not only an educational tool but also a significant tool that can save lives.