1.Name of Project:
 
Natural Disaster Youth Summit 2005  
  
2.Brief one-sentence description of project:  
  
Think about the importance of human life!  
  
3.Full description of project:  
  
This is a project in which children will learn the importance of human  lives and how to survive from Natural Disasters with students who have experienced earthquakes and other disasters.  
   
In 1995, people in Hyogo, Japan experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji
Earthquake and suffered much damage. We realize the fear of natural disasters.  
We learned the importance of human life and the importance of cooperation.  
We can not stop natural disasters, however, we can decrease the damage  from them. This is what we learned through our experience. 
  
In this project, we are aiming at Empowering Children Against Natural  Disasters. 
To achieve this goal, we propose five topics to study: 
  
1) What are natural disasters? (Natural Disasters in the past)　　　 A
2) Why they happen? (Mechanism of Natural Disasters) 　　　　　　 B
3) What can I do? (Protect yourself from damage)                             C
4) What shall we do for tomorrow? (Plan for the future )　　　　　　     D
5) How can I help you? (Building a safer world; Caring)  　　　　　　  E

  
Children will make a group at their schools and then choose one or more  topics according to their interests. 
Each school group decides its own project topics and goals. 

During September to November, each group carries out its project according to the topic chosen from five themes.  

At the end of November, each group completes researches and creates products such as presentation materials or a booklet. 
  
While working for their projects, children and teachers join in one or  more forums out of five topics.  
In the forum, children will discuss and share their knowledge of  Natural Disasters. 
For six months, children continue their study using the worldwide network of the disaster reduction education.  

After the six months of collaborative learning, participants will have the Natural Disaster Youth Summit in Hyogo, Japan, 25-28th of March, 2005 as a presentation stage for their six months study. 
  
4.Age/level of project participants:  

All  
  
5.Timetable/schedule for 2004-2005:
 
Step one: Till September. 
Inviting students and teachers who want to learn about natural disasters
to
this project.  
  
Step two: September 
Choose one or more topics and starts a project. 
Self introduction on forum.  
  
Step three: October-December 
Each group makes a product according to the selected topics.  
  
Example of products:  
Booklet, Presentation material, Website.  
  
Step four: January - March 
Discussion on the forum. 
Practice of presentation. 
  
Step five: March 25-28 
 
Natural Disaster Youht Summit 2005. 
Presentation of children’s works 
Declaration of Natural Disaster Youth Summit 2005  
  
6.Possible project/classroom activities:  
Ongoing  
  
7.Expected outcomes/products:  
  
Natural Disaster Prevention booklet, website, material of presentation 
Declaration of Natural Disaster Youth Summit,   
  
8.Project contribution to others and the planet:  
  
・Children will share their knowledge and will work as a leaders of
their communities. 
・They will help people in trouble as a global citizen.
・They will know how to save their lives from Natural Disasters

  
9.Project language(s):  

English :  
Japanese & other languages will be used as a supportive language. 
  
10.Curriculum area:  
   Science, Social Study, Fine Art, Integrated study, Language, 
  
11.Names/email of initial participating groups:

  
12.Name of facilitator(s):

Natural Disaster Project Office 
Yoshie Naya , Motoko Hirota,  
Rie Saito, Kazuko Okamoto, 
Masahiro Okuuchi, Hiroko Fukuda 
Yoshiko Fukui, Yoshiko Murakami
  
13.Email of facilitator(s):  

Natural Disaster Project Office:　20050117@jearn.jp  
Yoshie Naya : naya@lapis.plala.or.jp  
Motoko Hirota: motoko@cty-net.ne.jp   
Rie Saito: global@keimei.ed.jp  
Kazuko Okamoto: kazuko@dd.iij4u.or.jp   
Masahiro Okuuchi: okuuchi@palette.plala.or.jp 
Hiroko Fukuda: fukudahiroko7@hotmail.com
Yoshiko Fukui: fukuifmly@yahoo.co.jp
Yoshiko Murakami: suko@jearn.jp
  
14.iEARN Forum/Newsgroup where it will take place or is taking place (or  
leave blank and one will be assigned):  

Natural Disasters  
  
15.WWW page of project (optional):
  
http://ndys.jearn.jp/