Japan’s Iza! Kaeru Caravan! disaster survival camp for kids gets Filipino counterpart 

Children are some of the most vulnerable and at risk persons in times of disaster—all the more that they should not be left helpless. Which is probably why it's a good thing that a survival camp that originated from Japan got its counterpart in the Philippines to teach kids what they can do when the worst happens in a fun environment. 

 

Iza! Kaeru Caravan! is a disaster drill program that started and supposedly ended in Kobe, Japan in 2005. But the brains behind the project, Japanese artist Hiroshi Fuji and KIITO (Design and Creative Center Kobe) vice director and NPO (non-profit organization) Plus Arts chairman Hirokazu Nagata wanted to reach a wider audience. Nagata founded the NPO Plus Arts in 2006 specifically to provide a platform to continue the disaster drill program. 

 

Since then, Iza! Kaeru Caravan! has been conducted 150 times in 20 prefectures or regions in Japan and 10 other countries. This year, a localized version of the program is finally launched in the country.

 

Localizing content, MOVE Philippines in CDO 

 

Bringing the kid-friendly disaster drill program to other countries was a big challenge since Iza! Kaeru Caravan! was made for Japan's people and culture—hence, it specifically addresses the common problems of Japan in terms of disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response. This is where local partners came into the picture. 

 

To bring Iza! Kaeru Caravan! in the Philippines, Nagata worked with Ruttikorn Vuttikorn, a game designer for Club Creative Co. Ltd. from Thailand; Dan Matutina, chief graphic designer of Filipino design studio Plus63 Design Co.; and the Japan Foundation Manila. 

 

The group conducted a series of workshops and brainstorming sessions with some teachers and students from Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro in August and October. 

 

Cagayan de Oro was one of the cities in Northern Mindanao battered by Typhoon Sendong (Washi) in 2011, which left thousands dead and others homeless. It was a huge surprise for the residents in the region because strong typhoons are a rarity in Mindanao. Hence, many were left unprepared for the typhoon.

 

Bringing the disaster drill program to this part of the country only made sense. 

 

After sharing their experiences when Sendong hit their city, the students and other participants were encouraged to think of possible local versions of the games of the Iza! Kaeru Caravan! From there, they were able to come up with suggestions, including a local game called "Mario goes to the market," which was renamed "Ready, Raise, Race." Iza! Kaeru Caravan! was then renamed to MOVE Philippines. 

 

According to Japan Foundation Manila's arts and culture program officer Kathleen Valle, the objective of the game is to teach children how to evacuate with their families as soon as the local government gives go signal for evacuation. "Ready, Raise, Race" also aimed to teach kids how to create improvised inflatable vests and boots.

 

The other games during the caravan were "Walk, Don’t Waddle," "Be Wise, Improvise," "Up, Shake Evacuate," "Cards of Course," "The Mat that Matters," "Connect the Objects," and "The Tale of the Prepared."

 

Iza! Kaeru Caravan! also featured characters, which are usually the nation's popular animals, to appear friendlier and more familiar to children. For MOVE Philippines, Plus63 Design Co. chose to create Mon and Tara, the monkey-tarsier tandem.

 

MOVE Philippines was launched on November 14 in Cagayan de Oro, where 87 private school students from Capitol University Basic Education Department and 75 public school students from Gusa Elementary School participated in a day of fun and learning. 

 

But the disaster drill survival camp won't end in Northern Mindanao.

 

Valle shared to GMA News Online, "The CDO is just actually a test run. We will definitely be bringing the caravan to different areas in Manila and the provinces." — VC, GMA News

 

Iza! Kaeru Caravan! is part of the Earth Manual Project exhibition that is currently on show at Ayala Museum until December 7.