A-PAD SL Engages with University of Jaffna on Advancing Disaster Resilience Among Youth and Academia

During the team’s visit to Jaffna, A-PAD SL also engaged in discussions with academia. Facilitated by the Centre for Children’s Happiness, Jaffna, a round table discussion brought together members of A-PAD SL and staff from the Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna. The discussion centred on climate and environmental issues, along with possible future training opportunities for University of Jaffna students.

The meeting opened with an overview of A-PAD’s activities globally and in Sri Lanka, followed by a briefing on A-PAD’s management structure from Ms. Saki Sato. Ms. Sato also spoke to the role Search and Rescue (SAR) teams played in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, underscoring the value of continued training programmes

University staff outlined the most pressing needs of their students and department, identifying training in First Aid, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Search and Rescue as key priorities, alongside a broader lack of opportunities and awareness around these areas. They also spoke of student-led initiatives to strengthen resilience, including efforts to establish a disaster management committee, which the department has maintained since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The discussion also touched on other topics, including the university’s ties with the local farming community as a possible link between A-PAD and farmers for future DRR training, and how the department’s zoology students, who are regularly sent out into the field, could support A-PAD SL’s work during floods. Broader themes raised included the value of a multidisciplinary approach to disaster resilience, and whether A-PAD’s mandate could extend beyond disaster response to areas such as pandemics and epidemics.

The round table closed on a positive note, with the Head of Department affirming the department’s interest in continued support for research, and both parties reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening disaster resilience within the university and its surrounding community.