International DRR Day: Fund Resilience, Not Disasters
As the world marks International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), the call this year is both urgent and clear: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.” At A‑PAD Sri Lanka, this call to action mirrors our strategic priority – shifting from reactive aid to long-term resilience investment.
In a country that regularly faces floods, landslides, and climate-driven hazards, we cannot afford to treat disasters as one-off emergencies. Disasters are not natural – they’re the result of unaddressed vulnerabilities. The time to act is before they strike.
This is how we propel resilience – by building awareness, strengthening systems, and equipping individuals and institutions to anticipate and act.
Gamification of DRR – Using Play to Build Everyday Preparedness
Recently, we at A-PAD developed Monsoon Escape, an interactive game designed to make disaster risk reduction (DRR) education more accessible and engaging. The game introduces players to everyday disaster scenarios – such as rising floodwaters, blocked roads, or delayed evacuations – and challenges them to take timely, practical actions. By earning points for prevention and response decisions, participants learn how small, informed steps can reduce risk and save lives.
What sets Monsoon Escape apart is its versatility. It’s suitable for a wide range of audiences – from schoolchildren to corporate teams – and emphasizes hands-on learning. Through scenarios that include sandbagging, identifying safe zones, responding to alerts, and preparing emergency kits, the game encourages players to think ahead and act early.
By combining education with experience, Monsoon Escape helps individuals and institutions internalize the core message of DRR: that preparedness doesn’t have to be complex – it just needs to be part of how we think and act every day.
Stay tuned for the official launch of our game!
Institutionalizing Resilience: Embedding DRR into the Private Sector
We also work closely with private sector partners to mainstream disaster risk reduction (DRR) into core business practices. A significant milestone in this effort was the recent DRR Day hosted by Aitken Spence PLC, marking a strong commitment to building internal and external resilience. At the event, the company launched several forward-thinking initiatives: a dedicated DRR fund (pool fund) to support emergency response, disaster mapping to enhance situational awareness, and a strategic focus on integrating DRR into its supply chain operations. These actions are backed by leadership engagement and reflect a shift from reactive responses to proactive risk management.
Another key component of our engagement with the private sector is strengthening Business Continuity Planning (BCP). Through tailored training workshops, we help businesses identify vulnerabilities, assess operational risks, and develop practical continuity strategies. From safeguarding critical assets and ensuring workforce safety to maintaining supply chain integrity, our training prepares companies to operate confidently even in the face of disruption. This approach not only minimizes downtime and financial losses but also reinforces the role of businesses as frontline responders in times of crisis.
Starting Young: DRR for Children and Schools
Building resilience begins with education – and at A‑PAD SL, we believe that children are not just beneficiaries of disaster preparedness, but active participants. Through tailored programmes, we introduce key DRR concepts to students in both international and government schools across Sri Lanka.
At Elizabeth Moir Junior School, the A‑PAD SL team carried out programs teaching young students how to identify flood risks, prepare emergency kits, and understand tsunami warning signs and safe responses.
Meanwhile, our Safe Schools Programme targets government schools in hazard-prone areas, equipping children and teachers with knowledge on risk identification, response protocols, and school safety planning. By nurturing awareness and preparedness from a young age, we aim to foster a culture where disaster risk reduction becomes second nature – ensuring that the next generation is not only informed but empowered to act in the face of future hazards.
