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Aim
The development of an organized Network among countries, starting at school level, with the use of the Internet, aimed at providing of information and knowledge to groups of people conserning the prevention, preparation, immediate reaction and rehabilitation in case of danger and disaster.
Project Objectives
The program will consist of developing a Network among countries, supporting the effort for facing risks and disasters. Using the Internet, the Network will provide exchange of information and allow communication between specific groups of people, focusing on risk prevention, preparation, immediate reaction and rehabilitation.
To accomplish this, the development of a Network at school level will be studied as the first stage in the framework of FORM-OSE and in cooperation with the European Center For School Level Training in Risk Prevention, in Sofia, Bulgaria and the National Institute “Stop Disasters” of the European University for Cultural Heritage in Ravello, Italy.
The Network will provide information and knowledge about managing Natural and Man Made Disasters, among countries that share similar vulnerability to disasters.
Using the Internet, games, cartoons, animations, groups of discussions and parallel education, the Network will provide a friendly and interactive environment in order to interest and introduce young people to risk prevention, awareness and action in such catastrophic events.
This Network will be a powerful tool offering exchange of information and communication with other countries that share a similar vulnerability to disasters, to lesser or greater extent. In addition, people will find a common ground to express their thoughts and fears and get support either from each other, or from experts.
Activities
The Center has completed most of its administrative and operational requirements and is about to release its program, through a local Internet Provider. It’s estimated that the program will be completed in November 2004.
The languages of the website will be the official languages of the Council of Europe, French and English, and the three languages of the partner Centers, thus Greek, Italian and Bulgarian, but it can be expanded to other languages as well.
Attractive features of the website will be the Gallop and the Discussion Forum menus, where school children and generally young people can exchange views and ideas and also discuss on line issues on various Hazards online. Also youngsters and their teachers can become aware of various hazards. By surfing through the website they will also have access to a lot of useful information and data, such as Case Studies, Lessons Learned, and School Curriculum and also to photos, videos and even games.
Contact us:
One of the most useful and attractive features is the menu “contact us”. Children will have the opportunity to communicate with experts in their own language in order to be informed of various dangers, measures of protection or on other subjects that my interest them and need information about. In order to achieve this task our intention is to establish a list of experts per subject, with whom young people can communicate. All the experts will be included in a special page on the website.
Structure and Organization
The Center is accommodated and operates from activities at the Civil Defense Headquarters of Cyprus. Most of its activities are carried out in cooperation with the Cyprus Civil Defense of Cyprus.
The administration of the Center is based on the Management Committee and the Scientific Committee, which are appointed on the basis of proposals, put forward by the Council of Europe. The Director of the Center is Mr. Christos Kyriakides, Civil Defense Commissioner. The President of the Scientific Committee is Mr. Kypros Pilakoutas, Professor at Shefield University.
The Members of the Management Committee are Mr. Andreas Frantzis, Senior Civil Defence Officer, Mr. Eleftherios Eleftheriou, Administrative Officer A’ Ministry of Interior, Kyriacos Hadjigeorgiou, Civil Defence Officer, and Mr. Panikos Frangoudis, Information Technology Consultant.
The Members of the Scientific Committee are Mr. Costas Holevas, of the General Secretariat of Greek Civil Protection, Mr Themos Dimitriou, Earthquake Rehabilitation Service, Mr. Kolio P. KOLEV, Director of the European Center of Risk Prevention Bulgaria, Armando MAURO, National Institute “Stop Disaster” Italy, Andres GARCIA GOMEZ, Coordinator of the European Center for Research into Techniques for Informing the Population in Emergency Situations, Madrid, Spain and Miranda DANDOULAKI, Civil Engineer from Greece. |