Cooperative Organization
Kobe Disaster Prevention and Welfare Community
The city of Kobe has been promoting the "Voluntary Disaster Prevention Promotion Project" since 1985, and "Voluntary Disaster Prevention Promotion Councils" have been formed in 166 elementary school districts in Kobe. However, due to the weak position of the council's disaster management activities, such as initial firefighting, rescue and evacuation guidance, it was not possible to organize activities in some areas at the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. As a result of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the Disaster Prevention and Welfare Community Project was launched in 1995 as a model project, and the project was fully formed in 1997. In 2008, the Kobe City Disaster Prevention and Welfare Community was formed in a total of 191 districts throughout Kobe City, and in 2018, one more organization was formed in a new elementary school district, for a total of 192 districts. The Disaster Prevention and Welfare Community actively conducts drills and other activities that lead to disaster relief activities, etc. In Kobe City, the Fire Department and other departments have cooperated with each other.
In the normal course of activities, we have been carrying out activities to prepare for emergencies, such as various disaster drills and first aid, as well as welfare-related activities such as visits to friendships and fureai lunch meetings, so that neighbors can see each other on a regular basis and help each other in emergencies.
In addition, the local disaster prevention and welfare community plays a very important role in the efforts to pass on the lessons of the earthquake to children. In the event of a disaster, the entire community will respond to the disaster by organizing an activity team of local people who are able to act from among those who have gathered at the gathering point and dispatching support to areas where there is a shortage of resources. They are responsible for the initial response to a disaster by using a variety of materials and equipment, such as power pumps, cloth buckets, jacks, and crowbars for firefighting and rescue, as well as for guiding people to evacuation centers and running operations.
Currently, the Disaster Prevention Team, in cooperation with the Kobe City Fire Department, is conducting an investigation into the "Kobe Disaster Prevention and Welfare Community". The survey began in 2018 and a similar survey is being conducted in FY 2019. The summary of the study is to identify the factors that strengthen the management system of each community. There have been few quantitative studies on voluntary disaster management organizations so far, and we aim to conduct a study that can be used as a reference by disaster management organizations throughout the country.
University Consortium Hyogo Kobe
The establishment of the "University Consortium Hyogo Kobe" was triggered by a meeting of Hyogo Prefecture's lower university presidents held on November 11, 2005. In 2006, the following year, it became a general incorporated foundation, with a total of 40 schools (32 universities, 7 junior colleges and 1 technical college) and 100,000 students in Hyogo Prefecture.
Currently, we are involved in international, student, and regional exchange programs in Sa'anzama. The University Consortium Hyogo-Kobe aims to make universities and other institutions of higher education an integral part of the region, while making the most of the characteristics of Hyogo Prefecture and the city of Kobe, as well as its cosmopolitan nature and core, to enhance education and research, and to collaborate with local governments and the signage industry.
The Disaster Prevention Team is cooperating with the University Consortium Hyogo-Kobe to raise awareness of disaster prevention among students under the theme of "Local Disaster Prevention. The first of these was held on July 7, 2019, at the "Let's Do It, Shelter Operations! -If you learn, something will change? -". The event reaffirmed the importance of providing opportunities for students (including international students) and young people to think about disaster prevention.
117KOBE Local Government Collaboration Committee
Launched in August 2014 by the city of Kobe and the Kobe Shimbun, the campaign is led by university students in the city to promote the importance of disaster preparedness.
For the generation of university students who did not experience the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, disaster prevention classes and disaster prevention workshops will be held at elementary schools in order to convey the memories and lessons learned from the time of the disaster, and educational activities will be carried out under the theme of something that anyone can enjoy learning.
Therefore, the disaster prevention team is working with students from other universities who share the same passion for disaster prevention and learning about it.
Volunteer Activity Support Center
Kwansei Gakuin University has a long tradition of providing relief and support for disasters. The Center for Human Services was established as a volunteer organization for students, faculty and staff at Kwansei Gakuin University, and has been active for more than 20 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
In 2016, the Volunteer Activity Support Center was established to provide a consultation service for volunteer activities, which had not existed before, thereby unifying volunteer activities at Kwansei Gakuin University and establishing a system for university support for these activities. In recent years, the occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons has led to the need for various levels and content of support through volunteer activities. It can be said that the role of the Human Services Support Office is also increasing.
Therefore, the Disaster Prevention Team is asking for consultation and cooperation on activities. Strengthen cooperation within Seki University to further raise students' awareness of disaster prevention.
