Six boxes, six topics, numerous attentive eyes: With the project "Civil Protection in a Box," people of all ages can learn to approach important topics such as: Alarm - Behavior in emergencies, Crisis communication, Power outage, Emergency kitchen, Emergency preparedness, and Climate change in an interactive and playful way to be well prepared. "A strategy needs hands-on instruments," says Toralf Herzog, board member of the DRK State Association M-V. The knowledge about civil protection is therefore conveyed in an easily understandable and practical manner. The workshops are flexibly designed and can last from one to three days depending on needs.
All materials are mobile and can be transported like a trade fair system. Thanks to the support of the DRK district associations and external funding, nine sets are now in use in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Each set consists of six boxes. And each box contains exciting materials on a topic in civil protection. Touching and trying out - that's what makes "Civil Protection in a Box" literally tangible and thus understandable. It's not just about recruiting new members within the DRK. Rather, the general public is involved - through deployments in schools, children's and youth facilities.
The "Civil Protection in a Box" project is still in its early stages in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but it is being established step by step. It offers diverse opportunities to strengthen civil defense. On one hand, as a mobile training system that quickly and efficiently prepares people for emergencies. On the other hand, it can be used in crisis areas to provide first responders with important tools and materials. It also supports the coordination of rescue measures by providing communication tools and emergency equipment.
Initial presentations took place as part of the "Dialogue Forums" on civil protection. In March 2024, around 40 multipliers were trained at the Teterow Education Center, who are now offering hands-on training with the boxes.
The pandemic of recent years has hit volunteerism hard. Due to repeated contact restrictions, many training sessions, further education courses, as well as material maintenance and service appointments had to be cancelled. This led to about 30 percent of active members of the German Red Cross, or DRK for short, leaving - and only a few new helpers joining. As a result, civil protection increasingly fell into oblivion in the public eye, and youth work also suffered considerably. This is exactly where the "Civil Protection in a Box" project comes in and is now gaining more and more momentum.
Thanks to the supporters
Our special thanks go to the Ministry of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia and the DRK State Association Westphalia-Lippe e.V. With their concept "Disaster Protection in a Box," they provided the idea for our own system "Civil Protection in a Box," which we have further developed in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This innovative approach will help to sustainably strengthen youth work in civil protection and make it future-proof.
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