Strengthening Churches and Volunteers to Become Better Prepared for Disasters 

Your support does more than help communities after disasters occur. It also helps families and communities become better prepared before disasters strike. This is why education on disaster early warning systems is so important.

As we have witnessed in recent years, natural disasters can take away an entire family within minutes. Receiving even one early warning can provide a precious opportunity for people to save themselves and their loved ones.

This was the focus of our disaster preparedness strengthening activities conducted in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on June 16 and 18, 2026.

Central Tapanuli is exposed to various potential hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, and extreme weather. Communities need stronger early warning systems, including systems that involve churches and places of worship that are closely connected to community life.

On June 16, 2026, a focus group discussion was held under the theme, “Strengthening Church-Based Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems.”

Participants included church representatives, church leaders, community leaders, disaster-response volunteers, and stakeholders involved in disaster risk-reduction efforts.

Through this activity, participants were encouraged to understand the importance of multi-hazard early warning systems. Together, they identified potential disaster risks in Central Tapanuli, challenges in communicating warning information, and the needs of churches and local communities.

The discussion provided an important space for strengthening coordination. Churches were recognized not only as places of worship but also as centers of information, education, and community mobilization during emergencies.

Two days later, on June 18, 2026, the activities continued with a preparedness training session entitled, “Using Weather and Climate Information for TAGANA Disaster Volunteers and Faith Community Mobilizers.”

During the training, participants learned how weather and climate information can be used to improve disaster preparedness.

This knowledge is important so that volunteers and faith-community mobilizers can take appropriate action when they identify potential threats in their communities.

The activity also gave participants an opportunity to discuss, share their experiences, and develop follow-up plans.

Through this series of activities, participants gained a stronger understanding of early warning systems, disaster mitigation, and the importance of collaboration at the community level. They also began developing initial steps to strengthen church- and faith-community-based early warning systems in Central Tapanuli.

We believe that what is prepared today can help save lives in the future. When churches and volunteers are equipped with the right knowledge, they can become a blessing to many families living in disaster-prone areas.

Through your support and our collaboration with various partners, we continue working to strengthen communities so they can become better prepared, more resilient, and more attentive to the disaster risks around them.