Description
Many children learn the basics of what to do in an emergency from their parents. But who teaches them these important lessons when a parent is absent? In Wuhan, China, IBM volunteers worked with the Wuhan Woman and Children Activity Center (WHWCAC) to create a program to help unattended children understand what to do in dangerous or emergency situations.
“Considering that they are unattended children, most of the time, they stay at home alone with grandparents because their parents have left to work in other areas,” explains Wan Xing, an IBM IT specialist in Wuhan and the service leader for the project with WHWCAC, which is called Security Caravan—Juvenile Care. “It raises the ratio of suffering injuries when something bad happens in their daily life or natural disasters.”
The ambitious plan called for 100 IBM volunteers to coach and mentor more than 200 children in seven areas including traffic safety, fire drill, first aid, environmental protection, earthquake simulation, and electric shock. In some cases volunteers needed to receive training in first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation from WHWCAC experts in order to give proper instruction to the children.
Results
The Security Caravan—Juvenile Care project was a success with the children, and it was an achievement behind the scenes as the effort required volunteer management, customized route planning, and training guide creation—approaches that can now become part of WHWCAC’s operations.
An IBM grant was awarded to the project to help them expand to outlying areas, and increase their reach to 1,000 children. Wan Xing says that “From my personal standpoint, the project has broadened my sight of society—it makes me feel valued to play a role in helping."
