"For a Resilient Future: Children and Youth, Education, Technology, and Ecosystem"
On 13 October, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared the day as "International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction" in 1989 [1].
At the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in 2015, one of the key priority areas highlighted was “…understanding and managing disaster risks, strengthening disaster risk management, investing in measures to reduce risks, and rebuilding as part of disaster prevention…” [2]. Therefore, every year on 13 October, the theme of understanding, managing, and reducing disaster risks is discussed internationally. In 2024, the main theme for this day was set as “Empowering Future Generations for a Resilient Future.”
The effects of many disasters, which have worsened due to climate change, now pose significant threats to the well-being and future of all sections of society, especially children and youth. UNICEF has stated that nearly one billion children worldwide are at high risk from climate impacts and related disasters [3]. Children and youth face not only the risks of death and injury during disasters but also serious challenges after a disaster, including issues in education, nutrition, health, and safety. Strategies for disaster risk management and reduction are being developed at national and local levels to protect children and youth from these devastating effects. In addition, technologies, products, and services are being designed to support these efforts. It is essential to consider the sensitivities and needs of children and youth in these initiatives.
In addition to other efforts, increasing disaster awareness among children and youth, particularly through education, creating a learning and sharing environment involving them, and integrating them into disaster technology ecosystem development efforts, will contribute significantly to strengthening community resilience and reducing risks.
All these aspects are at the core of AFETTEK Platform's work.
AFETTEK Platform[4]; was established in Ankara as a civil initiative by 12 founding legal entities following the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. The "Search Conference," which laid the foundation for the platform’s creation, was held on March 25, 2023, hosted by TED University (TEDÜ).
At the Search Conference, which was attended by representatives from nearly ninety institutions and organizations, thematic areas supporting disaster risk reduction and enhancing resilience in Türkiye were discussed. The conference emphasized the need for a strong technological ecosystem and sectoral clustering focused on these thematic areas, the creation of a multi-stakeholder cooperation platform, and the establishment of shared infrastructure through a robust institutional structure [5]. Following this process, the AFETTEK Platform was officially established on June 22, 2023.
The AFETTEK Platform brings together 130 organizations with outstanding capabilities for a common purpose. The platform includes 11 universities, 8 research institutes/technology development centers/organized industrial zones (OSBs), 15 associations/federations/unions/clusters, 4 foundations, and over 90 private sector companies. The members of the platform aim to:
The official process for the establishment of the Disaster Resilience Foundation (in Türkiye), which will create the necessary legal entity for the implementation of the planned activities within the platform, is ongoing. The institutional structuring related to organized industrial zones in Türkiye has also been included in the process of establishing the legal entity.
This platform, considered a historic opportunity to establish a new technological sectoral ecosystem in Türkiye and raise awareness on disaster preparedness, is open to the participation of legal entities that wish to contribute to the ecosystem, develop technological solutions for disaster risk reduction and resilience enhancement, and engage in national/international collaborations.
