Today, the world has a wealth of knowledge and information on disaster reduction at its disposal; the key is sharing and using this in a productive way through awareness-raising and educational initiatives so that people make informed decisions and take action to ensure their resilience to disasters. Reducing risk and vulnerability to disasters requires people’s understanding of how they can best protect themselves, their property and their livelihoods.

Education for disaster risk reduction is an interactive process of mutual learning among people and institutions. It encompasses far more than formal education at schools and universities, and involves the recognition and use of traditional wisdom and local knowledge for protection from natural hazards.

Education is conveyed through experience, established learning arrangements, information technology, staff training, electronic and print media and other means that facilitate the sharing of information and knowledge to citizens, professionals, organizations and policymakers, among a range of other community stakeholders.

Education is a crucial means within local communities around the world to communicate, to motivate, and to engage, as much as it is to teach. Awareness and learning about risks and dangers needs to start in early education, continuing through generations.