Madagascar is one of the most cyclone-exposed countries. On average, two cyclones cross the country each season, between November and April. After Cyclone Batsirai hit in 2022, 10,000 children were unable to attend school. According to the National Gender Strategy for Climate Change, 309,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition due to crop destruction and the isolation of affected regions. UNICEF highlights that children are among the most vulnerable populations in the face of natural disasters.

Children: Victims but Also Active Participants in Prevention

Although children are particularly affected by these disasters, they are not merely victims. They can also play an active role in early warning systems, just like other segments of the population. Today, policies in Madagascar recognize and encourage their involvement in designing and implementing these systems.

The SAP Kiddo Experience: Learning Through Play

One Wednesday afternoon, about ten children aged 6 to 12 sit in a circle around an instructor in a daycare center, which has been temporarily transformed into a play and discussion space.

For two hours, these children participate in a SAP Kiddo activity, where they express their understanding of risks and suggest ways to prevent them. The instructor asks them to identify objects that could be dangerous. Some point to a window, explaining that children should not climb on it to avoid falling. Others highlight the corners of a table, emphasizing the risk of injury. A discussion follows, during which the children realize that many everyday elements can be sources of danger.

Next, the instructor asks them to draw their house and identify potential risks in their surroundings. Some depict a muddy road caused by heavy rains in recent days. A young girl draws an electric pole near her home, explaining that it scares her when it rains heavily or when strong winds blow.

Through games, drawings, and discussions, the children learn to recognize risks and adopt safer behaviors.

SAP Kiddo: An Innovative Program for Children’s Resilience

This activity illustrates the essence of SAP Kiddo, a program developed by ARAKE that sees children as experts in their own lives. An effective early warning system should not only protect them but also strengthen their resilience and help them better cope with disasters.

In SAP Kiddo, children become agents of change. They do not just identify dangers; they also propose solutions adapted to their environment. Their participation strengthens their own resilience, as well as that of their families and communities. By integrating children into these systems, we build more effective and better-adapted early warning mechanisms.

An Interactive and Inclusive Learning Approach

SAP Kiddo is based on interactive workshops, games, and simulations to ensure children’s engagement. Learning is hands-on and collaborative, allowing children to take responsibility and actively participate in the process.

This program also helps to better understand their daily experiences, particularly those of children facing major challenges such as poverty or geographical isolation.

A Program Tailored to Local Realities

Recognizing that conditions vary between regions, ARAKE collaborates with communities in:

• Eastern Madagascar, often the first entry point for cyclones.

• Western Madagascar, which has been particularly affected by multiple cyclones this year.

• The capital and the central highlands, where risks are different but just as present.

The goal is to include all children, without exception. Every child has the right to grow up safely, express themselves, and become an active participant in shaping their own future.