When disasters strike, preparedness can mean the difference between safety and loss. In Nairobi’s Lucky Summer Ward, disasters such as floods, fires, and sanitation crises are not distant threats, they are recurring realities. Communities often face these risks with little preparation, not because they lack willpower, but because practical, accessible guidance is scarce.
To address this,we developed a Disaster Preparedness Training Guide, a step-by-step resource for community leaders, youth groups, and local schools to build resilience from the ground up. Drawing on household surveys, focus group discussions, and urban risk analysis, the guide translates research findings into simple, actionable training modules. It covers risk awareness, emergency planning, safe infrastructure practices, and community response coordination.
Resilience begins where people stand together prepared, informed, and ready. Effective disaster response doesn’t start when an alarm sounds; it begins with daily habits, shared knowledge, and local leadership.
This work matters because preparedness saves lives. By equipping residents and local leaders with tools they can use right now, we turn awareness into action and vulnerability into strength. One critical lesson learnt is that people already want to protect themselves, they just need clear steps and a framework for acting together.
This training guide blends academic research with professional practice, offering tools that can be applied not only in Lucky Summer but in any Nairobi neighbourhood at risk. The work reflects our goal, to create urban solutions that protect people, not just plans on paper because preparedness is not a luxury, it’s a shared responsibility.
By Lennah Ojoo
