From April 16 to 22, World Cares Center (WCC) engaged volunteers and over 600  youth to prevent household hazards and learn how to safely respond when disasters occur. As part of Global Youth Service Day World Cares Center’s team of staff and volunteers provided training across NYC and NJ ensuring the safety of our children and engaging them to be ready responders. World Cares Center’s trainings combined fun, interactive activities while teaching valuable lifesaving lessons. WCC partnered with Youth Service America, schools, community centers, and fellow nonprofits ensuring the successful outcome of the program. At the end of each workshop the youths promised and committed to sharing and practicing what they learned.

World Cares Center’s Youth Preparedness Workshop, is an interactive educational program for youth ages 5-11 and 12-18 years-old.  These customized trainings prepare tomorrow’s leaders to help themselves and their families, schools, and communities to prevent common hazards and to be prepared to respond safely in disaster situations. At the end of the training, youth groups spoke of ways they would share the lessons learned with their families, friends, and neighbors on preparing and planning for emergencies. 

While having fun, participants chose to:

• Share ICE (In Case of Emergency) cards with family and friends
• Create a calling tree with family members
• Create an emergency meeting place map
• Conduct a household hazard hunt with the entire family
• Test their knowledge with a crossword puzzle or game with friends
• Tweet a tip of the day
• Post on Facebook a safety tip of the day
• Pledge to help a neighbor, friend or family member 

World Cares Center extends a very special thank you to all our volunteers for making this event a success, to our partner groups for hosting the trainings, and to our sponsors for your continuous support!

We are looking forward to next year’s Global Youth Service Day!