25 March 2025 – Save the Children Thailand hosts the Southeast Asia Cross-Country School Safety Learning Exchange Workshop from 25 to 27 March 2025. This regional workshop aims to strengthen child safety in schools during disasters and expand the adoption of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework. The goal is to ensure practical implementation by relevant agencies as quickly as possible, enhancing safety for all children, especially in disaster-prone areas. 

Save the Children emphasizes the importance of collaboration among ASEAN member states, including the Department of Children and Youth

Key discussion points of the workshop include strengthening cross-sectoral and cross-country cooperation to enhance operational efficiency, maximizing the utilization of resources, promoting evidence-based practices, adapting tools and methodologies to continually evolving circumstances, and investing in educational and disaster management personnel to enhance their capabilities. The workshop is attended by government and civil society organizations from across ASEAN to exchange knowledge, experiences, and practices, aiming to drive implementation of comprehensive school safety tailored to each country's context. 

This workshop builds upon the delivery of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework 2022–2030 (Thai version), developed by Save the Children, Thailand Safe School Network, and other partner organizations. The framework, handed over to relevant agencies, including the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Ministry of Interior, in June 2024, covers four core principles: safe systems and policies, safe infrastructure, educational continuity management, and risk-reduction education. It equally and effectively protects vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQIA+ children and children with disabilities. Save the Children's key practices include developing school-based Emergency Preparedness Plans that integrate disaster response with child protection and child participation. Children actively participate in designing and practicing these plans through simulations, empowering them with confidence to protect themselves and others during emergencies. 

Guillaume Rachou, Executive Director of Save the Children Thailand, stated, "This regional knowledge exchange is a critical opportunity for ASEAN member states to collaboratively enhance school safety. Our efforts are not limited to disaster response but also prioritize children's active participation in decision-making processes. Children are central to developing preparedness plans, enabling them to confidently protect themselves in emergencies. Most importantly, we must sustainably scale our past successes regionally." 

Support and follow Save the Children's initiatives on child participation in preparedness and school safety enhancement at savethechildren.or.th