Poetry slam and performances by kindergarten children in Tonga was the focus of its International Day of Disaster Reduction in October this year. This year’s theme of ‘Knowledge for life’ focused on the knowledge that exists with elders of communities in how they responded to disasters in the past. To help merge the two, community elders and town officers were invited to the poetry slam content using traditional knowledge as the basis for the day.

Kindergarten children from the tsunami red zone participated in the commemoration by performing what they knew about various hazards that happen within the Kingdom and watched by their elders throughout their communities.

Kindergarten children from the tsunami red zone to participate in the commemoration by performing what they know about the various hazards that happen within the kingdom.

Sharing the knowledge of young and old bringing both textbook knowledge and traditional knowledge together.

The event was hosted by the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) with guests including the Honorable Prime Minister, Akilisi Pohiva; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Siaosi Sovaleni; the Australian High Commissioner; The New Zealand High Commissioner; The Japanese Ambassador; The Chinese Ambassador; Director of MET; Director for NEMO; Civil Society Organisations, parents and guardians and several disabled members of the Tongan society.